Nokomis Library
🏢 Hennepin County Library · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nokomis Library
Nokomis Library sits in the heart of Minneapolis's Longfellow neighborhood, named for the grandmother figure in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem 'The Song of Hiawatha' — the same literary landscape that shaped the area's street names and parks. Built in 1968 to echo its storied surroundings and renovated in 2011 with Minnesota limestone, it is open late Monday and Thursday evenings for the community it serves.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 5100 34th Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Phone: (612) 543-6800
Website: hclib.org
Plus Code: 86P8WQ6G+6R (Minneapolis, MN)
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📖 About Nokomis Library
Nokomis Library is one of 41 locations in the Hennepin County Library system, serving the Longfellow and Nokomis neighborhoods on Minneapolis's south side. The building dates to 1968, when its design intentionally reflected the spirit of the surrounding Hiawatha country celebrated in Longfellow's 1855 poem; a 2011 renovation refreshed the space and wrapped it in Minnesota limestone. Today the branch offers rotating art exhibitions, multilingual collections, K–12 homework tutoring, and a popular seed library program where patrons can borrow seeds for their home gardens. The branch draws readers from the nearby Lake Nokomis park corridor and remains a hub for community gatherings, youth summer learning, and digital access through HCL's statewide and local online resources.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Built 1968 with an architecture intentionally evoking Hiawatha country from Longfellow's epic poem — renovated in 2011 with Minnesota limestone
- Seed library program: borrow vegetable, herb, and flower seeds free with a Hennepin County card
- Rotating art exhibitions displayed throughout the branch gallery
- Multilingual collections and K–12 homework tutoring
- Extended evening hours Monday and Thursday until 8 p.m. for after-school and after-work visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Nokomis Library cardholders unlock Minnesota's statewide digital collections and Hennepin County's own online resources:
📚 Services
- Seed library — borrow seeds for home gardening
- Rotating art exhibitions
- Multilingual print collections
- K–12 homework tutoring
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room available for community use
- Interlibrary loan through the Hennepin County Library system
🎸 Programs
- Summer learning programs for children and teens
- Community events and author presentations
- Children's storytimes and youth activities
- Friends of the Nokomis Library community group
📍 Nearby Libraries in Minneapolis
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Minneapolis · Browse all Minnesota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the library called 'Nokomis' and what does that name mean?
The name Nokomis comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem 'The Song of Hiawatha,' in which Nokomis is the grandmother of the hero Hiawatha. The surrounding Minneapolis neighborhood and the nearby lake share the same name, all inspired by the poem's portrayal of the legendary Ojibwe landscape in the region.
What is the seed library at Nokomis, and how does it work?
The seed library is a free program where Hennepin County Library cardholders can borrow packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds to plant at home. You check out seeds just like books and, ideally, save and return some at the end of the growing season to replenish the collection for other gardeners.
When was Nokomis Library built and has it been renovated?
The building was constructed in 1968, designed to reflect the Hiawatha poem heritage of the surrounding Longfellow neighborhood. It was renovated in 2011, when the exterior was updated with Minnesota limestone as part of a broader refresh of the branch.
Which evenings is Nokomis Library open late?
Nokomis Library has extended hours on Monday and Thursday, staying open until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday it closes at 5 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday it is closed.
🖨 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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