Hosmer Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Thirty-sixth Street Branch Library
|
|
The Hosmer Library viewed from the north
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 347 E 36th St, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Whitfield, Henry D.; Brown, James H. and Co. |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000541 |
| Added to NRHP | May 26, 2000 |
The Hosmer Library, also known as the Thirty-Sixth Street Branch Library, is a public library in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is part of the Hennepin County Library system. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This means it is recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
Contents
History of Hosmer Library
The Hosmer Library was built in 1916. At that time, many new people were moving to Minneapolis. The library was in a quiet neighborhood where many people from Scandinavia lived. It was also close to Central High School, which is no longer there.
A famous librarian named Gratia Countryman helped make this library happen. The money for the building came from the Carnegie Corporation. This was a group started by Andrew Carnegie, who was a very rich businessman. He gave money to build many libraries across the country. Hosmer Library was the last of four Carnegie branch libraries built in Minneapolis.
The building looks like an old college building, a style called Collegiate Gothic. It has round towers on both sides of the main door. The roofline has a decorative wall that looks like a castle, called a crenellated parapet. It also has special clay decorations, known as terra cotta trim.
Construction started in May 1914. The building cost about $27,700. It was designed by Henry D. Whitefield, who was Andrew Carnegie's brother-in-law. The library opened on March 8, 1916. In 1926, it was renamed to honor James Kendall Hosmer. He was the second city librarian for Minneapolis. The two stone lion-dog statues outside the entrance were a gift from Mrs. Lewis Gillette's family.
Libraries like Hosmer were built near streetcar lines so people could easily visit. Hosmer Library is one of nine Minneapolis libraries still open today. These libraries exist thanks to Gratia Countryman's hard work. She helped build the library system for the city.
When it first opened, the neighborhood around Hosmer Library was mostly Scandinavian. By 1969, the neighborhood had changed. The library then opened a special reading room for African American patrons. Today, Hosmer Library is one of eight Minneapolis public libraries listed as historic landmarks.
Library Leader Roy Woodstrom
For many years, Roy Woodstrom was the head librarian at Hosmer. He brought many new ideas to help library users. In 2004, the city cut library budgets. Hosmer Library's open days dropped to four days a week. Neighbors in the area worked together to help. The Bancroft Neighborhood Association gave $7,000 to Hosmer. This allowed the library to open five days a week again.
Roy Woodstrom also started the Hosmer World Music Concert Series in 2002. These concerts feature live music on Saturday afternoons. Different groups help pay for these concerts. He also created the Hosmer Library Talent Show in 1998. This became a popular yearly event for local performers.
Woodstrom also started the Hosmer Library Friends Group. This group helps the library in many ways. They volunteer, sell books, and raise money. They also connect the library with the community. Another program he started was the World Film Series. Roy Woodstrom retired in 2014.
Making the Building Better
Over the years, the Hosmer Library building has been updated. In 1951, a cover was added to the east side stairway. In 1980, a ground-level entrance and an elevator were added. This made the building easier for everyone to use.
By 1996, the library needed a big update. The Minneapolis Library Board thought about closing Hosmer. But neighbors from several areas worked together. They raised over $157,000 to keep their library open. Their efforts worked! After the remodel, many more people visited the library. The number of books checked out tripled.
In August 2019, Hosmer Library was updated again. New areas were added just for teens and children. Other parts of the library were also improved.
Special Programs for Kids and Teens
Hosmer Library offers many helpful programs. One popular program is K-12 Homework Help. This helps students with their schoolwork. Every year, the library celebrates James Hosmer's birthday. They have parties and show exhibits about his work.
Today, Hosmer Library is still a busy place. It helps people find information. It also offers creative and valuable programs for the community. For example, the Teen Tech Squad is a program based on STEAM. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. This program helps teens learn new skills.
