Books are a small part of the joy that libraries bring to communities, especially for children. Since 1893, our library system has touched the lives of countless children each year through story times, magic and puppet shows, author visits, festivals, summer reading programs, indoor play spaces, and so much more.
Take a journey to the past and learn how Hennepin County Libraries have adapted to serve our youngest patrons.
Children have enjoyed designated spaces for learning, reading, and playing in libraries since 1893.
A Room of Their Own
Assistant librarian Gratia Countryman opened one of the country’s first library spaces specifically designed for children in 1893: a reading room in the corridor of the Minneapolis Main Library consisting of 5,000 books that had a circulation of 56,614 in its first year. The Children’s Department of the Minneapolis Public Library was officially established in 1904, with children’s librarians, books, and toys.
The Children's Department at Central Library, 1920s
A children's program at the Seven Corners Library, 1910s
Children became regular after school visitors, enjoying all the special features of this new kind of library room.
Where Kids Can Be Kids
Since the 1890s, dedicated children’s spaces have continuously changed and improved. Today, specially designed welcoming and playful environments allow kids and caretakers to explore books, computers, toys, and other interactive elements that foster learning and fun.
Starting in 1890, the Minneapolis Public Library established 36 branches within local schools.
School Libraries
Head librarian Herbert Putnam established the first branch of the Minneapolis Public Library in the basement of North Side School in 1890. Shortly after, 35 more library branches were opened within the public schools. The elementary school libraries closed in 1958 and donated nearly 80,000 books to the Minneapolis School Board.
Story time has been a beloved part of the library since the very beginning, bringing joy to young readers and their families week after week.
Once Upon A Time
Children’s story hours were established early on and remain a popular activity at libraries today. Librarians may dress up, use puppets and props, and incorporate various forms of movement into the program.
Minneapolis bookstores, the Minneapolis Public Library, and other civic organizations united in 1919 for the first citywide Children’s Book Week.
National Children's Book Week
The new nation-wide literacy campaign sought to teach both parents and children the value of good literature and place more and better books in the home. Children’s Book Week is still celebrated annually in May and November.
Watch Harry the Official Bookworm promote National Book Week in 1975!
Book Week celebrations expanded in 1955 with the first annual Children’s Book Fair.
Book Fair
Book fairs were cosponsored by the library, the Walker Art Center, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Later Book Fairs were hosted by Minneapolis Public Library and Hennepin County Library and funded by Friends.
The book wagon, an early form of a library on wheels, was an incredibly popular resource and evolved into a more sophisticated walk-in truck, becoming the Bookmobile.
Hennepin County Bookmobile
In 1922, Minneapolis Public Library Director Gratia Countryman founded the Hennepin County Library by loading a truck with 200 books and driving to Excelsior, stopping at farmhouses along the way. This Bookmobile — serving suburban and rural communities — was notable for its high circulation rates, especially of children's materials, that reflected its strong community demand and reliance. However, as branch libraries were established throughout the county, circulation declined, leading to its discontinuation in 1995.
The Minneapolis Public Library Bookmobile allowed residents to borrow books and access library resources without having to visit a stationary library branch.
Minneapolis Public Library Bookmobile
Beginning in 1939, bookmobiles became a beloved fixture in the city, bringing educational and literary resources to diverse neighborhoods. The service reached its peak circulation in 1961 but was discontinued in the 1980s. In 1995, the Minneapolis bookmobile was reinstated and continued to serve the Minneapolis community until 2005.
A place for teenagers, called the Young People’s Room, opened at the Central Library in February 1947.
Serving Teens
High schoolers from all over the city met to read books, view high school yearbooks and newspapers, chat, and even watch TV! An official Young Adult Services Department was established in 1960 to better serve teens.
The Children's Readmobile brought early literacy resources and materials to childcare facilities in Hennepin County.
The Readmobile Rolls In
From 1991 to 2009, the Readmobile carried 13,000 volumes of picture books, multicultural materials, easy nonfiction, magazines, audio and video tapes, and puppets, all available for children and their caregivers to check out.
The Readmobile also partnered with the University of Minnesota's Center for Early Education and Development to conduct research on the impact of Readmobile's services on childhood literacy.
All About Kids!
Created by the Hennepin County Library, a local television program called
All About Kids! focused on children's literature, education, and community resources for children and families. Featuring panel discussions and book reviews, the show aired every Tuesday from 1988 to 1999.
Long before they were online, the library's popular book lists were printed and handed out to visitors eager for reading recommendations.
Book Lists for Kids
Librarians have been carefully crafting lists with book recommendations for emerging readers for decades, and they still continue today! Expertly curated lists were used as an outreach tool at schools, community centers, and churches. Today, book recommendations for preschoolers, children, and teens are posted on the library's website.
Kids began exploring the World Wide Web at the library in 1999, opening up exciting new pathways for learning and discovery.
KidLinks
In 1999, KidLinks provided computer workstations dedicated to youth. These centers had guided access for children and their families to the World Wide Web with a pre-selected collection of Internet sites on "The Library Channel," along with access to word processing and other databases geared to kids' information needs.
Shortly after, libraries started building web pages just for teens.
TeenLinks
TeenLinks web pages were developed shortly after KidLinks. Teenagers could find resources that helped them get homework help, connect to community information, and have fun.
Today, library's early learning spaces and programs designed for young patrons are in high demand.
Kids Today
Thanks to generous support of Friends donors, programming for the library's youngest patrons continues to thrive.
To support students across Hennepin County, the library offers Homework Help and Let's Read where participants build foundational reading skills, master academic concepts, foster confidence, and more.
Library programs like the Youth Advisory Committee and various teen tech initiatives help develop professional skills and create future leaders, while thoughtfully designed early learning spaces inspire creativity and nurture curiosity in even our youngest patrons.
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