Walker Community Library

Infobox_nrhp | name =Walker Branch Library
nrhp_type =

---

caption = The old library building on the east side of Hennepin Avenue
location= Minneapolis, Minnesota
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 56
lat_seconds = 59
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 93
long_minutes = 17
long_seconds = 52
long_direction = W
locmapin = Minnesota
area =
built =1911
architect= Jackson, Jerome Paul; Elliott, J. & W.A.
architecture= Classical Revival
added = May 26, 2000
governing_body = Private
refnum=00000544cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Walker Branch Library is a branch of the Minneapolis Public Library system in the East Isles neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located on Hennepin Avenue one block north of Lake Street.

Original building

The original building was built in 1911, when the Hennepin/Lake area was sparsely populated. T. B. Walker, the president of the library board at the time, donated some land for the site of the library. The opening of this library coincided with the opening of a streetcar line on Lake Street, and it helped fulfill head librarian Gratia Countryman's wishes to expand the library system and bring books closer to people. Local architect Jerome Paul Jackson designed the library in a Classical Revival design. The portico, with Ionic columns, shows Beaux-Arts characteristics. [cite web|url=http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hpc/landmarks/Hennepin_Ave_2901_Old_Walker_Library.asp|title=Old Walker Branch Library|publisher=Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission|date=February 2007|accessdate=2008-09-29]

Current building

In 1981, the growth of the library required a new building, which was built just across the street at 2880 Hennepin Avenue South. The two main floors of the building are underground. There is a large "LIBRARY" sign on Hennepin Avenue with an entry pavilion to indicate the presence of the library.cite book |last=Millett |first=Larry |authorlink=Larry Millett |title=AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul |year=2007|pages=p. 255] Although the library was built underground to conserve space and save energy [cite web|url=http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/walker.asp|title=Hennepin County Library: Walker|publisher=Hennepin County Library|accessdate=2008-09-29] , the underground building is not very visible. As of 2006, proposals were being considered to replace the library with something that would be more visible.

References