One of my favorite Hennepin county library branches because of the wonderful kids library/section…read more The kids library section has an exploration station that changes out quarterly for kids to explore and learn. There are also comfy couches for reading and toys to play with. There is a wonderful childrens librarian who coordinates story time and other age appropriate activities. Two things to note: 1) getting in and out of the parking lot is sometimes hard going east on broadway. 2) this branch is closed on Sundays

Beautiful library with a great story. Built in 2003 using the materials of disassembled out…read morebuildings on the Grain Belt campus, this full service library provides great public access to library resources. It's a very welcoming public space, a great resource for all. Definitely lots of cool stuff to look at, worth a stop!

What a delightful space to read newspapers and enjoy the AC! We found this gem while visiting the…read morearea from Oregon. Thanks for sharing.

I have lived in this neighborhood for 35 years. is one of the places I visit at least once a week…read more They always have welcoming staff, a good supply of Lucky Day books, a deep supply of book choices, a great play area for kids and a wonderful architectural aesthetic. I would highly recommend this library to anyone in the neighborhood. Or visitors.

The library is really nice and has ample street and lot parking, but I was mostly in the meeting…read moreroom so this is what the review is based on. The community meeting room is to your right and down the stairs when you first bête the doors. They keep the extra chairs in the basement so it feels a little like a storage closet at first. The meeting room is very spacious and includes a podium, microphone, large moveable tables with chairs and a white board. It does feel a bit like you're in a planetarium or severe weather shelter (which it probably is), but overall it's a decent space you can book for free. I definitely want to come back and check out the actual library sometime.

Another nice entry in the large connection of Hennepin County libraries. Interesting architecture,…read morenice art, seating for studying and reading near the interesting placement of exterior windows. I recommend you check them all out!

Here's one example of the good that's coming from the Twins Stadium: the Central library branch is…read morenow open 7 days a week! If you are a parent and looking for a good spot to spend a winter afternoon, the downtown library is a fabulous choice. The children's center has a ton for the little ones to explore. With foam blocks, games, dvd's music and loads of books in English, Spanish and French, our afternoon flew by. Overall, it's a gorgeous space. Definitely an awesome addition to downtown.

This is a really nice Library!! It's smaller but more modern looking inside. Lots of seating…read moreoptions. I will say we went during the day on a Friday and it was pretty loud. They had toddler activities or something going on. It was a lot. Probably not idea for a quiet work space but it's cool that they offer that.

This library is STUNNING. I don't think I could possibly take photographs that would do it justice,…read moreit's an architectural piece of art. Manages to be huge and modern and glassy while still feeling cozy. It's my absolute favorite place to curl up with a book for a few hours, or bring my laptop and work on writing my novel. It is also very clean, including the bathrooms, with helpful staff. I will say there are many homeless people who like to sleep on the comfy furniture here, and the stench can be something fierce. I'm not trying to be insensitive, but really... the smell is enough to gag me. But when I lived in Honolulu and Portland they had this same problem in the grand main branch of their library. I think it's just what happens in major cities. Fortunately, there are three floors of reading lofts where they do not go, and also all four floors have private study rooms available. You can reserve them online, or you can ask to be let into a walk-in one. They always have several available. Another nice thing about this library is the desks. They have reading lamps and power outlets for laptops. And the place is flooded with natural light. It makes a huge difference in my mental focus and clarity of mind to research or write somewhere with light that is both bright and soft, with a controlled temperature. We are lucky to have this library.

Come here often over the years. Nicely designed. Excellent selection of books and media. Great…read moremeeting and conference rooms.

Another nice library in the Hennepin County system! Lots of materials to access, attractively…read moredecorated and appointed! Another "must stop"!

Fun little library in downtown Excelsior. Worth a stop if you are here with young kids who like to…read moreplay in libraries like mine does.

Very unique public library with great art and access. Resources for everyone including community…read morematerials, children's books and resources, and of course books, computers and everything for adults to meet, study, or just relax. Nicely nestled into Dinkytown, the library is a great community resource and positive reflection upon its namesake. Be sure to ask for the tour if you choose to stop by!

Time for a new review. We can now ignore my previous review as the building has been completely…read morerenovated and modernized and using two floors now. Expanded spaces in every department and a very large children's section. More computers, more meeting rooms, and a discovery area with more classic and new novels which were almost starting to be a thing of the past in the old space. Wha books? No books here, just videos and music. So now books galore and everything else and showcasing the beautiful unique architecture of Ralph Rapson.

Great old Carnegie library, one of the 4 in Mnpls. Cool old style architecture and design, filled…read morewith rich local artists and content. Well utilized and busy even on a weekday afternoon, this library appears to be more of a rich community center than "just a library". Take some time to dig into this well preserved and stocked snapshot into local culture and history.

This is a Andrew Carnegie Library, on the list of US National Register of Historic Places! The…read morelibrary is well worth the visit, even if you're not in the mood for a book! From the wide entrance up the steps to the mosaic on the fireplace, the skylight and beautiful windows, you can feel the love and historical importance of this place. It has always been the Phillips neighborhood library, home to the immigrants that were here. Originally, the shelves included Scandinavian materials-today it reflects the current neighborhood. If you have a question (which I did), you can find a friendly HELPFUL librarian at the reference desk. The librarian didn't know the answer to my question, but together we found the answers online! Just what I hope everyone learns at a library: you don't have to know everything but you can find out by asking questions and looking things up! Cheers to the Franklin Library!