Cloquet Public Library
🏢 Arrowhead Library System · Cloquet, Minnesota
Cloquet Public Library
Founded in 1895 on a petition from Cloquet's lumber-industry families, rebuilt from the ashes of the catastrophic 1918 fire that destroyed the entire city, and expanded with a modern 7,000-square-foot addition in 2019–2020, the Cloquet Public Library carries more than a century of resilience alongside a strong slate of community programs and free passes to Lake Superior cultural destinations.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:30am–7:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–7:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–7:30pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–7:30pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 320 14TH ST, CLOQUET, MN 55720
Phone: +1218-879-1531
Website: cloquetlibrary.org
Plus Code: 86R9PH82+J9 (CLOQUET, MN)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Cloquet Public Library
The Cloquet Public Library began in 1895 when residents petitioned the village council for public library funding; the first collection occupied a room in the Nelson House building, supported by the lumber industry that had built the city. In October 1918 the library had just completed a major remodel when a catastrophic wildfire swept through the region and destroyed the entire city of Cloquet in a single evening. The library reopened in temporary quarters in 1919, and George S. Shaw's daughters funded a new Carnegie-style "Shaw Memorial Library" building at a cost of $40,000. The library joined the Arrowhead Library System in 1966, enabling resource-sharing across northeastern Minnesota. Voters approved an $800,000 bond in 1987 for the current building at 320 14th Street. A 7,000-square-foot addition — funded through state grants and community donations — was completed in 2019–2020, expanding youth areas and program space. The Shaw Memorial Library Foundation continues to support the library's collection and programs today.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1895, destroyed by the 1918 Cloquet fire, and rebuilt — over 125 years of continuous service through one of Minnesota's worst natural disasters
- Shaw Memorial Library building (1919) built by George S. Shaw's daughters after the fire — the Carnegie-style legacy lives on in the current facility
- Arrowhead Library System member since 1966 — resource-sharing across northeastern Minnesota's Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties
- Free passes to six regional attractions: Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth Children's Museum, Lake Superior Zoo, William A. Irvin Museum, Minnesota Discovery Center, and Minnesota State Parks
- 7,000 sq ft addition (2019–2020) added expanded youth spaces, program rooms, and enhanced accessibility
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your free Cloquet library card unlocks Minnesota's statewide digital resources and on-demand media collections:
📚 Services
- Free library card for Cloquet and Carlton County residents
- Public computers and AirPrinter wireless printing
- Free passes: Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth Children's Museum, Lake Superior Zoo, William A. Irvin Museum, Minnesota Discovery Center, and MN State Parks
- Genealogy section with research resources
- Reservable meeting room
- Interlibrary loan through Arrowhead Library System
- Personal librarian recommendations and reader's advisory
- Book sale Tuesdays 12:30–1:30 pm (Friends of the Library)
🎸 Programs
- Community Chess Club — Fridays 3:30–5 pm, open to all ages
- Family Movie Night
- "All About Bats!" and other educational nature programs
- Kids, teen, and adult programming throughout the year
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Book sale Tuesdays (Friends of the Library)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Carlton County & Greater Duluth
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check out free passes to the Great Lakes Aquarium or Duluth Children's Museum?
The Cloquet Public Library circulates day-use passes to six area attractions: the Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth Children's Museum, Lake Superior Zoo, William A. Irvin Museum, Minnesota Discovery Center, and Minnesota State Parks. Passes are borrowed just like library items — bring your card to the desk or check availability at cloquetlibrary.org. Passes are popular in summer; plan ahead.
What is the Arrowhead Library System and how does it benefit Cloquet cardholders?
Arrowhead Library System is a multi-county cooperative serving northeastern Minnesota that Cloquet joined in 1966. Your Cloquet card lets you request items from any member library and have them delivered to Cloquet for pickup. All members share a single catalog at arrowhead.ent.sirsi.net, and digital resources through ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota) are available to every cardholder.
What happened to the original Cloquet Public Library in 1918?
On October 12, 1918, a catastrophic wildfire — part of the broader Cloquet-Moose Lake fire — destroyed the entire city of Cloquet in a single evening, just hours after the library had completed a major remodel. The library reopened in temporary quarters on Seventh Street in 1919, and philanthropist George S. Shaw's daughters funded a new Shaw Memorial Library building in the Carnegie style at a cost of $40,000. The current 14th Street building, opened 1987 and expanded in 2019–2020, is Cloquet's third library home.
Is there a community chess club at the Cloquet Public Library?
Yes. The Community Chess Club meets every Friday from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the library. It is open to players of all ages and skill levels — beginners are welcome. No registration is required; just bring yourself and your curiosity. Check the Events calendar at cloquetlibrary.org for any schedule changes.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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