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Augsburg Park Library Records

 Collection
Identifier: HCL 003

Description of Contents

This collection contains fact sheets, brochures, building information, newspaper clippings, correspondence, plans, maps, and other administrative records documenting the history of Augsburg Park Library from 1972 to 2002. The bulk of the information is about the building construction in the 1970s.

Dates

  • 1972 - 2002

Creator

Access

The collection is available for use in Special Collections during the department's open hours.

History

Named after an adjacent park of the same name, Augsburg Park Library at 7100 Nicollet Avenue South opened in February 1975. Following the purchase of 2.8 acres of land by Hennepin County from the City of Richfield for $99,500, InterDesign, Inc. was chosen as the architect and ground was broken on December 20, 1973. The new library was two and a half times larger than its predecessor. Leading up to the approval of the construction, there was one significant and unexpected delay. Soil studies indicated that the ground at Nicollet and 72nd Avenue South consisted of alluvial soil, and needed to be removed before the building began, bumping up construction costs by $35,000. The contract to build the new facility was awarded to Henry O. Mikkelson Company. This library was built on a portion of land previously purchased by the Village of Richfield from Augsburg College in 1949 for $60,000. Costs totaled $889,810 including construction, architect’s fees, the land, landscaping and equipment. In creating the 15,000 square foot building, existing oak trees, remnants of the oak savanna, were retained, as the architects designed a building with staggered windows on the east and west sides.

In August 2013, Augsburg Park Library closed for a one-month remodeling. Updates were made to the building (which had last been remodeled in 2003), with a focus on creating more natural light for patrons, a teen reading lounge, and the addition of a Family Play and Learn Spot with input from the Minnesota Children’s Museum, which provides a dedicated area for children to share, create and play.

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 Augsburg Park Library in Richfield, Minnesota, from 1972 to 2002. Augsburg Park Library is 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.

Related Materials in Hennepin County Library Special Collections

This is one of many collections documenting Hennepin County Library locations. For photographs, see HCL 002 Hennepin County Library Photographs. For earlier, see Richfield Library Records.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jenna Jacobs from August to September 2018.

Title
Augsburg Park Library Records
Status
Completed
Author
KP McClintock
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

Contact:
Minneapolis Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis MN 55401 U.S.A.
612-543-8200