Saint Paul community members, local leaders, and library supporters gathered on Saturday for a community celebration event to commemorate the grand opening of the new Hamline Midway Library. Located at 1558 W Minnehaha Ave., the much-awaited modern space will serve as an accessible and welcoming place for community members, fostering belonging and connection through intentional, community-informed amenities, design, and features. Download photos from the community celebration event.
“By investing in our libraries, we are investing in our residents,” said Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. "Our new Hamline Midway Library represents the strength and vibrancy of our community. This renovation was made possible by dedicated city staff and partners who understand the true power libraries have in cultivating a city-wide sense of belonging. Thank you to everyone who has helped make the transformation of Hamline Midway Library possible.”
“The grand opening of the new Hamline Midway Library has been a much-anticipated milestone for the many residents and families of the Hamline-Midway neighborhood. I am delighted that it’s officially ready for library users to explore and enjoy,” said Saint Paul City Councilmember Molly Coleman. “As valuable places of connection and discovery, public libraries play a uniquely important role in our city. I encourage everyone to come out and visit!”
The new Hamline Midway Library was created through SPPL's Transforming Libraries initiative and reflects years of community engagement and input, including 2,355 surveys completed; 664 attendees at community events; and other opportunities to share feedback through letters, youth led engagement workshops, interactive art installations where community members doodled their dream library, and more. Key building features include flexible gathering spaces, an outdoor reading garden, quiet rooms, modern technology, and enhanced sustainability features. The new, all-electric building features high-performance mechanical systems, including a geothermal well and heat pump along with solar panels. The one-story library’s layout maximizes accessibility for all library users, providing additional safety with low shelving, strong sightlines throughout the space, and all amenities on one floor.
"We are thrilled to welcome the community into their new, state-of-the-art Hamline Midway Library!" said Saint Paul Public Library Director Maureen Hartman. "This new library building was shaped by community input and feedback, from accessible features to inspiring public art to a dedicated space for teens to flexible spaces for gathering and studying. For generations to come, we imagine this library to serve as place for community connect, learn, discover, and grow.”
Thoughtfully designed to represent the many cultures of the neighborhood today while including nods to its history, the new space creatively retains the previous building’s preserved stone arch entryway as an entrance to the new meeting room; uses salvaged brick in the outdoor reading garden; and repurposes salvaged wood in the community room. During the project’s planning, a diamond brick pattern was discovered in the previous library’s original 1929 draft documents and inspired a unique look to the new library’s exterior.
Local artists with deep connections to Saint Paul created original art to define the space, providing a reflection and connection to the many cultures and stories of Hamline Midway. Check out the exterior mural, bike racks, and 3-D installations near the fireplace and in the children’s area. Materials both new and familiar stock the shelves, with stories that reflect the languages, experiences, histories, and perspectives of the neighborhood.
Learn more about Hamline Midway Library.
The Hamline Midway Library is now open and operating under its previous regular hours: 12-8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. To learn more about SPPL, visit sppl.org.
New capital campaign launches for Saint Paul Public Libraries
As Saint Paul celebrates the opening of Hamline Midway, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library has launched the public phase of its Transform Our Libraries | Discover Our Possibilities community fundraising effort to support visible improvements across all branches. The campaign will support major renovations at Hayden Heights and Riverview libraries; technology investments and Play and Learn spaces at all libraries; and long-term support for the library spaces and programs our community relies on every day.
“The new Hamline Midway library is a powerful example of what happens when a community comes together to invest in its libraries,” said Beth Burns, The Friends Executive Director. “We are excited to invite all of Saint Paul to help transform our libraries and discover the possibilities together—because every neighborhood deserves spaces that are accessible, welcoming, and built to meet our community’s evolving needs.”
The community campaign needs $600,000 more in donations to reach its goal of $10 million by 2027. Community members can join the Transform Our Libraries | Discover Our Possibilities campaign by making a gift online, setting up a monthly donation, or sharing the campaign with friends and family. To learn more and give, visit thefriends.org/discover or visit your neighborhood library branch.
About Transforming Libraries
SPPL is co-creating, with the community, a vision to transform library spaces to meet the wants and needs of community members, both now and for the next generation. In 2019, the SPPL rewrote its mission, vision, values, and goals through community input. One of the key goals resulting from this process was to invest in spaces that are safe, inviting, affirming, and comfortable for people of all cultures, abilities, and communities. Community input also helped develop the Facilities Direction, a document that presents a vision and recommendations for investments in library facilities, including the Hamline Midway, Riverview, and Hayden Heights libraries; enhancements to Play and Learn spaces at all library locations; and improvements to tech-rich spaces at libraries across the city.
About Saint Paul Public Library
At Saint Paul Public Library, we welcome all people to connect, learn, participate, and grow. We are at 14 library locations across Saint Paul, online at sppl.org, and on our app. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.
About The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is an independent, nonprofit organization that invests in libraries through fundraising, advocacy, and programming. Public funding isn’t enough for libraries to provide all the important resources that residents seek, and library branches depend on The Friends to help bridge the gap with support from community supporters, foundations, grants, and businesses.