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
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 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
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
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