Minneapolis Public Library

Last updated
The new Central Library, designed by Cesar Pelli, completed in 2006 MinneapolisCentralLibrary.jpg
The new Central Library, designed by César Pelli, completed in 2006

The Minneapolis Public Library (MPL) was a library system that served the residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. It was founded in 1885 with the establishment of the Minneapolis Library Board by an amendment to the Minneapolis City Charter. Lumber baron and philanthropist T. B. Walker and other city leaders such as Thomas Lowry were members of the first library board. In 2008, after some financial difficulties, the library was merged into the Hennepin County Library system. [1] At the time of its merger, the library included Central Library in downtown Minneapolis and fourteen branch libraries. [2] Its collection numbered about 3.1 million items with about 2.2 million of these housed in the central library. [3]

Contents

Central Library

The atrium of the Central Library Minneapolis Public Library interior.jpg
The atrium of the Central Library
Interior of Central Library in 2006 Minneapolis Public Library-central-2006-05-20.jpg
Interior of Central Library in 2006
Periodical stacks at the Central Library Minneapolis Public Library-2007-02-20.jpg
Periodical stacks at the Central Library

The predecessor of Minneapolis's public library was a private library called the Minneapolis Athenæum. It was organized by Minneapolis businessmen in 1859 as a subscription library, [4] and its shares were traded on the local stock market. After T. B. Walker moved to Minneapolis he bought shares in the Athenæum and gave away memberships to it, promoting the idea of a free public library for the city. Other stock holders raised objections, but the technique worked and soon the city financed a free library for the public with a one mill property tax. [5] When the Minneapolis Public Library was established in 1885 the Athenæum became a partner of it and still exists as a separate nonprofit organization sharing space with the library. [4]

Three central libraries have been built in Minneapolis, each replacing the last with a bigger and more up-to-date building. The first opened in 1889, the second in 1961 and the third and current building in 2006.

On November 7, 2000, Minneapolis voters approved a $140 million package to improve library services, including funding a new Central Library building. The building was designed by Cesar Pelli, along with the Minneapolis firm Architectural Alliance, [6] [7] It opened to the public on May 20, 2006. At a cost of $250 per square foot, the library features a host of energy-efficient measures, including a roof garden and substantial daylight. While the building was under construction, most services were provided at the interim Central Library Marquette location, on two floors in Marquette Plaza (formerly the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis). Cost of providing an interim site while the old library was demolished and rebuilt exceeded $10 million.

Until the 2002 closure and demolition of the old central library, the Minneapolis Planetarium found its home there, possessing a projector machine literally older than the space age itself (originally delivered and installed in 1954, three years before the launch of Sputnik I). In 2005, the Minnesota Legislature apportioned funding for a new planetarium, then planned to be on the roof of the new Central Library building. [8] Instead, the planetarium is now planned to be part of a new Bell Museum of Natural History building, on the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul campus. [9]

Community libraries

The first two branches of the Minneapolis Public Library opened in 1890, one each on the north and south sides of Minneapolis. A branch in the basement of North High School opened on February 27, 1890, and one at 17th and Franklin Ave on April 23. [10] By 2002 there were fourteen branches or community libraries. Each library had a staff member who was assigned to local schools to discuss the services available at the library.

The 2002 referendum also included funds to renovate community libraries, supplementing an existing program. [11] The community libraries and their renovation status are:

Historic buildings

The first central Minneapolis Public Library pictured in the early 20th century cost $324,894. Minneapolis-Public-Library-190n.jpg
The first central Minneapolis Public Library pictured in the early 20th century cost $324,894.

Many of the buildings built by the Minneapolis Public Library system are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In some cases, the libraries have been demolished and moved to new, more modern buildings.

Of this list, all but the North Branch library were built under the leadership of the city's head librarian, Gratia Countryman. Franklin, Sumner, and Thirty-Sixth Street were built with funds from Andrew Carnegie. [26]

Cataloging

Unusually for a public library, the Minneapolis Public Library used the Library of Congress Classification. Prior to 1969 it used the Dewey Decimal System, although around 1890, the library switched to the early and short-lived Putnam Classification System, developed by Minneapolis librarian Herbert Putnam. He later became Librarian of Congress, and revised his Putnam system into the current Library of Congress classification system. [27]

Events: 2000–2008

2000 referendum

In 2000 Minneapolis voters approved a $140 million package to fund a new $110 million Central Library building, and spend $30 million on improvements to community libraries. [28] The referendum began as a framework for discussion called Outlook Twenty Ten: A Discussion Plan to Improve All Minneapolis Community Libraries, submitted to the Minneapolis Public Library Board in July 1999, [29] and drafted in anticipation of voters approving the referendum. [28] The framework was submitted to the board by Amy Ryan, Chief of Community Libraries. When the referendum was approved, the Library Board turned to the plan which contained a profile of each of the fourteen community libraries, including highlights of patron surveys. [29] It also contained at least three suggestions for every community library, entitled Options 'A', 'B', 'C' and onward. An update on the plan came out in 2004. [30]

Adamson v. Minneapolis Public Library

Adamson v. Minneapolis Public Library was a civil complaint of 23 March 2003 by a dozen librarians against the library's management for a claimed failure to prevent sexual harassment over many years by library patrons having unlimited use of library computers for accessing pornography. The case followed an EEOC determination on 23 May 2001 that "the Respondent did subject the Charging Party to sexually hostile work environment. This is in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended." [31] The case settled when the library agreed to pay the plaintiffs $435,000 and to take corrective action to prevent further harassment.

Funding crisis and merger

Despite city funding and some private support, the library had suffered from reduced funding from external sources, including the federal government and Local Government Aid (LGA) from the State of Minnesota. In the recession of the 2000s following the Dot-com bubble, hours were drastically cut and money for acquisitions sharply declined. Because Minnesota library card holders could borrow from other systems in the state, MPL also duplicated services offered by Hennepin County Library (HCL), which saw shared use by MPL patrons. This was especially apparent on Mondays, when Minneapolis libraries were closed. [32]

In 2007, the Minneapolis Library Board agreed to pursue a merger with the county system. The Minneapolis Library Board and Minneapolis City Council approved the merger in March 2007, the Hennepin County Board approved the merger in April 2007, and on May 19, 2007 the Minnesota State Legislature approved a bill merging the systems during 2008. The merged system is the Hennepin County Library with 41 locations. [33] On January 1, 2008, the library was merged into the Hennepin County Library. The last meeting of the Minneapolis Public Library Board of Trustees took place on December 19, 2007.

Directors

There were 11 full-time directors in the history of the MPL. [34]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hennepin Avenue</span> Major street in Minneapolis, USA

Hennepin Avenue is a major street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It runs from Lakewood Cemetery, north through the Uptown District of Southwest Minneapolis, through the Virginia Triangle, the former "Bottleneck" area west of Loring Park. It then goes through the North Loop in the city center, to Northeast Minneapolis and the city's eastern boundary, where it becomes Larpenteur Avenue as it enters Lauderdale in Ramsey County at Highway 280. Hennepin Avenue is a Minneapolis city street south/west of Washington Avenue, and is designated as Hennepin County Road 52 from Washington Avenue to the county line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumber Exchange Building</span> United States historic place

The Lumber Exchange Building was the first skyscraper built in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, dating to 1885. It was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by Franklin B. Long and Frederick Kees and was billed as one of the first fireproof buildings in the country. It is the oldest high-rise building standing in Minneapolis, and is the oldest building outside of New York City with 12 or more floors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hennepin County Library</span>

Hennepin County Library is a public library system serving Hennepin County, Minnesota, US. The current iteration of Hennepin County Library was formed by the merger of urban Minneapolis Public Library and suburban Hennepin County Library on January 1, 2008. The system has 41 library locations, deposit collections at nursing homes and correctional facilities, mail service to the homebound, and extensive outreach services. The library is a department of Hennepin County Government. The library headquarters are in the Ridgedale Library in suburban Minnetonka. The library system has an eleven-member advisory Library Board appointed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. It is a member of the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, a consortium of eight Twin Cities library systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nokomis Library</span> Public library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Nokomis Library, formerly Nokomis Community Library, is a branch library serving the Nokomis East area of Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of 41 libraries in the Hennepin County Library system, Nokomis was designed by Buetow and Associates, Inc and opened in 1968 as a replacement for the nearby Longfellow Community Library. After being deemed crowded and outdated in 1999, the library underwent a renovation beginning in 2009 that saw it gain a number of environmentally friendly features and an expansion of 4,300 square feet (399 m2). The building reopened in 2011 and includes a restored Wind and Water Chime, a stabile that was part of the original library and that was refurbished and reinstalled by July 2013. The library contains over 35 computers, a public meeting room, and a Spanish-language collection of materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roosevelt Library</span> United States historic place

Roosevelt Library is one of 41 community libraries in the Hennepin County Library System, originally part of the Minneapolis Public Library System as it is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumner Library</span> United States historic place

Sumner Library is a neighborhood library located in the Near-north neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Originally part of the Minneapolis Public Library, it became part of the merged Hennepin County Library in 2008. The Carnegie Library was a haven for Jewish immigrants to the city in the early 20th century. The Minneapolis Public Library moved its entire collection of Yiddish and Hebrew works to the branch library in response to a survey showing that 95% of the patrons were Jewish immigrants, some of whom learned English there and participated in social clubs in the building. The Tudor Revival building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Lake Library</span> United States historic place

East Lake Library is one of 41 branch libraries in the Hennepin County Library System, one of 15 branch libraries formerly in the Minneapolis Public Library System in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Three different buildings have housed the library since 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis Public Library, North Branch</span> United States historic place

The Minneapolis Public Library, North Branch building is a former library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was designed in 1893 by architect Frederick Corser. When it was opened, it was claimed to be the nation's first branch library to have open shelves so patrons could browse for books on their own, without asking librarians to retrieve them. The library set a precedent for future library development in the Minneapolis Public Library system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Library (Minneapolis)</span> United States historic place

Franklin Library is a public library on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The library was one of thirteen branch libraries established under the leadership of Gratia Countryman, the chief librarian of the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 to 1936. The library housed the largest collection of Scandinavian books, newspapers, and magazines within the system, which reflected the population living in the area. The library was funded by the Carnegie Corporation and designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton, a New York City architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linden Hills Library</span> United States historic place

Linden Hills Library is a public library in the Linden Hills neighborhood of southwest Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The branch library originally opened in 1911 on the first floor of the Lake Harriet Commercial Club building. In 1931, under the leadership of Minneapolis Public Library's chief librarian Gratia Countryman, the library moved into its own building on 2900 West 43rd Street. Area resident Joseph Victor Vanderbilt designed the library in the Tudor Revival style. Head librarian Edith Frost served for over thirty years. The library has also hosted community groups such as children's clubs, neighborhood groups, and women's organizations. The library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and renovated in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hosmer Library</span> United States historic place

Hosmer Library, originally known as the Thirty-Sixth Street Branch Library, is a branch library of the Hennepin County Library system serving the Central neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was named the Hosmer Library in honor of James Kendall Hosmer and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Library (Minneapolis)</span> United States historic place

Walker Library is a public library in the East Isles neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is on Hennepin Avenue one block north of Lake Street, adjoining the Midtown Greenway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis Central Library</span> Public library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Minneapolis Central Library is a public library located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the largest library in the Hennepin County Library system. It bills itself as having "the third largest per capita public library collection of any major city in America with a collection of more than 2.4 million items—including books, DVDs, music, government documents." The 353,000-square-foot (32,800 m2) building at 300 Nicollet Mall with two levels of underground parking was designed by César Pelli and opened on May 20, 2006. It has over 300 computers for use by the public, an 8,140-square-foot (756 m2) atrium, an 18,560-square-foot (1,724 m2) green roof planted with low-growing ground cover designed to "be sun- and drought-resistant", and a host of energy-efficiency measures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arvonne Fraser Library</span> Branch library in Minneapolis, MN

Arvonne Fraser Library is a public library in Minneapolis, serving the University community. Designed by Ralph Rapson and built in 1963, the library is an example of brutalist architecture. The building originally housed a credit union for state and university employees before a 1967 repurposing, when it became the Southeast Library. Following a subsequent renovation from 2018 to 2020, the library was renamed after Arvonne Fraser, a women's rights advocate and political campaigner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Bottineau Library</span> Branch library in Minneapolis, MN

Pierre Bottineau Library is a branch library located in northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was named for Pierre Bottineau, a prominent Minnesota frontiersman and is one of 41 libraries in the Hennepin County Library System. The library moved to its current location at the historic Grain Belt campus in 2003. The 12,355-square-foot (1,147.8 m2) facility combines two historic buildings, the 1893 Wagon Shed and the 1913 Millwright Shop, with an addition designed by RSP Architects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Library</span> Building in Minneapolis, MN

Northeast Library is a public library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Hennepin County Library system. Since opening in 1973, Northeast Library at 2200 Central Avenue Northeast in Minneapolis serves a vibrant metropolitan community, Northeast, Minneapolis. At 15,275 square feet, the space held about 30,000 books and featured a fireplace to welcome patrons in winter. The 1973 building was itself a replacement for a Carnegie library which was on the site from 1915 until 1972.

North Regional Library is a public library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Hennepin County Library system. Since opening in 1971, North Regional Library at 1315 Lowry Ave. N. in Minneapolis serves a diverse metropolitan community, Near North, Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washburn Library</span> Branch library in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Washburn Library, formerly Washburn Community Library, is a public library in the Hennepin County Library system. Opened in September 1970, Washburn Library, located at 5244 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis, began with a footprint of 14,451 square feet (1,342.5 m2) and approximately 18,000 books. Designed by Brooks Cavin, an architect who studied under Walter Gropius and Eero Saarinen, Washburn reflected mid-century modernism. Set near Minnehaha Creek, Washburn meets the needs of Southwest Minneapolis in a picturesque neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooklyn Park Library</span> Building in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Brooklyn Park Library is a branch of Hennepin County Library serving Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, United States. The current facility opened in June 2016, replacing an earlier library building at 8600 Zane Avenue North that opened in 1976. Prior to that the area was served by Hennepin County Library's bookmobile.

References

  1. ↑ Gordon Flagg (January 11, 2008). "Minneapolis PL Merges with Hennepin County Library". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Hours for All Locations". 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2007-04-29.
  3. ↑ According to the 2004 Minneapolis Public Library board report
  4. 1 2 Minneapolis Athenaeum Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 Atwater, Isaac (1893). History of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Vol. 1. pp. 282–299.
  6. ↑ Mack, Linda (May 12, 2006). "Reader friendly: New library is a beacon for books". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on July 21, 2006.
  7. ↑ "A Tale of Two Cities". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04.
  8. ↑ Minnesota Planetarium official site
  9. ↑ Bell Museum official site Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Benidt, Bruce Weir, The Library Book, Centennial History of the Minneapolis Public Library, 1984, p.53
  11. ↑ Outlook 2010 master plan Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: East Lake Archived 2007-11-04 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Franklin Library Archived 2007-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Hosmer Archived 2007-03-08 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Linden Hills Archived 2007-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Nokomis Archived 2007-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: North Regional Archived 2007-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Northeast Archived 2007-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ RFP for renovation Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Pierre Bottineau Archived 2007-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Roosevelt Library Archived 2007-11-03 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ HClib.org Archived 2009-01-23 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Sumner Archived 2007-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ Minneapolis Public Library: Washburn Archived 2007-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Webber Park Library". Hennepin County Library. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  26. ↑ Nord, Mary Ann (2003). The National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota . Minnesota Historical Society. ISBN   0-87351-448-3.
  27. ↑ Andy Sturdevant. "Cracking the spine on Hennepin County Library's many hidden charms". MinnPost , 02/05/14.
  28. 1 2 "The Minneapolis Public Library Referendum". Minneapolis Public Library. 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  29. 1 2 Ryan, Amy (1999). Outlook Twenty Ten. Minneapolis: Minneapolis Public Library.
  30. ↑ "Outlook Twenty Ten An Update: Spring 2004" (PDF). Minneapolis Public Library. April 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-01-13. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  31. ↑ Carter, Bobbie J. (May 23, 2001). "EEOC Determination. Re: Unrestricted Internet Access Policy of Minneapolis Public Library Creates Sexually Hostile Work Environment" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on Mar 5, 2016.
  32. ↑ Library Advisory Committee (February 2007). "1 + 1 A Report to the Minneapolis Public Library Trustees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  33. ↑ "Library Merger Updates". Hennepin County Library. 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11.
  34. ↑ Marco, Guy A. (2012). The American Public Library Handbook. ISBN   9781591589105.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.