Brooklyn Park Library

Brooklyn Park Library
General information
Address 8600 Zane Avenue North
Town or city Brooklyn, MN
Coordinates 45°06′40″N 93°21′21″W / 45.1111°N 93.3559°W / 45.1111; -93.3559
Opening 1976
Brooklyn Park Library interior, 1976.
Brooklyn Park Library interior, 1976.
Brooklyn Park Library interior, 1976.

Brooklyn Park Library, located at 8600 Zane Avenue North in Brooklyn Park, has served patrons at that location since 1976. Designed by Setter, Leach and Lindstrom, at a cost of $814,651, the library is 15,100 square feet[1] and was renovated in 1999. Bookmobile service was provided by Hennepin County Library previously.

New Brooklyn Park Library

In November 2013, Hennepin County Board approved construction plans for a new library in Brooklyn Park at the northeast intersection of 85th Avenue and West Broadway.[2] The new building, set to open in 2016, will more than double the size of the current space to better meet the growing community’s needs. Feedback from the public regarding their vision of the new library was received through a survey[3] and a series of community meetings.[4] Costs are budgeted at $23.5 million.[5] Designed by Hammel Green and Abrahamson Architects & Engineers, and measuring 39,000 square feet, the new building will include a children’s interactive zone, a tech studio and several reading lounges.[6] The children’s area has been designed in collaboration with Minnesota Children’s Museum and will invite families to linger and enjoy reading, learning and playing at the library.[7] Patrons will be able to experience the library as living room for the community: it will include an open floor plan to facilitate interactions among patrons.[8] The new library will incorporate the State of Minnesota’s Sustainable Building Guidelines.

Vibrant Community

A reflection of the growing population and cultural plurality of Brooklyn Park and adjacent cities, three themes will anchor the new library: STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math); world culture; and geography.[9] A look at the primary home language for residents in Brooklyn Park reflects the growth and change in the city: 24% speak a language other than English. A total of 42 different languages are spoken in 11 elementary schools in the city, including Spanish, Hmong, Vietnamese, Creolized English, Lao and a combination of other Liberian languages.[10] Currently, the library’s holdings include materials in Hmong, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Art at the Library

Bruce E. Nygren, a Minneapolis-based painter, created the mural in the current children’s area. It depicts a reflecting pool made up of familiar objects in playful juxtaposition. Included are an elephant standing atop a stack of books, a penguin riding a car, pears larger than trucks, and a monkey sitting in the middle. Installed in 2004, it is 25 feet long and invites patrons reflect on Nygren’s clever use of the horizon line.[11]

Programming at the Library

Homework tutors are available several days a week in the afternoons. A meeting room is also available for patrons’ use. Family and Baby Storytimes, Teen Tech Workshops, Adult Homework Help, Learn Together events for K-3 students, and Senior Surf Day are examples of popular programs. Friends of the Brooklyn Park Library actively support the library through book sales, volunteering, and fundraising, in addition to being the voice of the library in the community.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Hennepin County Library, “Brooklyn Park Library Schematic Design Approved,” 11/ 20/ 2013, http://www.hclib.org/about/news/brooklyn-park-library-building-project/schematic-design-approved
  2. ↑ Hennepin County Library, “Brooklyn Park Library Schematic Design Approved,” November 20, 2013, http://www.hclib.org/about/news/brooklyn-park-library-building-project/schematic-design-approved
  3. ↑ “County Seeks Feedback for new Brooklyn Park Library,” Sun Post, 7/25/2014, http://post.mnsun.com/2014/07/county-seeks-feedback-for-new-brooklyn-park-library/
  4. ↑ Baca, Maria Elena, “Wanted: Brooklyn Park Residents to Shape a Library,” Star Tribune, 1/11/2011, http://www.startribune.com/local/north/113136994.html
  5. ↑ Schlosser, Gretchen, “Groundbreaking for Brooklyn Park Library April 29,” Sun Post, 4/22/2015, http://post.mnsun.com/2015/04/groundbreaking-for-brooklyn-park-library-april-29
  6. ↑ Hennepin County Library, “New Brooklyn Park Library Groundbreaking April 29,” 4/8/2015, http://www.hclib.org/about/news/brooklyn-park-library-building-project/groundbreaking
  7. ↑ Schlosser, Gretchen, “Groundbreaking for Brooklyn Park Library April 29,” Sun Post, 4/22/2015, http://post.mnsun.com/2015/04/groundbreaking-for-brooklyn-park-library-april-29/
  8. ↑ Zamora, Karen, “New Library in Brooklyn Park Closer to Reality,” Star Tribune, 1/13/2015, http://www.startribune.com/local/west/288434521.html
  9. ↑ HGA, “Hennepin County Library-Brookdale,” http://hga.com/work/hennepin-county-library-brookdale
  10. ↑ Hennepin County Library, “Brooklyn Park Library Community Advisory Committee,” p. 19, 1/13/2011, http://www.hclib.org/about/building-projects/current-projects-container/current-projects/brooklyn-park-library/~/media/F0EDE51E8DCD4098BA9D67776CDEEB21.ashx
  11. ↑ Nygren, Bruce Resume, http://housescanfly.com/BruceNygrenResume.pdf
  12. ↑ Friends of the Hennepin County Library, “Brooklyn Park Library,” http://www.supporthclib.org/group/brooklyn-park-library/
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