Bovey Public Library
🏢 Arrowhead Library System · Bovey, Minnesota
Bovey Public Library
Perched on the Iron Range in Itasca County, the Bovey Public Library has served this historic mining community since the early years of the Canisteo Mine era, offering books, computers, and statewide digital access to Itasca County's smallest incorporated city.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–6pm |
| Thursday | 11am–5pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 402 2nd Street, BOVEY, MN 55709
Phone: (218) 245-3691
Website: boveymn.gov
Plus Code: 86V87HWM+5F (BOVEY, MN)
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📖 About Bovey Public Library
Bovey was founded in 1904 when news spread of iron ore deposits near Trout Lake, and the city takes its name from lumber magnate Charles A. Bovey. The adjacent Canisteo Mine operated from 1907 until 1980, shaping the community's character throughout the twentieth century. Today the Bovey Public Library at 402 2nd Street serves a tight-knit community of roughly 800 residents as a full member of the Arrowhead Library System (ALS), the state-designated regional public library system for northeastern Minnesota's seven counties. Through the ALS network, a Bovey card unlocks the statewide Arrowhead catalog, the Electronic Library for Minnesota (ELM) databases, and downloadable titles via Libby. The library is open Monday through Thursday, with Wednesday evening hours that extend to 6 p.m. for after-school and after-work visits.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Serves Bovey, a historic Iron Range mining city founded in 1904 and named for lumber magnate Charles A. Bovey
- Full member of the Arrowhead Library System, the geographically largest regional public library system in Minnesota
- Extended Wednesday hours until 6 p.m. for after-work and after-school visits
- Free access to ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota) databases and Libby eBooks with a library card
- Public computer stations, printing, and free Wi-Fi at 402 2nd Street in downtown Bovey
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A Bovey card unlocks statewide Minnesota digital resources at no charge:
📚 Services
- Book, audiobook, DVD, and magazine lending
- Public computers, printing, scanning, and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through the Arrowhead Library System statewide catalog
- Same-day library card issuance for Bovey and Itasca County residents
- Electronic book ordering — request titles through the ALS network
- Reader's advisory and reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Family and children's programming throughout the year
- Summer reading program
- Community events and local-interest displays
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeastern Minnesota
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What Iron Range history is connected to Bovey, and does the library collect local materials?
Bovey was platted in 1904 on the western Mesabi Iron Range, named for lumber magnate Charles A. Bovey. The Canisteo Mine operated at the edge of town from 1907 to 1980, and the Renaissance Revival Bovey Village Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library serves as a community hub where residents can explore local and regional materials; for deeper Iron Range research, the Arrowhead Library System statewide catalog connects Bovey cardholders to partner collections across northeastern Minnesota.
Which days is the library open, and are there any evening hours?
The library is open Monday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Wednesday 12 p.m.–6 p.m. It is closed Friday through Sunday. Wednesday is the only evening with extended access.
Can I borrow eBooks and audiobooks from Bovey Public Library?
Yes. As a member of the Arrowhead Library System, Bovey Public Library provides access to Libby (OverDrive) for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks and to hoopla for on-demand streaming. You can also search the Electronic Library for Minnesota (ELM) for magazine articles, encyclopedias, and more — all free with a library card.
How do I get a library card at Bovey Public Library?
Stop by the library at 402 2nd Street during open hours with a photo ID showing a current Itasca County address; cards are issued the same day. Cards give access to the Arrowhead Library System's full network of member libraries and statewide digital resources.
🖨 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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