Robbinsdale Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Robbinsdale Library
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Robbinsdale, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | H. H. Livingston |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001546 |
| Added to NRHP | October 02, 1978 |
The Robbinsdale Library was a special building in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. It opened in 1925 as a place for everyone in the community to read and learn. A group called the Robbinsdale Library Club worked hard to make it happen. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, which means it's an important part of history!
Contents
The Story of Robbinsdale Library
How the Library Started
The idea for a library in Robbinsdale began way back in 1907. That's when the Robbinsdale Library Club first got together. At first, books were kept in the Village Hall. It was a simple start for a big dream!
In 1917, the library got its own small building. It was moved to a spot on Rockford Road. This road is now known as 42nd Avenue North. It was west of the old Great Northern Railway tracks. Today, those tracks are used by the BNSF Railway.
A New Home for Books
The small building soon became too crowded. So, a brand new library was built in the same spot! This bigger and better library opened its doors on January 4, 1926.
Building the new library cost about $8,000 to $9,000. That was a lot of money back then! Local people and the library club gave money to help pay for it. Their donations made the new library possible.
In 1922, the Hennepin County Library system started helping to run the library. But the Robbinsdale Library Club still owned the building and the land it sat on.
What Happened Next?
Over time, the Hennepin County Library system grew. They built a much larger library in Crystal. This new library, called the Rockford Road Library, opened in 1973. It was only about a mile away from the old Robbinsdale library.
Because of the new, bigger library, the old Robbinsdale library closed in 1975. When it closed, it had about 17,000 books! People borrowed books from it over 102,000 times each year.
A Historic Landmark
Even after it closed, the old library building was still important. City Councilman Verne Baker worked hard to get the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This happened in 1978.
Today, you can see a special plaque on the building. It says, "Robbinsdale Community Center, Robbin Gallery - Declared National Historic Site 1978 - Built in 1926 for use as a public library by Robbinsdale Library Club which was founded in 1904 - Donated to the City of Robbinsdale for community use, 1977."
The building is still used by the community today. It is home to the Robbinsdale Historical Society and the Robbin Gallery. It continues to be a special place in Robbinsdale.
