East Central Regional Library — Cambridge
🏢 East Central Regional Library System · Cambridge, Minnesota
East Central Regional Library — Cambridge
Home to Minnesota's oldest regional public library system, the East Central Regional Library's Cambridge location is a fully public lending library — and the headquarters for 14 branches spanning six counties — housed since 2020 in a sun-filled building featuring a gallery of glass sculptures designed by regional children and created by artist Anthony Michaud-Scorza.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–3:30pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 111 Dellwood Street North, Cambridge, MN 55008
Phone: (763) 689-7390
Website: ecrlib.org
Plus Code: 86Q8HQF9+6V (Cambridge, MN)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About East Central Regional Library — Cambridge
The East Central Regional Library (ECRL) was founded in 1959, making it the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Its Cambridge location at 111 Dellwood Street North serves double duty: it is the Cambridge Public Library, open to all residents for lending and programming, and also houses the ECRL administrative headquarters for the entire system. The 2020 building brought together bright, sun-lit reading rooms, a Discovery Center play and learning space for young children, reservable study rooms, and a striking glass sculpture collection — individual pieces designed by schoolchildren from across the six-county region and brought to life by artist Anthony Michaud-Scorza. The ECRL system spans Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties, operating 14 branch locations and an Outreach van that serves patrons who cannot reach a branch. Cambridge cardholders access statewide resources including ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota) and borrow from all ECRL branches on one card.
⭐ What makes this library special
- ECRL was founded in 1959 — the oldest existing regional public library system in the state of Minnesota
- Opened in a new 2020 building featuring a gallery of glass sculptures designed by regional children and created by artist Anthony Michaud-Scorza
- Discovery Center: a dedicated children's play-and-learn space inside the library
- System headquarters and public lending library combined under one roof, serving Isanti County and six-county region
- 14 branches + an Outreach van serving Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
ECRL cardholders throughout the six-county region can access free digital content and research tools statewide:
📚 Services
- Public lending library with physical books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines
- Discovery Center — children's play-and-learn space
- Study room reservations
- Free public computers and Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying, and faxing
- Test proctoring services
- Interlibrary loan through MNLink
- Outreach van services for homebound and remote patrons
- Glass sculpture gallery (permanent installation)
🎸 Programs
- Early literacy and storytime programs for young children
- Homework help and after-school programs
- Reading challenges via Beanstack app
- Community events and adult programming
- Summer Reading Program (all ages, free)
📍 Nearby Libraries in East-Central Minnesota
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cambridge · Browse all Minnesota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cambridge location a public library or just administrative offices?
It is both. The building at 111 Dellwood Street North in Cambridge houses the East Central Regional Library administrative headquarters and the Cambridge Public Library — a fully public lending library open to all residents. You can borrow books, use computers, visit the Discovery Center, and attend programs during regular open hours.
What is the glass sculpture collection at the Cambridge library?
When the ECRL Cambridge location moved into its new 2020 building, it commissioned a permanent gallery of glass sculptures. Each piece was designed by a child from somewhere in the six-county East Central region, then fabricated by artist Anthony Michaud-Scorza. The collection is on display throughout the library and celebrates the communities the system serves.
How many counties and branches does the East Central Regional Library system cover?
ECRL serves six counties in east-central Minnesota: Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine. The system operates 14 branch locations — in Cambridge, Aitkin, Chisago Lakes, Hinckley, McGregor, Milaca, Mille Lacs Lake (Isle), Mora, North Branch, Pine City, Princeton, Rush City, Sandstone, and Wyoming — plus an Outreach van for patrons who cannot reach a branch.
When was the East Central Regional Library system founded?
ECRL was established in 1959, making it the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. The Cambridge library became a branch of ECRL that founding year. The system documented its first 50 years in the book East Central Regional Library: Fifty Years of Connections, 1959–2009.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms 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.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
