North Regional Library Records

Since opening in 1971, North Regional Library at 1315 Lowry Ave. N has served a diverse community in the Near North Community of Minneapolis. First proposed as an addition to the Minneapolis Public Library system in 1964, North Regional was envisioned as a large, regional library to draw patrons from across North Minneapolis. After selecting the block on Lowry Avenue between Fremont and Girard Avenues, Minneapolis architectural firm Miller Dunwiddie was engaged to draw up the plans. In anticipation of the grand opening on October 24, 1971, 25,000 leaflets were sent out to the residents in the neighborhood, inviting them to visit their new library. Minneapolis Public Library director Ernest Gaines envisioned a citywide system of regional libraries like North Regional. A south regional library was planned but never built.

The Emerson Room, located inside North Regional Library, housed a New England literature collection of 500 books donated by J. Harold Kittleson. It was decorated like the interior of a New England home of the 19th century. Books in teh collection included first editions by authors including Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Robert Lowell, Henry David Thoreau, and John Greenleaf Whittier. The collection, now known as the 19th Century Collection, is now housed in Special Collections at the Minneapolis Central Library.

In 2007, North Regional Library was renovated to update its facilities and improve accessibility. Renovations of the 32,600 square foot space were designed by KKE Architects and totaled $4,567,083, with $2.583 million sourced from voter referendum funding, $1.6 million from the City of Minneapolis’ Capital Improvement Program. Additional dollars were provided by the State of Minnesota Department of Education (for an accessibility grant) and from the surrounding Cleveland, Jordan and McKinley neighborhoods, which contributed $32,500. The remodeled space reopened following a renovation on January 27, 2007. An additional renovation was completed in 2020.