Minneapolis Public Library Board Records

Collection

Identifier: HCL 075

Staff Only

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Description of Contents

Signed board minutes of the Minneapolis Public Library Board from 1885 to 2007. In later years, corresponding documentation and board packet materials are included with the minutes. From 1885 to 1909, and again in 1911, the minutes were handwritten in bound volumes. All other minutes are typewritten.

Dates

Creation: 1885 - 2007

Creator

Minneapolis Public Library (Organization)

Access

The physical collection is available for use in Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library during the department’s open hours. Board minutes from this collection are available in the Hennepin County Library Organizational Records Collection in the Hennepin County Library Digital Collections.

Biographical / Historical

The Minneapolis Library Board was created in 1885 in conjunction with the founding of the Minneapolis Public Library. Board members were elected or appointed for two- or four-year terms. Until 1965, the mayor of Minneapolis, President of the University of Minnesota, and President of the Minneapolis Board of Education were ex officio members of the library board. In 1965, these ex officio positions were removed and replaced with two board members appointed by the mayor. The library board was responsible for appointing the library director, authorizing a tax levy to support the library, and overseeing library operations.

In 2008, the Minneapolis Public Library merged with the Hennepin County Library, and the Minneapolis Library Board was disbanded.