Brainerd Public Library
🏢 Kitchigami Regional Library System · Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd Public Library
One of the Brainerd Lakes area's oldest cultural institutions, the Brainerd Public Library has served Crow Wing County since 1904 — first from a Classical Revival Carnegie building, now from a modern 1986 facility at 416 South Fifth Street — with evening hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Saturday service through the afternoon.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 416 South Fifth Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
Phone: (218) 829-5574
Website: krls.org
Plus Code: 86R79Q3W+MR (Brainerd, MN)
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📖 About Brainerd Public Library
The Brainerd Public Library was established in 1904 with an Andrew Carnegie grant that funded a Classical Revival brick-and-granite building at 206 7th Street North — a structure added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and now home to a law office. In 1969 the library became a founding member of the Kitchigami Regional Library System (KRLS), the regional cooperative covering Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, and Wadena counties and operating ten branches plus a mobile bookmobile. The current library moved in 1986 to its present home at 416 South Fifth Street in downtown Brainerd, where it offers free Wi-Fi, public computers, meeting room reservations, and interlibrary loan through MNLink. Digital access includes CloudLibrary, eBooks Minnesota (ELM), eLibrary MN, and hoopla — all free with a Brainerd card. A Read to a Reading Therapy Dog program, weekly storytime, and two adult book clubs round out the community programming.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1904 with an Andrew Carnegie grant; the original Classical Revival building at 206 7th St N is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1980)
- A founding member of the Kitchigami Regional Library System (KRLS) in 1969, covering five counties in northern Minnesota
- Open six days a week with Tuesday and Wednesday evening hours until 7 p.m. and Saturday service through 4 p.m.
- Read to a Reading Therapy Dog program (by appointment) encouraging young readers in a calm, non-judgmental setting
- Full digital suite: CloudLibrary, ELM databases, eLibrary MN, and hoopla — all free with a KRLS card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Brainerd cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through the Kitchigami system's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Free Wi-Fi and public internet computers
- Meeting room reservations
- Printing, copying, and scanning
- Mobile printing
- Book Club in a Bag sets available for checkout
- Interlibrary loan through MNLink
- Read to a Reading Therapy Dog (by appointment)
🎸 Programs
- Weekly Storytime — Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. (ages 2–8)
- Brainerd Book Club for Adults — 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
- Books, Burgers & Brews Book Club — 4th Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m.
- Read to a Reading Therapy Dog (by appointment)
- Summer Reading Program (all ages, free)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central Minnesota
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Brainerd · Browse all Minnesota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Brainerd Public Library founded and what happened to the original Carnegie building?
The library was established in 1904 with a Carnegie grant that funded a Classical Revival brick-and-granite building at 206 7th Street North in Brainerd. That original building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and has since been used as a law office. In 1986 the library relocated to its current modern facility at 416 South Fifth Street.
What counties does the Kitchigami Regional Library System serve?
The Kitchigami Regional Library System (KRLS), of which the Brainerd Public Library has been a member since 1969, covers five counties in northern Minnesota: Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, and Wadena. The system operates ten branch locations plus a mobile bookmobile service. Your Brainerd card works at any KRLS branch.
What are the Brainerd Public Library's hours and when is it open in the evening?
The library is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
Does the Brainerd Public Library have a book club or children's programs?
Yes. The library runs two adult book clubs — the Brainerd Book Club (2nd Wednesday at 1 p.m.) and Books, Burgers & Brews (4th Monday at 6 p.m.) — plus a weekly Storytime for children ages 2–8 every Thursday at 11 a.m. The Read to a Reading Therapy Dog program is available by appointment for young readers.
🖨 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.