Franklin Library offers tech, community, good-old books

Its plain exterior hides a resource-rich and culturally sensitive haven for Cedar-Riverside residents who want a public space or just contemplation.

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By Evan Pederson and Henry Stafford / The Hubbard School

The Franklin Library, the closest library to the Cedar-Riverside community, is a plain building on the outside, but visitors who enter are greeted with colorful signs reflecting the diverse community it serves.

Alphabet drawings in English and Somali are posted on the face of the checkout desk. Children’s artwork and colorful pinwheels hang on the wall along with a welcome sign in colors representing the LGBTQ+ identities, and a colorful mosaic called “Red Lake” depicting the origin story of Anishinaabe people sits atop a mantel between two bookshelves. 

J.R. Genett, the deputy director of support services for the Hennepin County Library, has dedicated her 17-year career to improving libraries like Franklin for the people who need them.

“They want those buildings there,” Genett said. “Maybe they're not coming in to check out books as much, but they're coming into our meeting rooms, they’re coming in to attend programs, they’re coming to use computers and they're coming in to have questions answered. Most of our library users are using us in a variety of ways.”

Jolene Jones, 62, a resident of Phillips and an employee of the Native American Community Development Institute, said the library matters because it is an important place for children to begin their reading journeys and a safe place with resources for those in need. 

“I think the library is very exciting,” Jones said. “I think it's used a lot, and I think it's a necessity for our communities of color especially.”

According to Hennepin County Library data, there were 74,802 visitors to Franklin Library in 2023, and in 2024, it has already recorded more than 87,800 visitors. Of the 15 Minneapolis-based Hennepin County libraries, Franklin Library had the sixth-most visitors in 2023.

The Cedar-Riverside community is also home to a large economically disadvantaged population, with a median household income of $24,660, according to the 2022 American Community Survey. That falls below the federal poverty line for a family of four at $31,200.

“The poverty is very high in this neighborhood,” Jones said. “The amount of renters is very high. So to have access to a library is awesome, because I remember when I was a young and struggling mother, I couldn't afford to buy my child books.”

Beyond physical book checkouts, Franklin Library offers a digital collection, a large array of free-to-use computers, free wifi, charging stations, public bathrooms, meeting rooms and a children’s section with entertainment options, media and literature.

Kelly Stade, the library services manager of four libraries in Minneapolis who has worked at the Hennepin County Library system for 19 years, said she is genuinely excited when anyone enters a library. 

“We are a shared community table,” Stade said. “We are one of the last free and open resources that anyone can come to. Our doors are open, we welcome you, and we strive to serve you and meet you where you're at.”

At Franklin Library alone, staff have held more than 21,000 public computer sessions in 2024, a 23% increase from 2023, according to Hennepin County Library data.

Dan Johnson, 74, has lived in the Cedar-Riverside area since the 1980s and said he still appreciates the resources the library provides for the community, especially its technology. 

“I use the computers for just general stuff like emails and some browsing,” Johnson said. “I’ve had some problems with hackers getting into my stuff, so I come over here in the hopes that I can get away from that to some degree.”

Johnson said he also used the library for a free COVID-19 test.

“It’s a good resource for people that perhaps need help with some things,” Johnson said. “I’ve noticed they have food, canned goods and COVID-19 test kits.”

COVID-19 hit the Hennepin County Library system hard. Most libraries saw a substantial dip in visitors in 2020 and experienced only slow growth in the years following. According to Hennepin County Library data, Franklin Library is now on track to surpass 100,000 visits in 2024, an important landmark in getting back to the 122,016 visitors it saw in 2019.

With the growing amount of help and free resources Hennepin County Library provides, the system saw a 6% increase in total cardholders in 2023, its first increase in more than a decade.

“Libraries are an evolving animal,” said Ted Hathaway, 63, the special collections lead at the Minneapolis Central library. He oversees the digitization of a range of materials, from books, film and yearbooks to photographs and newspapers. 

Hathaway said digitization is the right direction for libraries as it allows for easier, remote access and is an unlimited resource for people. According to Hennepin County Library data, there were 12 million system-wide checkouts in 2023. Of those 12 million, 5.7 million were digital checkouts, compared to only 2.2 million digital checkouts in 2016.

While Genett said physical library visits might be down elsewhere due to an increasing digital database, she also said the Hennepin County Library, and especially the Franklin Library, are still thriving and appreciated for all they provide.

Johnson, for one, said the technology is great, but he still likes to use Franklin Library the old-fashioned way.

“If I’m going to read a book, I like the physical stuff,” Johnson said. “I like to have something I can hold in my hand.”