Roosevelt Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Roosevelt Branch Library
|
|
Roosevelt Library from the east
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 4026 28th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Klarquist, S.M. and Son |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000543 |
| Added to NRHP | May 26, 2000 |
The Roosevelt Library is a special place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's one of many community libraries that are part of the Hennepin County Library System. It used to be part of the Minneapolis Public Library System.
Library Beginnings
The Roosevelt Library first opened in 1922 inside Roosevelt High School. The school and library were named after Theodore Roosevelt, a former U.S. President. This library was in the Standish neighborhood of Minneapolis.
It served both the high school students and the adults living nearby. In the 1920s, many Swedish immigrants moved to Standish. The library helped them learn English and find jobs.
Soon, the library became too small for the growing neighborhood. So, in 1926, the Minneapolis Public Library bought land next to the high school. They hired a company called Klarquist, S.M. and Son to design a new building.
The new library was built with brick and wood in the Tudor Revival style. It looked a bit like the East Lake Community Library, another library in Minneapolis. The Roosevelt Library even had a small front yard.
On February 15, 1927, the new Roosevelt Library opened its doors at 4026 28th Avenue South. It was open most of the day, Monday through Friday, and on Saturday mornings. A quote from Theodore Roosevelt was shared at the opening: "After the church and the school, the free public library is the most effective influence for good in America."
Later Years and Changes
For much of the 20th century, Roosevelt Library was open five or six days a week. Sometimes it was closed on Saturdays, depending on how much money the library had. The number of people using the library also changed with the neighborhood's population.
During World War II, librarians at Roosevelt held special story times for children. Many kids had mothers working and fathers fighting in the war. These story times helped the children feel better and kept them busy.
In 1962, the library tried something new: buying paperback books for teenagers. Roosevelt Library was chosen for this experiment because it was so close to a high school. Later, in 1973, the building got a parking lot and air conditioning.
Plans for the Future
By 1999, Roosevelt Library was smaller than many other Minneapolis Public Libraries. It also didn't have a public meeting room and wasn't easy for everyone to use, especially those with disabilities.
In 2000, voters approved a plan to give money to libraries for improvements. A plan called "Outlook 2010" looked at four ideas for Roosevelt Library:
- Option A: Combine Roosevelt with the nearby Nokomis Community Library into one new, larger building. Both old libraries would close.
- Option B: Move Roosevelt to a bigger building by itself, while Nokomis stayed where it was or moved separately.
- Option C: Make big improvements to the original Roosevelt building. This included adding ramps for wheelchair access and replacing old equipment.
- Option D: Make Roosevelt much bigger by adding more space. It would also become accessible for everyone and get many more books.
None of these exact plans happened. However, the library did get some of the improvements from Options C and D. In 1997, the building became a local historic landmark. Then, on May 26, 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This meant the building could not be destroyed or changed a lot without a public discussion.
Reopening and Renovation
In the early 2000s, the library faced money problems. Roosevelt Library had to close on some days. By December 29, 2006, Roosevelt and two other Minneapolis libraries closed completely. People in the neighborhood were very upset.
In 2007, the Minneapolis Public Library joined the Hennepin County Library System. The Hennepin County Library promised to reopen Roosevelt if the merger was approved. It was, and on January 3, 2008, Roosevelt Library reopened, now as part of the Hennepin County Library System. It was open three days a week.
In 2012, the library closed again for a big renovation. It reopened on June 1, 2013, with many new features! It now has a new meeting room, more public computers, and even iPads for people to use inside. The collection of books and materials was refreshed, and the building's systems were updated.
