The Aitkin Public Library, built in 1911, is the only East Central Regional Library branch to have received funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. It served the Aitkin, Minnesota community until 1991 when a new library was built. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Construction of an addition to the East Central Regional Library Headquarters building in Cambridge, Minnesota, began in 1974 with Director Darro Willey (shown) in charge of the project. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Construction of an addition to East Central Regional Library Headquarters in Cambridge, Minnesota, began in 1974, with the addition built between the existing library (in the foreground with the vertical construction slats) and the courthouse to the north. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Exterior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters from 3rd Avenue, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Exterior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters from 3rd Avenue, showing the original main entrance and the courthouse in the background, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Hinckley Public Library has been located in this building with the village hall since December of 1939 in Hinckley, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Hinckley Public Library has been located in this building with the village hall since December of 1939, with a substantial building addition shown here in 1991. The expansion added a children's area, expanded reading and study areas, made the circulation desk more efficient, and installed better lighting and a higher ceiling. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Interior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters, showing stacks of books, work and sitting areas, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Interior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters, showing the stacks, work spaces, and the card catalog, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Interior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters, showing the reserves desk, card catalog, and periodicals area, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Interior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters, showing the reserves desk decorated with flowers, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Interior view of East Central Regional Library Headquarters, showing the back of the reserves desk, as well as portions of the record and reference collections, Cambridge, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
This 2,400 square foot building on Main Street in Lindstrom served the Chisago Lakes community as a library from 1973 to 2005 when a larger library was built in Chisago Lakes Township. When the library moved out, the building became the new home for the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
For some time, McGregor Public Library was located in the community room, which had been two cells of the former jail. Prior to joining East Central Regional Library, other library spaces in McGregor were the corner of O.L Johnson's telephone office, the back room of Paul Huff's barber shop, the school, and the General Minnesota utilities building. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
When McGregor Public Library joined East Central Regional Library in 1964, the library was housed in the former jail. The concrete building had been renovated, but the jail cells and the window bars were still intact, and heating was problematic. The circulation desk was where the jailer's desk had been, McGregor, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
From 1968 to 1986, the Milaca Community Library was located in a corner building at 145 West First Street that had formerly housed the Nordic Cafe. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The Mille Lacs Lake Community Library became East Central Regional Library's 13th branch in 1985, and moved to the Isle City Center building in 1991. The library is in the left side of this building, and the city hall and police are located on the right, with a meeting room in the back, Isle, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The new McGregor Public Library was completed and opened in September 1989, McGregor, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The North Branch Area Library was located in the Main Mall, a new retail building on Main Street from 1985-1989, with 1,166 square feet, North Branch, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
When East Central Regional Library was organized, Pine City opted to remain independent from East Central Regional Library, though its county, Pine County, joined the system. Pine City joined East Central Regional Library when a new city hall was built in 1978 with space reserved for a library. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The Princeton Area Library has been located in its current space downtown since 1990. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The Princeton Area Library opened in a new building overlooking the Rum River on August 24, 1990. East Central Regional Library is a consolidated library system in Minnesota serving Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The Princeton Area Library was located in the former railroad depot several blocks west of downtown from 1976 to 1995, sharing the building with the local historical society. East Central Regional Library is a consolidated library system in Minnesota serving Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The Rush City Public Library has been located on Main Street since 1987. The building was previously the office headquarters for the Plastech corporation. East Central Regional Library is a consolidated library system in Minnesota serving Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Sandstone Public Library, built in 1960, is located in the same building as the village hall in Sandstone, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
After a city hall renovation in September 1991, the Sandstone Public Library expanded its space in the building by 3,400 square feet. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
A Chisago County library that maintains its independence as an unaffiliated library is the Taylors Falls Public Library, housed in this building since 1887.