East Lake Library
🏢 Hennepin County Library · Minneapolis, Minnesota
East Lake Library
East Lake Library has anchored the Longfellow neighborhood along Minneapolis's busy Lake Street corridor since 1924, the year the neighborhood hummed with manufacturing activity. Expanded and modernized in 2007, it is one of the city's few branches open on Sunday — and the only one in Minneapolis with a dedicated zine collection alongside its multilingual stacks.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 12pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2727 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: (612) 543-8425
Website: hclib.org
Plus Code: 86P8WQX9+66 (Minneapolis, MN)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About East Lake Library
East Lake Library opened in 1924 during the Longfellow neighborhood's major manufacturing boom, when Lake Street was a hub of industrial and commercial life in south Minneapolis. The branch relocated in 1976 to its present address at 2727 East Lake Street to better serve the community, and was significantly renovated and expanded in 2007. Today it stands out in the Hennepin County Library system for two things: its curated zine collection — self-published independent magazines and booklets reflecting the neighborhood's creative culture — and its multilingual materials serving the diverse East Lake Street corridor. The branch offers K–12 homework help tutoring, public computers and a meeting room, and is one of the handful of Minneapolis branches open on Sunday afternoon.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened in 1924 during Longfellow's manufacturing boom — over 100 years of continuous library service on the East Lake Street corridor
- Relocated in 1976 and significantly renovated and expanded in 2007 to meet the neighborhood's growing needs
- Unique zine collection: curated self-published independent magazines reflecting south Minneapolis's creative communities
- Multilingual collections serving the diverse languages spoken along East Lake Street
- Open on Sundays (12–5 pm) — one of a handful of Minneapolis Hennepin County branches with weekend evening options
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
East Lake cardholders access Minnesota's statewide digital collections and Hennepin County's full suite of licensed resources:
📚 Services
- Curated zine collection: self-published independent publications
- Multilingual collections in multiple languages serving diverse east Minneapolis communities
- K–12 homework help and tutoring
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room available for community reservation
- Rotating art installations
- smARTpass: free and discounted admission to 50+ Twin Cities arts venues
- Interlibrary loan through the Hennepin County Library system
🎸 Programs
- Early learning and storytime for children
- K–12 homework help
- Summer learning program
- Arts and culture events
- Books and reading programs
- Community events reflecting the diversity of the East Lake Street neighborhood
📍 Nearby Libraries in South Minneapolis
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Minneapolis · Browse all Minnesota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did East Lake Library open, and what was the neighborhood like then?
East Lake Library opened in 1924 during the Longfellow neighborhood's major manufacturing boom — a time when the Lake Street corridor was filled with industrial shops, factories and commercial activity. The library has served the community for more than 100 years, relocating in 1976 to its current building at 2727 East Lake Street and expanding in 2007.
What is the zine collection at East Lake Library?
East Lake's zine collection is a curated selection of self-published independent magazines, booklets and pamphlets reflecting the creative cultures of south Minneapolis and beyond. Zines cover a wide range of topics — art, politics, music, personal essays, fiction and more. It is the only Hennepin County Library branch in Minneapolis with a dedicated zine collection.
Does East Lake Library have multilingual materials?
Yes. East Lake Library maintains multilingual collections in several languages, reflecting the diverse communities along the East Lake Street corridor. The branch also provides access to Transparent Language Online through Hennepin County Library, with self-paced instruction in more than 70 languages available 24/7.
Is East Lake Library open on Sundays, and what are the evening hours?
Yes — East Lake Library is open Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm, making it one of the few Minneapolis HCL branches with Sunday service. Evening hours (until 8 pm) run Monday through Wednesday. Thursday, Friday and Saturday hours are 9 am–5 pm.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.