Franklin Library
🏢 Hennepin County Library — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Franklin Library
Opened in 1914 as the first Carnegie library in Minneapolis, Franklin Library remains a Renaissance Revival landmark and a hub for the Phillips neighborhood's immigrant communities.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Tuesday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | 12 PM – 5 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 1314 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (612) 543-6925
Website: hclib.org
📖 About Franklin Library
Franklin Library opened in 1914 on East Franklin Avenue as the first of four Carnegie-funded libraries built in Minneapolis, made possible by a $40,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie. Designed by New York library architect Edward Lippincott Tilton in a Renaissance Revival style, it is one of only three surviving Carnegie library buildings in the city and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The branch first served a largely Scandinavian immigrant population and once held the system's largest Scandinavian-language collection. Today, sitting near the Phillips neighborhood where many of Minnesota's newest residents settle, it functions as an immigrant community hub with materials in Arabic, Ojibwe, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish. A $4 million city-funded renovation in 2005 modernized the building while preserving its historic character, restoring skylights and adding expanded children's and teen spaces. The library also offers K-12 homework help tutoring and the multilingual Makoce Collection.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Minneapolis's first Carnegie library, opened in 1914 and designed by architect Edward L. Tilton in Renaissance Revival style
- One of only three surviving Carnegie library branches in the city; listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000
- A community hub for the Phillips neighborhood, with collections in Arabic, Ojibwe, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish
- Restored in a $4 million 2005 renovation that preserved its historic character while adding modern children's and teen spaces
📱 Free with a Hennepin County Library Card
Any Minnesota resident can get a library card free and unlock:
📍 More Hennepin County Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Franklin Library really the oldest Carnegie library in Minneapolis?
Yes. Opened in 1914, Franklin was the first of four Carnegie-funded libraries built in Minneapolis, paid for with a $40,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie, and it is one of only three that survive today.
What languages are represented in Franklin Library's collection?
Reflecting the immigrant communities around the Phillips neighborhood, the branch offers materials in languages including Arabic, Ojibwe, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish.
Was the historic building updated for modern use?
Yes. A $4 million city-funded renovation completed in 2005 modernized the then-91-year-old library, restoring its skylights and adding expanded children's and teen areas while preserving its landmark character.