Public Libraries in St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota — United States
Public Libraries in St. Paul, Minnesota
The Saint Paul Public Library serves the city from its downtown George Latimer Central Library and neighborhood branches.
3
Libraries
Libraries in St. Paul
Saint Paul Public Library – Riverview
📍 1 E George St, St. Paul, MN 55107
📞 651-292-6626 · 🕑 Mon 12–8, Tue 10–8, Wed 12–8, Thu 10–8, Fri–Sat 10–5:30, Sun closed
Saint Paul Public Library – Arlington Hills
📍 1200 Payne Ave, St. Paul, MN 55130
📞 651-632-3870 · 🕑 Mon–Thu 10–8, Fri–Sat 10–5:30, Sun 1–5
Saint Paul Public Library – George Latimer Central Library
📍 90 W 4th St, St. Paul, MN 55102
📞 651-266-7000 · 🕑 Mon closed, Tue 10–5:30, Wed 12–8, Thu–Sat 10–5:30, Sun 1–5
The Story of the Library in St. Paul
The Saint Paul Public Library was established by the city council on September 7, 1882, beginning with a collection of just over 8,000 books. Today it operates the downtown central library alongside a network of neighborhood branches serving communities across the city.
The downtown George Latimer Central Library opened in 1917 as part of an Italian Renaissance–style building it shares with the James J. Hill Reference Library, funded in part by railroad magnate James J. Hill. The library was renamed in 2014 to honor former mayor George Latimer for his contributions to historic preservation.
About Public Libraries in St. Paul
The Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) serves the city through its downtown George Latimer Central Library and neighborhood branches including Riverview and Arlington Hills. A free SPPL library card is available to anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in Minnesota, and it works at every SPPL location for borrowing books, using computers, and accessing digital collections. Because SPPL belongs to the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA), cardholders can also borrow materials across participating library systems throughout the Twin Cities metro area.
Every Minnesota resident gets free access to ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota), a statewide collection of research databases with magazine, journal, newspaper, and encyclopedia articles plus e-books. Delivered by Minitex, it is available at the library or from home with a Saint Paul Public Library card.
📚 What You Can Access
- 📚 Books, DVDs, and materials to borrow with a free SPPL card
- 📱 eBooks and audiobooks through Libby / OverDrive (MELSA Twin Cities Metro eLibrary)
- 🔎 ELM statewide research databases and encyclopedias
- 🖨️ Public computers, wifi, and printing
- 👨👩👧 Children’s, teen, and family programming
- 🌆 Borrowing across the Twin Cities metro via MELSA member libraries
🏛️ Quick Facts
| Libraries | 3 public locations |
| System | Saint Paul Public Library |
| Central Library | 90 W 4th St, St. Paul, MN 55102 |
| Central phone | 651-266-7000 |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Library card | Free for Minnesota residents |
| State resource | ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota) |
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