Director Bob Boese, with a woman from Isanti County near a book display during the 40th anniversary celebration of the East Central Regional Library, 1999. 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.
East Central Regional Library headquarters staff wear their ""Treasure Your Library"" Summer Reading Program theme t-shirts and pose with a pirate figure and decorations, 1999. From left: Anne Malinowski, Katherine Hovland, Kathy Gardner, Barb Nord, Marcia Ledin, and Vickie Sorn. 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 computer lab funded with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation opened in a portion of the meeting room at East Central Regional Library's Headquarters, Cambridge, Minnesota, December 2001. 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.
Gene Wicht, Isanti County Commissioner, Marlys Palmer, Cambridge Mayor, Ron Drude and Kathy Ellis, East Central Regional Library Board members cut the ribbon at the Gates Computer Lab Open House on Feb. 11, 2002 in East Central Regional Library Headquarters, 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.
East Central Regional Library's last bookmobile. Purchased in 1996 for $103,000, it was the first new bookmobile in 20 years. It was built on a Bluebird bus chassis, held 3,500 items, had an onboard generator and a lift for accessibility, and it featured an ""air ride."" East Central Regional Library ended bookmobile services in May 2009. 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.
Carol Edwards, Youth and Community Services Librarian at East Central Regional Library in 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.
A young reader in the children's section of East Central Regional Library, Cambridge, Minnesota, enjoys the opportunity to listen to a book on cassette while he reads along. By 1974, audio cassette players were available in all of the branch libraries for loan, with a $20.00 refundable deposit and a $2.00 per day charge. In the mid-1990's, East Central Regional Library lent audio cassettes of recorded books. Within a few years, books on compact disc became the format of choice for listening to recorded books. 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.
David Polodna, Assistant Director of East Central Regional Library from 1985-1987 works at his desk at East Central Regional Library Headquarters, 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.
East Central Regional Library bookmobile visiting Cloverton, Pine County, 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.
Elvera Anderson, Reference Librarian at East Central Regional Library, Cambridge, Minnesota, served as Acting Director in 1967 and again from 1970-1971. 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.
Reference Librarians, Kathy Enger and Pauline Helgeland. The East Central Regional Library Reference Department handles requests from all the libraries for materials on a wide variety of subjects. 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.
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.
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 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.
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.