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
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.
Seen here stamping children's books for checkout, Robin Suhsen was the Princeton Area Branch Librarian from 1987 to 2015, Princeton, 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 the Rockford Road branch of Hennepin County Library at 6401 42nd Avenue North, Crystal, Minnesota. Rockford Road Library opened in 1972 and was renovated in 2013. It serves the cities of Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale. For several decades prior to 1972, library service was provided to area residents out of various locations in the community. The library is named for one of the most historic roads in Hennepin County.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Children's area of the Rockford Road branch of Hennepin County Library at 6401 42nd Avenue North, Crystal, Minnesota. Rockford Road Library opened in 1972 and was renovated in 2013. It serves the cities of Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale. For several decades prior to 1972, library service was provided to area residents out of various locations in the community. The library is named for one of the most historic roads in Hennepin County.
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
Ron McGriff served as Assistant Director of East Central Regional Library from 1976-1984. 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.
Left to right: Ruth Dukelow (CLIC Director, 2012 - 2019) and Mary Parker (Minitex Associate Director for Reference, 1989 - 2012) at the Minitex MnLINK Conference in 2012.
Ruth Lovgren was the Hinckley Public Library Branch Librarian from 1963-1993 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.
Staff from Minitex and the Minnesota Digital Library at a Scan for Keeps event. From left to right: Jolie Graybill, Carla Urban, Greta Bahnemann, and Elizabeth Baus in front of the Northtown Library. Scan for Keeps is a program developed by the Minnesota Digital Library for the purpose of loaning digitization kits for community scanning events. Kits are available for libraries, historical societies, and other organizations to encourage community engagement and foster preservation education.
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
Sue Thue was the Sandstone Public Library Branch Librarian from 1981-2005 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.
Sue Wilson was the Lindstrom Public Library Branch Librarian from 1981-2005 in Lindstrom, 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.
Sue Sharp was the Pine City Public Library Branch Librarian from 1979-1983 in Pine City, 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.
Tim McCluske (MLAC) and Bill Dejohn (Minitex Director, 1984-2012) in the Minitex break room in Andersen Library celebrating Groundhog Day, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Vernis Anderson, clerk at the Headquarters of East Central Regional Library, files locations cards to indicate where items are located throughout the system, 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.
Wendy Prokosch has been the Mora Public Library Branch Librarian since 1978 in Mora, 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.