A man holds the reins of a draft horse pulling a sledge through the snow. The sledge is loaded with a delivery box used to transport materials between library branches. Hennepin County Library started in 1922 as a horse-drawn "book wagon" to areas outside the core city of Minneapolis, and grew to incorporate many city and branch libraries as more residents moved to the suburbs.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
A typewritten note attached to the photo reads: "Workers Who Read -- Since 1905 the Library has given service to telephone operators, firemen, clerks, streetcar employees and many other groups who find it difficult to get to the Central or branch libraries. There are now 45 stations located in factories and business houses. Please return to Minneapolis Public Library, Publicity Office, Hennepin at 10th." Minneapolis Public Library was founded in 1885 and merged with Hennepin County Library in 2008.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Beginning in 1905, the Minneapolis Public Library supplied 45 book stations located in factories and businesses to provide service to workers who might find it difficult to get to the Central or branch libraries. Minneapolis Public Library was founded in 1885 and merged with Hennepin County Library in 2008.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
View of the Hennepin County Library's Children's Readmobile parked in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first Readmobile was purchased in 1991, with a second added in 2003.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
View of the Hennepin County Library's Children's Readmobile parked in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first Readmobile was purchased in 1991, with a second added in 2003.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
View of the Hennepin County Library's Children's Readmobile parked in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first Readmobile was purchased in 1991, with a second added in 2003.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
St. Anthony Library has been providing service to St. Anthony and northeast Minneapolis residents since 1963, when it opened in a storefront in the east end of the St. Anthony Shopping Center.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Interior view of the Robbinsdale branch of the Hennepin County Library, showing the reference desk and patrons reading. The library was located at 4915 42nd Avenue NorthRobbinsdale library patrons are now served by the Rockford Road Library in Crystal, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the Rogers branch of Hennepin County Library which opened in 1980 at 21300 John Milless Drive, Rogers, Minnesota. THe building was later renovate in 2005. Library service to the Rogers area dates back to the 1950s and a book station in Ahlstrom s Hardware Store which held 400 volumes. The Hennepin County Library bookmobile served area residents in 1970-80.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the St. Anthony branch of Hennepin County Library, including a book drop and telephone booth. St. Anthony Library has been providing service to St. Anthony and northeast Minneapolis residents since 1963, when it opened in a storefront in St. Anthony Shopping Center, Minnesota. In 2002 the library moved to a different section of the shopping center, at 2941 Pentagon Drive Northeast.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The Augsburg Park Library at 7100 Nicollet Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota, opened in February of 1975. Following the purchase of 2.8 acres of land by Hennepin County from the City of Richfield for $99,500, InterDesign, Inc. was chosen as the architect and the Henry O. Mikkelson Company as the builder. The new building was two and a half times larger than its predecessor, the Richfield Library at 70th Street and NIcollet Avenue.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the front entrance and flagpole of the Eden Prairie branch of the Hennepin County Library. This building was located at 479 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Librarian Alice Johnson with children seated near the fireplace in the Brooklyn Center Public Library. This building was the first library in Brooklyn Center, at 5601 Osseo Road (subsequently named Brooklyn Boulevard), and opened on December 29, 1965. Designed by Cerny and Associates, it was 12,718 square feet. In 1981 the library relocated to the Brookdale location at 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway. The Girl Scouts purchased the building on Brooklyn Boulevard, and it became the headquarters of the Greater Minneapolis Girl Scout Council (now Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis).
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the main entrance of the Brooklyn Center Public Library. This building was the first library in Brooklyn Center, at 5601 Osseo Road (subsequently named Brooklyn Boulevard), and opened on December 29, 1965. Designed by Cerny and Associates, it was 12,718 square feet. In 1981 the library relocated to the Brookdale location at 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway. The Girl Scouts purchased the building on Brooklyn Boulevard, and it became the headquarters of the Greater Minneapolis Girl Scout Council (now Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis).
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The Maple Grove Library, part of the Hennepin County Library, serves the cities of Maple Grove and Osseo and the surrounding communities. From 1987-2010, the library was located in this building at 8351 Elm Creek Boulevard.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the St. Bonifacius branch of Hennepin County Library. The fa ade of the small building is decorated with two square columns with an ornamental frieze and pediment. St. Bonifacius Library opened in 1931 in the former People s State Bank Building which was donated to the Village of St. Bonifacius for use as a library by local landowners Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Gale. The building, which was constructed in 1916, had no running water, restrooms or central heating and cooling until 1987. The library was renovated in 2006. It serves residents of St. Bonifacius, Mound, Minnetrista, Waconia and Westonka.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
View of the information desk and reference area of the Eden Prairie branch of the Hennepin County Library. This building was located at 479 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
A sign indicates that this small building housed the Long Lake branch of the Hennepin County Library, along with Gordon Company Accountants, and Lonstreeter Electric Company. Library service to the Long Lake community in western Hennepin County began in 1913. For several decades, the library operated out of various locations in the community, until it settled in 1995 in a commercial storefront space at 1865 Wayzata Boulevard West.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of a small building housing the Long Lake branch of the Hennepin County Library. Library service to the Long Lake community in western Hennepin County began in 1913. For several decades, the library operated out of various locations in the community, until it settled in 1995 in a commercial storefront space at 1865 Wayzata Boulevard West.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of a small building housing the Long Lake branch of the Hennepin County Library. Library service to the Long Lake community in western Hennepin County began in 1913. For several decades, the library operated out of various locations in the community, until it settled in 1995 in a commercial storefront space at 1865 Wayzata Boulevard West.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the old Edina Community Library in what had been the D.W. Wallace home, 4120 West 50th Street, Edina, Minnesota. The Edina Community Library is a branch of the Hennepin County Library.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Display area for circulating art prints and special exhibits in the Edina Community Library, a branch of the Hennepin County Library. The building, at 4701 West 50th Street, was designed by Arthur Hickey Associates Architects, was renovated in the 1990s and was used until 2002 when the library moved to its current location.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Adult reading area of the Edina Community Library, a branch of the Hennepin County Library, including numerous sculptures on display. The building, at 4701 West 50th Street, was designed by Arthur Hickey Associates Architects, was renovated in the 1990s and was used until 2002 when the library moved to its current location.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Interior view of the Golden Valley branch of the Hennepin County Library showing a card catalog, stacks, tables and a few patrons. A handwritten note on the photo says, "Very crowded - not enough space for books or people." The library was housed here in the Golden Valley Village Hall from 1958 to 1971.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the small, one-room Hamel branch of the Hennepin County Library. This library operated from 1922 to 1968 and the building is currently used as a local history museum for the town of Hamel.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the entrance to the Long Lake branch of the Hennepin County Library. Library service to the Long Lake community in western Hennepin County began in 1913, when the library was housed out of the Long Lake Bank Building. For several decades, the library operated out of various locations in the community, until it settled in this commercial storefront space in the Long Lake Town Center Mall in 1995.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The main entrance of the Minnetonka Public Library at 17524 Excelsior Boulevard. This building opened in 1989. It sits on land once occupied by the historic Westburg House and Farm in western Minnetonka. Library service to this area of Hennepin County began in the late 1800s, when the library was housed in office space in the Fletcher-Loring Flour Mill at Minnetonka Mills. For over a century, the library operated out of various locations in the community.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the Penn Lake branch of Hennepin County Library, 8800 Penn Avenue South, Bloomington, Minnesota. Nestled between large pine and oak trees, Penn Lake Library opened in 1970 -- the first free-standing library built in the City of Bloomington -- and was renovated in 2003. In the decades before 1970, the library operated out of various locations in the community including Bloomington Schools Administration Building (1954-1957) and Lincoln High School (1957-1962).
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view, with bike racks, of the Penn Lake branch of Hennepin County Library, 8800 Penn Avenue South, Bloomington, Minnesota. Nestled between large pine and oak trees, Penn Lake Library opened in 1970 -- the first free-standing library built in the City of Bloomington -- and was renovated in 2003. In the decades before 1970, the library operated out of various locations in the community including Bloomington Schools Administration Building (1954-1957) and Lincoln High School (1957-1962).
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The first library in the Osseo community opened in 1922 in the Commercial Club Room on the upper floor of the Hovorka drugstore. Over the next several years, the library moved to the local Town Hall, a space in the village s former jail, the Masonic building, and finally to its current location in Osseo City Hall at 415 Central Avenue.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the main entrance of the Plymouth branch of the Hennepin County Library. Built in 1995 at 15700 36th Avenue North, this was the first free-standing library for the City of Plymouth. Space needs led to an expansion in 2010.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the main entrance of the Plymouth branch of the Hennepin County Library. Built in 1995 at 15700 36th Avenue North, this was the first free-standing library for the City of Plymouth. Space needs led to an expansion in 2010.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the main entrance of the Plymouth branch of the Hennepin County Library. Built in 1995 at 15700 36th Avenue North, this was the first free-standing library for the City of Plymouth. Space needs led to an expansion in 2010.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the main entrance of the Plymouth branch of the Hennepin County Library. Built in 1995 at 15700 36th Avenue North, this was the first free-standing library for the City of Plymouth. Space needs led to an expansion in 2010.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Stacks area of the third location of the Richfield Public Library, a branch of the Hennepin County Library. Located at 70th Street and Nicollet Avenue South, this building was in use from 1961 to 1975 and was designed by architect Ralph Shimer, a Richfield resident.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the third location of the Richfield Public Library, a branch of the Hennepin County Library. Located at 70th Street and Nicollet Avenue South, this building was in use from 1961 to 1975 and was designed by architect Ralph Shimer, a Richfield resident.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Taken soon after construction, this photo shows the exterior of the third location of the Richfield Public Library, a branch of the Hennepin County Library. Located at 70th Street and Nicollet Avenue South, this building was in use from 1961 to 1975 and was designed by architect Ralph Shimer, a Richfield resident.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the Robbinsdale branch of the Hennepin County Library, located at 4915 42nd Avenue North. Robbinsdale library patrons are now served by the Rockford Road Library in Crystal, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library