Exterior view of the Champlin Branch. Library service has been available to Champlin-area residents since the early 1900s. For most of the 20th century, library service was provided in a variety of small community locations.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the Champlin Branch. Library service has been available to Champlin-area residents since the early 1900s. For most of the 20th century, library service was provided in a variety of small community locations.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
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.
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
The Children's Readmobile, jointly operated by the Hennepin County Library and the Minneapolis Public Library. The first Readmobile was purchased in 1991, with a second added in 2003.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
"Mrs. Janet Johnson of the Twin City Dairy Council explains a model dairy farm exhibit loaned by the Council to the Minneapolis Public Library Children's Room. Alyce Mee Underhill, head of the central children's room, is behind Mrs. Johnson. July 21, 1959."
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The card catalog with drawers of cards indexing the library materials were replaced with microfiche readers at East Central Regional Library Headquarters by 1987. 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 charging desk of the main library of the Minneapolis Public Library on a busy morning. At Registration desk, Violet Lux and Constance Burns Hoefer; at Information desk, Violet Lied; at Charging desk, Dorothy Joseph, Donna Hendrickson and Mary Lou Ofstied; in background of Charging desk, Charlotte Matson; pages at table, Frank Schneider, and Carol Leigh. Margaret McGuire is on the patron side of the desk in the Krimmer coat and Glenn M. Lewis, librarian in foreground, December 1949."
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
"Conveyor belt in stack area of new Minneapolis Public Library, 300 Nicollet Avenue. A page is pushing button which will carry bucket of books to its destination. At far left are pneumatic tubes."
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Residents of Crystal, Minnesota were served by a branch of the Hennepin County Library that operated out of a variety of locations, until a number of nearby branches were consolidated into the Rockford Road Library, which opened in 1972.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Darro Willey served as the Director of East Central Regional Library from 1971-1975, supervising the Headquarters addition in Cambridge and library building projects in Lindstrom and Mora during that time. He is pictured here with a sign that says ""Information Power. National Library Week, 1975."" 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.
Diane Skelnick was the Mille Lacs Lake Community Library Branch Librarian from 1986-2002 in 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.
Seated, from left: Bob Boese, Director, Mary Haug, Mary Johnson, Assistant Director, Rita Best, Bob Anderson. Standing, from left: Sally Young, Betty Thompson, Kathryn Keen, David Christianson, Everett Koecher, Wally Bengtson, Linda Boettcher, Wendy Gorham, Phil Meyer, Automation Librarian. 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.
Phil Meyer (right), hired to implement East Central Regional Library's automation system, and a Dynix system representative in the headquarters computer room in Cambridge, Minnesota on the first day of automation, April 1, 1996. 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.
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.
The East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library opened in this building at 2916 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1924. In 1976 the library moved to a new building two blocks west. This building subsequently housed a Montessori day care and a merchandising business.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The children's section in the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library. The East Lake Branch opened in this building at 2916 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1924. In 1976 the library moved to a new building two blocks west.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
A fireplace in the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library. The East Lake Branch opened in this building at 2916 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1924. In 1976 the library moved to a new building two blocks west.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The circulation desk of the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library at 2727 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This facility housed the library branch from 1976 to 2005.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The front entrance of the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library, which opened in this building at 2916 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1924. In 1976 the library moved to a new building two blocks west.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The main entrance of the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library at 2727 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This facility housed the library branch from 1976 to 2005.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library opened in this building at 2916 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1924. In 1976 the library moved to a new building two blocks west. Streetcar tracks are visible running along Lake Street.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The circulation desk of the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library at 2727 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This facility housed the library branch from 1976 to 2005.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The main entrance of the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library at 2727 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This facility housed the library branch from 1976 to 2005.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The front entrance of the East Lake Branch of Minneapolis Public Library, which opened in this building at 2916 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1924. In 1976 the library moved to a new building two blocks west.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Exterior view of the Eden Prairie Community Library. Library service has been available to the Eden Prairie community since 1924, when the first library in Eden Prairie opened in the new Consolidated School. After it closed in 1950, the community was served by the Hennepin County Library bookmobile until 1973 and then a reading center until 1986, when a community library opened.�
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