Jordan Library Records

Jordan Branch Library opened in 1922 inside the new Jordan Junior High School on the northside of Minneapolis. The library was the first of many library branches operated within Minneapolis Public Schools. In 1941, the Minneapolis Public Library closed all public library branches inside junior high schools including Jordan Junior High.

In 1946, a new Jordan branch opened in a larger space within Jordan Junior High. Officially a branch of the Minneapolis Public Library, not a school library, the new library had its own entrance from the street to serve community members. Students and school staff could also access the library during regular school hours. Jordan was the first new branch library opened since the start of the Minneapolis Public Library bookmobile in 1939.

By the late 1950s, Jordan Library was outgrowing its space. In 1962, the Minneapolis Public Library Board proposed closing Jordan Library in a cost-cutting and reorganization plan. The board's plan called for relocating North Branch (located at 1834 Emerson Ave. N) to a new, larger location nearer Jordan school. In 1964, however, the board decided to close the Jordan Library without relocating North Library. Community members rallied around Jordan Library and campaigned vigorously for its continuation. A neighborhood organization, Jordan Area Action Committee (later Jordan Area Community Council) was formed to fight for the library. The committee and dedicated community members were influential in the decision to keep Jordan Library open until North Regional Library opened nearby in 1971.

From 1968 to 1971, Jordan Library was managed jointly by the Minneapolis Public Library and the Minneapolis Board of Education. The collection focused on children's and youth materials.