Editing Minneapolis Public Library (section)

==Central Library==
{{main|Minneapolis Central Library}}
[[File:Minneapolis Public Library interior.jpg|thumb|left|The atrium of the Central Library]]
[[File:Minneapolis Public Library-central-2006-05-20.jpg|thumb|Interior of Central Library in 2006]]
[[File:Minneapolis Public Library-2007-02-20.jpg|thumb|Periodical stacks at the Central Library]]
The predecessor of Minneapolis's public library was a private library called the Minneapolis Athenæum. It was organized by Minneapolis businessmen in 1859 as a [[subscription library]],<ref name=Athenaeum>[http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/libraries/athenaeum.cfm Minneapolis Athenaeum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302014550/http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/libraries/athenaeum.cfm |date=2012-03-02 }}</ref> and its shares were traded on the local stock market. After T. B. Walker moved to Minneapolis he bought shares in the Athenæum and gave away memberships to it, promoting the idea of a free public library for the city. Other stock holders raised objections, but the technique worked and soon the city financed a free library for the public with a [[mill (currency)|one mill]] property tax.<ref name=Atwater>{{cite book|pages=282–299|volume=1|title=History of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota|author= Atwater, Isaac|year=1893|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rj4VAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> When the Minneapolis Public Library was established in 1885 the Athenæum became a partner of it and still exists as a separate nonprofit organization sharing space with the library.<ref name=Athenaeum/>

Three central libraries have been built in Minneapolis, each replacing the last with a bigger and more up-to-date building.  The first opened in 1889, the second in 1961 and the third and current building in 2006.

On November 7, 2000, Minneapolis voters approved a $140&nbsp;million package to improve library services, including funding a new Central Library building. The building was designed by [[Cesar Pelli]], along with the Minneapolis firm Architectural Alliance,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Star Tribune|url= http://www.startribune.com/10051/story/427016.html| title= Reader friendly: New library is a beacon for books|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721214805/http://www.startribune.com/10051/story/427016.html|date=May 12, 2006|archive-date=July 21, 2006 |first=Linda|last=Mack}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.aia-mn.org/am_magazine/editorial_sept_2006.cfm|title= A Tale of Two Cities|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080704102228/http://www.aia-mn.org/am_magazine/editorial_sept_2006.cfm|archive-date= 2008-07-04}}</ref> It opened to the public on May 20, 2006.  At a cost of $250 per square foot, the library features a host of energy-efficient measures, including a roof garden and substantial daylight. While the building was under construction, most services were provided at the interim Central Library Marquette location, on two floors in [[Marquette Plaza]] (formerly the [[Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis]]). Cost of providing an interim site while the old library was demolished and rebuilt exceeded $10&nbsp;million.

Until the 2002 closure and demolition of the old central library, the [[Minnesota Planetarium Society|Minneapolis Planetarium]] found its home there, possessing a projector machine literally older than the [[space age]] itself (originally delivered and installed in 1954, three years before the launch of [[Sputnik I]]). In 2005, the [[Minnesota Legislature]] apportioned funding for a new planetarium, then planned to be on the roof of the new Central Library building.<ref>[http://www.mplanetarium.org/index.htm Minnesota Planetarium official site]</ref> Instead, the planetarium became part of the new [[Bell Museum of Natural History]] on the [[University of Minnesota]] Saint Paul campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Museum |url=https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/new/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Bell Museum |language=en-US}}</ref>