Quick Summary
This week I visited the East Lake Library, which first opened in 1924 before relocating to its current location in 1976. The library works to provide access and address the needs of the Longfellow and Phillips communities.
This week I decided to take a trip down memory lane and visit the East Lake Library. My mom would always take my siblings and me to the library before our futsal games, and I remember it being some of the best days when I was younger. We looked forward to using library computers and then checking out books. I would watch Cristiano Ronaldo compilations on YouTube, then read my favorite manga to get hyped before the game. I remember the space being very welcoming and full of resources. Walking in today and being greeted by the friendly staff, it seemed to me that nothing had changed. But it has improved!
East Lake Library first opened in 1924, before relocating to its current location in 1976. The library was remodeled in 2007, expanding its space and using the Minneapolis Central Library as inspiration. Since then, it has worked towards providing access and addressing the needs of the Longfellow and Phillips communities.
Patron Experience Supervisor, Elizabeth Ory, gave me a tour of the library. She supports all aspects of the library, from staff to building-related tasks. Alongside the rest of the staff, Elizabeth helps ensure patrons have access to the resources they need, or are connected with the correct contacts or services. Having been at East Lake for over a year, Elizabeth understands that the library serves a diverse and dynamic community with ever-changing needs. Various programs are available, including storytimes, K-12 homework help, and book clubs and classes. Multiple workshops are held in partnership with local community organizations throughout the year, ranging from job readiness resources to clinics. A unique program East Lake houses is “Streets to Housing,” a weekly program in which a team from Hennepin County offers safe and affordable housing assistance through a trauma-informed approach.
Driving past the library, you can see its commitment to highlighting local art and promoting creativity. As you approach the entrance, Janet Lofquist's etched-glass piece, “Pages,” presents passages from Dr.Seuss's “Cat in the Hat,” the work of Galileo Galilei's, and Miguel de Cervantes's “Don Quixote.” “Zoomorphy,” by artist Zoran Mojsilov, features 10 tons of granite uniquely bound in steel, challenging gravity and giving the illusion of “a mythical beast” or force of nature. The library’s partnership with the Avivo ArtWorks program provides them access to various art pieces that they display and rotate throughout the year. They also have a community artwork display featuring different community partners and organizations, which is also changed periodically. The current display, by E’s Emporium, features an array of handmade and retro furniture and art pieces. East Lake also has an impressive Zine collection, consisting of self-published printed publications by community members promoting creativity and exploring various topics ranging from mental health to activism.
On my return visit to East Lake Library, it was as if I never left. Its values and commitment to serving the community are unchanged, but have expanded. Serving a diverse community requires the East Lake team to be versatile, with its programming and resources changing depending on the needs of the community they strive to reflect. I was happy to see that their manga collection is still exquisite, and there are more new titles, too!
