Linden Hills Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Linden Hills Branch Library
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The Linden Hills Library from the south
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2900 W. 43rd Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Bard & Vanderbilt; Pike & Cook |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000540 |
| Added to NRHP | May 26, 2000 |
The Linden Hills Library is a public library located in the Linden Hills neighborhood of southwest Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's a special place where people can read, learn, and connect.
This library first opened its doors in 1911. In 1931, it moved into its very own building. This beautiful building was designed in the Tudor Revival style by Joseph Victor Vanderbilt. The library has been a community hub for many years. It has hosted children's clubs, neighborhood groups, and women's organizations. In 2000, the library was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical building.
Contents
A Special Building
The Linden Hills Library building has many unique features. It has beautiful leaded glass windows. One special window above the entrance honors past generations and their gifts for the future. The library also has outdoor terraces. Inside, you can find two historic fireplaces. These features make it a beloved spot for people living in the neighborhood.
How the Library Started
The Linden Hills Community Library began in 1911. It was located on the first floor of the Lake Harriet Commercial Club Building. Before that, there was a small collection of books in a local store since 1905. In October 1911, the books moved to the Commercial Club. The Library Board officially made Linden Hills a branch library. They bought furniture and 1,000 new books for the community.
For many years, the library rented its space. In 1928, the Commercial Club decided to lease the first floor to the U.S. Post Office. This meant the library had to move upstairs in the same building.
A New Home for Books
Moving the library upstairs caused problems. Older visitors found it hard to climb the stairs. One librarian shared a sad story about an elderly deaf lady. She looked into the old room, saw the "moved" sign, shook her head, and left. This difficulty led to a strong desire for a new, easier-to-access library building.
The library board asked for money to build a new branch. Linden Hills residents even spoke at a city meeting. Their request was first turned down. But in April 1930, a special bond issue was passed. This gave the library $50,000 for a new building.
A new location was bought for $6,000 in June 1930. It was at 2900 West 43rd Street. This spot used to be an old Native American trail to Minnetonka. In 1930, it was a baseball field. The new colonial-style brick building opened on February 5, 1931. It started with 10,000 books.
Joseph V. Vanderbilt's firm, Bard and Vanderbilt, designed the building. Pike and Cook was the company that built it. The basement had the children's library, a staff room, and a kitchen. The main floor was for adult books and had a sun parlor. The building cost about $42,000.
Meet Edith Frost, the First Librarian
Edith Frost was the first librarian at Linden Hills. She worked there from 1911 until she retired in 1946. She moved to Minneapolis with her father and sister, Celia, in 1911. Celia also became a librarian in Minneapolis.
Edith believed the library could be a true community center. She imagined it with clubrooms and an auditorium. She wanted it to work closely with schools and local clubs. Her goal was to create a place with something interesting for everyone in Linden Hills.
Edith worked hard to encourage children to read. She even set up a fun "fish pond" contest. Kids would use a pole with a magnet to "catch" tissue paper fish with paperclips. Each fish would tell them the type of books to read that week.
Edith was a friend of Joseph V. Vanderbilt, the architect. She highly recommended him for the library's design. Her ideas, along with those of Library Director Gratia Countryman, helped create the beautiful building we see today. Edith served the library for many years. She even took time to serve abroad in a Red Cross Canteen during World War I.
Busy Times and Renovations
In the 1950s and 60s, the library was very busy. On June 19, 1961, the library set a record. They checked out 1,500 books in one day! That's about three books every minute.
In 1980 and 1981, the building got a big update. Workers repaired the brickwork, restored the slate roof, and added insulation. They also fixed the windows and added new lighting and heating. The children's area got a new floor. This work cost $43,000.
When the library celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1981, it had about 25,000 hardcover books.
In 1995, a survey asked people about the library. It found that 53% of visitors walked to the library, and 45% drove. For people without children, the library was important for popular books. For families with children, it was seen as a "door to learning" for kids.
Historic Recognition and More Updates
In 1997, the library was named a historically important building by the city. In 2000, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2001, the library underwent another major renovation and added more space. The project added 1,200 square feet. This made the customer service area better. The library closed for over a year for this work. It reopened on May 18, 2002. During this time, a bookmobile served the neighborhood.
The renovation cost $2.3 million. A highlight of this project was a new stained glass artwork. It was installed over the front entrance by Minneapolis artist Phil Daniel.
In 2002, Eleanor Quirt donated a painting by her husband, Walter Quirt. It was from his "Lake Harriet series." This gift celebrated what would have been Walter Quirt's 100th birthday.
Due to budget cuts in 2004, the library's open days were reduced. It went from six days a week to three. A group called "Friends of Linden Hills Library" was formed to support the library. They helped raise money to keep the library open.
In 2008, the Linden Hills Library joined the Hennepin County Library system. This combined the Minneapolis Public Library branches with the larger county library system.
Images for kids
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The Linden Hills Library from the south
