Historic library serving Minneapolis Indian community to be replaced

Hennepin County has begun the process of decommissioning Franklin Library, a historic branch dedicated to the urban Indian community of south Minneapolis. Library administrators are finalizing a contract with architectural and public engagement firms to define what services the library should provide and where a future building can be located. With its decorative molding and grand staircase just inside the main entrance, Franklin is a classic Carnegie library built in 1914 as one of more than 1,600 around the country funded by the steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie. It’s also one of the county’s smallest libraries, despite being among the heaviest trafficked . Located in the heart of the American Indian Cultural Corridor off two popular bus routes, Franklin Library is full almost every day. Dozens of public computers are in use constantly, and limited shelf space means staff must frequently rotate books in and out. Sparse seating sets up competition between families with children and homeless patrons who use the library as a daytime shelter from the elements. Armed security guards hovering near the main entrance frequently check for substance use in the bathroom stalls. Advertisement Last spring, there were volatile protests at Franklin Library after private security contractors handcuffed a patron to a fence and pepper sprayed witnesses. County Commissioner Angela Conley, who represents the district where the library is located, acknowledged recent conflicts and attributed them to the pains of trying to balance complex community demands in a constrained space. “There’s been incidences, there’s been lots of things happening, there are constituents reaching out to me about getting into the library,” she said. “We want it to be a space that’s welcoming to all, and I think the community deserves that too.” Expanded image view The Hennepin County Library system has decided to move out of the historic Franklin Library building to a new location. Dilan Parekh/The Minnesota Star Tribune Repurposing Franklin? On a recent rainy morning, Franklin Library patrons filled the main level, typing at computers with only the occasional dispatch from the security guard’s radio cutting through the quiet.