East Lake Community Library
Encyclopedia
The East Lake Community Library is one of 15 branch libraries formerly in the Minneapolis Public Library System and now one of 41 branch libraries in the Hennepin County Library System in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, United States
. Three different buildings have housed the library since 1924.
and Roosevelt Community Library
, which is modeled closely after East Lake. Situated on Lake Street
, it featured simple architecture and a skylight. Because of its appearance, seemingly like a storefront, the library was called a 'Reading Factory'. East Lake was one of the last libraries built in a library 'building boom' that Minneapolis experienced starting in 1905 and ending in 1937.
The first East Lake remained until the mid 1970s when the need for a new, larger library grew. By 1974, East Lake was circulating 121,459 items and fielding tens of thousands of reference questions. In 1976, the library closed and the second incarnation opened. In 1990, Northern Sun Merchandising purchased the building and runs it there to this day. In 2000, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
and SuperValu
store, and helped bring growth to the area. It served patrons of the Longfellow
and Phillips
neighborhoods well (second in circulation numbers to only Washburn Community Library), although by the turn of the century, the building was beginning to show wear.
In 1999,a plan called Outlook Twenty Ten outlined some options for the renewal of the library:
None of Outlook Twenty Ten's original suggestions were followed, and on 30 Apr. 2005, the second East Lake was closed to make way for the third building. The newest East Lake was modeled after Minneapolis's Central Library which at the time was also under construction. It featured a glass and metal exterior and was designed by KKE Architects
. It is the only green branch library
in the system.
The library opened on January 10, 2007. It includes a teen area, a small business/entrepreneurial knoll and fully automated checkout systems.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Three different buildings have housed the library since 1924.
First East Lake
The first East Lake Community Library opened in February, 1924, between the Hosmer Community LibraryHosmer Community Library
The Hosmer Community Library, originally known as the Thirty-Sixth Street Branch Library, is a branch library of the Minneapolis Public Library system located in the Central neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was built in 1916 during a period of rapid immigration into Minneapolis...
and Roosevelt Community Library
Roosevelt Community Library
Roosevelt Community Library is one of 41 branch libraries in the Hennepin County Library System, originally part of the Minneapolis Public Library System as it is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Early years:...
, which is modeled closely after East Lake. Situated on Lake Street
Lake Street (Minneapolis)
Lake Street is a major east-west thoroughfare in Minneapolis, Minnesota which is located between 29th and 31st Streets in south Minneapolis. It was named such because it runs through the Chain of Lakes area on the west side of town and passes over a small channel linking Lake Calhoun and Lake of...
, it featured simple architecture and a skylight. Because of its appearance, seemingly like a storefront, the library was called a 'Reading Factory'. East Lake was one of the last libraries built in a library 'building boom' that Minneapolis experienced starting in 1905 and ending in 1937.
The first East Lake remained until the mid 1970s when the need for a new, larger library grew. By 1974, East Lake was circulating 121,459 items and fielding tens of thousands of reference questions. In 1976, the library closed and the second incarnation opened. In 1990, Northern Sun Merchandising purchased the building and runs it there to this day. In 2000, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Second East Lake
The second East Lake was built two blocks west of the original library. It had 15116 square feet (1,404 m²) of space and 30,000 volumes. It also had a 2390 square feet (222 m²) meeting room. The building was built by the Minnehaha Mall which included a TargetTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
and SuperValu
Supervalu (United States)
SuperValu Inc. is a United States grocery retailer and distributor. The corporation, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has been in business for over a century. It is the third-largest food retailing company in the United States , and ranks #51 on the Fortune 100 list.On June 2, 2006,...
store, and helped bring growth to the area. It served patrons of the Longfellow
Longfellow, Minneapolis
Longfellow is a defined community in Minneapolis, Minnesota which includes five smaller neighborhoods inside of it: Cooper, Hiawatha, Howe, Longfellow, and Seward. Grouped with South Minneapolis along the city's eastern border with the Mississippi River, Longfellow takes its name from Longfellow...
and Phillips
Phillips, Minneapolis
Phillips is a community in Minneapolis, just south of downtown. It is one of the most diverse and culturally-rich communities in Minnesota. Traditionally, it was both a community and a neighborhood . In other words, the Phillips community only contained one neighborhood, also called Phillips...
neighborhoods well (second in circulation numbers to only Washburn Community Library), although by the turn of the century, the building was beginning to show wear.
In 1999,a plan called Outlook Twenty Ten outlined some options for the renewal of the library:
Option A
Option A called for a 6000 square feet (557 m²) expansion to the building, which was to cost almost $3 million.Option B
Option B outlined a 7000 square feet (650 m²) expansion and the acquisition of neighboring properties. This was to allow greater creative flexibility in the designation of a new library building. It was to cost almost $3 million.Option C
Option C simply had the library repaired and slightly renovated. No cost was projected.Third East Lake
KKE Architects
KKE Architects is an architecture firm that serves in the fields of architecture, interior design and architectural planning. KKE is ranked one of the top 50 architectural firms in the country by Building Design & Construction and a Top 500 Design Firm by Engineering News-Record...
. It is the only green branch library
Green library
Green libraries are a part of the larger green building movement. Also known as sustainable libraries, green libraries are being built all over the world, with many high profile projects bringing the concept into the mainstream. Along with library 2.0, green design is an emerging trend, defining...
in the system.
The library opened on January 10, 2007. It includes a teen area, a small business/entrepreneurial knoll and fully automated checkout systems.