If you are settling into a furnished studio downtown for a few weeks, you will probably want something to read, somewhere quiet to work now and then, and a good excuse to leave the apartment on a gray Minnesota afternoon. The Minneapolis Central Library on Nicollet Mall is built for exactly that, and it is part of the same downtown neighborhood as Oakland’s on 9th.
Here is what to know before you go, including the question most newcomers ask first: can a short-term resident get a library card?
Where is the Minneapolis Central Library and when is it open?
According to the Hennepin County Library location page, the Central Library is at 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401. The page lists these hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Hours can change around holidays, so check the page before you head over. The phone number listed is 612-543-8000.
The location page says the first Minneapolis public library building opened in 1889 at 10th Street and Hennepin Avenue, the same year our brownstone was built. The current building opened in 2006 and houses the largest collection in the Hennepin County Library system.
What is there to do at the Central Library besides check out books?
The library lists a long set of features, and several are worth a visit even if you never borrow a thing: the Cargill Gallery, a Piano Room, the Vinyl Revival Listening Room, a Zine Collection, Special Collections, meeting rooms, and a Patent and Trademark Resource Center. It also lists a self-guided tour, which is a low-key way to spend an hour on a cold afternoon. Free library events are posted on the library’s own site.
Can you get a Hennepin County library card during a month-to-month stay?
It depends on who you are, and the library’s library cards page spells out the rules. Hennepin County residents and property owners are eligible for a free card, and can apply online for a digital card. Most Minnesota residents can register their local library card with Hennepin County Library. Non-Minnesota residents can get a fee-based card for $60 a year, which must be applied for in person, expires after 12 months, and covers physical materials only, not downloadable content.
The page does not say how a temporary resident, such as someone in a furnished studio for a month, is treated, and we are not going to guess. If you are planning a longer stay, ask the library staff at the desk which category you fall under before you apply.
How does the library fit into a downtown stay without a car?
Because it sits on Nicollet Mall, the library pairs naturally with the rest of a car-free day downtown. Our guide to coffee shops for remote workers near Oakland’s on 9th covers the other places to open a laptop, and which museums you can reach without a car covers the rainy-day options. For work-from-home basics, see our remote-work guide. For routes and schedules, the Metro Transit trip planner is the reliable tool.
Why Oakland’s on 9th works for a longer stay
Our studios are fully furnished with full kitchens, and WiFi, utilities, heat and laundry are included, with no contract: stay a night, a week or a month. We are a historic 1889 brownstone at 215 South 9th Street, restored in 2019, and some units are pet friendly. The cost breakdown for a furnished month-to-month studio lays out what to expect.
Ready to book? Reserve at our booking page or call us at (612) 314-5124. We would love to host you.
Keep reading: Where Can a Visiting Researcher or Sabbatical Scholar Stay in Minneapolis for a Semester?