Pierre Bottineau Library
Pierre Bottineau Library is a branch library located in northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was named for Pierre Bottineau, a prominent Minnesota Frontiersman[1] and is one of 41 libraries in the Hennepin County Library System. The library moved to its current location at the historic Grain Belt campus in 2003. The 12,355-square-foot (1,147.8 m2) building combines two historic buildings, the 1893 Wagon Shed and the 1913 Millright Shop,[1] with an addition designed by RSP Architects.[2]
History
The Northeast Minneapolis area had been served by the Minneapolis Public Library since 1913.[1] Prior to its 2003 move to the Grain Belt location, Pierre Bottineau was housed in a 2,044-square-foot (189.9 m2) rented space at 1224 NE. 2nd Street where it had resided since 1957. As of 2000, not only was it the system's only rented space but it was also the smallest at less than half the size of the lobby of the 1961 downtown Minneapolis Central Library. As Pierre Bottineau's capacity was legally set at only 40 occupants, a sign on the door would inform potential patrons that "The library is now full."[3]
The Grain Belt location is six times the size of Pierre Bottineau's previous home and was proposed in 2000 by the Minneapolis Library Board. Support from the Minnesota Historical Society was necessary to proceed with renovations on the site as the Historical Society controlled the $500,000 earmarked for work on the Grain Belt site that the Minnesota Legislature had approved five years before.[3] The total project cost was estimated at $2.5 million of which the Library Board was to pay half. Pierre Bottineau's move to the Grain Belt building was supported by the Sheridan Neighborhood Association and the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, the latter of which sought a grant to refurbish a next-door fountain and park.[3]
Work on the new facility began in 2002[4] and the project ended up totaling $3.1 million.[2] Emphasis in the library was placed on meeting the needs of children as the old Pierre Bottineau received heavy use from school-age youths.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Pierre Bottineau Library". Hennepin County Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ a b "Greener building: Minnesota examples". Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. March 20, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ a b c Brandt, Steve (July 31, 2000). "Proposal calls for brewery to house library". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2015. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^ a b Brandt, Steve (July 12, 2002). "New library is building on history". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2015. – via ProQuest (subscription required)