Brooklyn Center Library Records
Description of Contents
This collection contains fact sheets, brochures, building information, newspaper clippings, correspondence, plans, maps, and other administrative records documenting the history of Brooklyn Center Library from 1963 to 1981. Many materials were removed from a dismantled scrapbook. Newspaper clippings have been photocopied for preservation purposes.
Dates
- Creation: 1963 - 1981
Creator
- Hennepin County Library (Organization)
Access
The collection is available for use in Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library during the department's open hours.
History
Library service in Brooklyn Center began with a bookmobile. Brooklyn Center Junior Chamber of Commerce members believed that a library was an essential community resource, and met with Helen Young, Director of Hennepin County Library, to learn about what was required to launch the library in the mid-twentieth century. The first library in the Village of Brooklyn Center (as it was then known), at 5601 Osseo Road (subsequently named Brooklyn Boulevard), opened on December 29, 1965. It was the first public library built in the United States which received funds from the 1964 Library Services and Construction Act. The $250,000 price tag was funded in part by the Federal Library Services Act ($60,000) and by bonds sold by the Village of Brooklyn Center ($190,000). Designed by Cerny and Associates, the building was was 12,718 square feet (1,181.5 m2). Books, staff, and furniture were all provided by Hennepin County.
By agreement of the city council, in January 1969, Brooklyn Center’s library was sold to Hennepin County for $185,505 and the library’s land was sold for an additional $34,745. By the summer of 1973, plans were published to replace it with a new regional Hennepin County Library structure, similar to the Southdale Hennepin Area Library that opened in July 1973. The Brooklyn Center Library closed with the opening of the Brookdale Library at 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway in August 1981. The Girl Scouts purchased the building on Brooklyn Boulevard, and it became the headquarters of the Greater Minneapolis Girl Council (now Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis).
Extent
0.42 Linear Feet (1 archival box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Fact sheets, brochures, building information, newspaper clippings, correspondence and other administrative records documenting the history and operations of Brooklyn Center Library in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, from 1963 to 1981. Brooklyn Center Library was part of the Hennepin County Library.
Custodial History
Portions of this collection (accession 2018.16) were previously managed by Hennepin County Library Officially Withdrawn, an organization for retired and former staff of Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection contains materials transferred to the archives by Hennepin County Library administration in 2017 as accession 2018.38 and in 2018 as accession 2018.16.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jenna Jacobs from August to September 2018.
Subject
- Hennepin County Library. Brooklyn Center Library (Organization)
- Title
- Brooklyn Center Library Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jenna Jacobs
- Date
- November 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Hennepin County Library Special Collections Repository
Minneapolis Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis MN 55401 U.S.A.
612-543-8200
specialcoll@hclib.org