Coleraine Public Library
🏢 Arrowhead Library System · Coleraine, Minnesota
Coleraine Public Library
The Coleraine Public Library is a 1911 Carnegie library at 203 Cole Avenue, built as part of the Oliver Iron Mining Company's model town on Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. One of the best-preserved Carnegie libraries in the state, it is open Monday through Friday and belongs to the Arrowhead Library System.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–4pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 203 COLE AVENUE, COLERAINE, MN 55722
Phone: (218) 245-2315
Website: alslib.info
Plus Code: 86V87HPG+QF (COLERAINE, MN)
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📖 About Coleraine Public Library
The Coleraine Public Library serves Coleraine, a small village on the western Mesabi Iron Range in Itasca County, Minnesota. The town was laid out in 1909 as the Oliver Iron Mining Company's "model community" — a planned, orderly place for miners' families, in contrast to neighboring Bovey. Oliver's Canisteo district superintendent John C. Greenway set aside two village lots for a library and negotiated a $15,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie; the building was completed in 1910 at a cost of $17,537 and opened its doors on January 2, 1911, with Jennie Bollinger as the first librarian. More than a century later it is still a working public library in its original Carnegie building, often described as one of the best-preserved Carnegie libraries in Minnesota. It is a member of the Arrowhead Library System, which connects public libraries across northeastern Minnesota and provides shared catalog access, mail-a-book delivery and bookmobile service; through the Arrowhead system a Coleraine card also unlocks the statewide Electronic Library for Minnesota (ELM) databases and eBooks on Libby.
⭐ What makes this library special
- A 1910–1911 Andrew Carnegie library, built with a $15,000 Carnegie gift and still in its original building
- Created as part of the Oliver Iron Mining Company's planned "model town" of Coleraine on the Mesabi Iron Range
- Often cited as one of the best-preserved Carnegie libraries in Minnesota
- Member of the Arrowhead Library System — shared catalog, mail-a-book delivery and bookmobile service
- Six public computers, a meeting room and local historical files for Iron Range research
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A free Coleraine Public Library card unlocks eBooks and statewide research tools from any device:
📚 Services
- Free library cards and catalog borrowing
- Six public computers, Wi-Fi and printing
- Meeting room
- Local historical files for Iron Range and family research
- Mail-a-book delivery and interlibrary loan through the Arrowhead Library System
- Children's and youth programming
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programs
- Summer reading
- Adult programs and local-history events
- Book discussion groups
- Community activities
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeastern Minnesota
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in COLERAINE · Browse all Minnesota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Coleraine Public Library really a Carnegie library?
Yes. John C. Greenway, the Oliver Iron Mining Company's district superintendent, negotiated a $15,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie for the building. It was completed in 1910 at a cost of $17,537 and opened on January 2, 1911 — and it still serves the public in that original building, considered one of the best-preserved Carnegie libraries in Minnesota.
Why was the library built as part of a "model town"?
Coleraine was laid out in 1909 as the Oliver Iron Mining Company's planned community for miners and their families, meant to be orderly and family-friendly in contrast to the neighboring town of Bovey. A library was part of that plan, and two village lots were set aside for it.
What are the Coleraine Public Library's hours?
In the winter schedule the library is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and closed on weekends. Hours shift slightly in summer, so it's worth calling (218) 245-2315 if you're visiting between seasons.
Can I borrow from other Minnesota libraries with a Coleraine card?
Yes. Coleraine belongs to the Arrowhead Library System, which offers shared borrowing, mail-a-book delivery and bookmobile service across northeastern Minnesota. Your card also opens the statewide ELM research databases and eBooks on Libby, plus requests through MNLINK.
🖨 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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