Quatrefoil Library

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Coordinates: 44°56′54.7″N 93°15′24.1″W / 44.948528°N 93.256694°W / 44.948528; -93.256694
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Quatrefoil Library
The 'Q' in Quatrefoil is big and purple; the rest of the word—which is rendered in black, serif type—is only about one-sixth the height of the 'Q'. It extends to the right; its baseline is above the midline of the 'Q'. The word 'Library' in sans serif is also to the right of the Q, and beneath the rest of the word 'Quatrefoil'. It is in the same purple sans-serif type as the capital 'Q', but less than half the height.
Quatrefoil Library as seen from the sidewalk: the rails of a wheelchair ramp wind up toward a brick building. A sign on the wall reads "Quatrefoil Library". Stenciled on the windows is the abbreviation "Q Library".
Quatrefoil Library as seen from the pavement in front of the building.
Map
44°56′54.7″N 93°15′24.1″W / 44.948528°N 93.256694°W / 44.948528; -93.256694
Location1220 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
TypeSpecial library
ScopeLGBT
Established1983; 41 years ago (1983)
Branches1
Collection
Items collectedBooks, magazines, DVDs, VHS tapes
Size15,000+ books
7,000+ DVDs[1]
Access and use
Access requirementsLibrary membership
Members400+[1]
Other information
Websiteqlibrary.org

Quatrefoil Library is a member-supported, 501(c)(3) non-profit[2] library and community center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.[3] It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was founded by David Irwin and Dick Hewetson in 1983.[4] It is the second LGBT lending library in the United States,[5] and the oldest such library in the Upper Midwest.[6] In the beginning, it was not only an educational resource center but also a safe space for LGBT people. The library houses over 15,000 books,[1] 7,000 DVDs, a collection of first editions and rare books,[7] and books in braille.[4] It hosts poetry readings, panel discussions, book launches, and other events, open to all.

The library celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016.[8][9]

Early history[edit]

The doors of the library officially opened to the public on February 4, 1986. It opened with a significant donation from the collections of David Irwin but afterwards received donations from individuals across the country. Quatrefoil Library shared space with the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union at 1021 West Broadway in Minneapolis.[10] Sixteen months after its opening, the library moved to a bigger building in St. Paul to accommodate the growing collection.[11] Early volunteers and supporters include Jean-Nickolaus Tretter of the Tretter Collection, Tim Campbell who provided ad space in his publication and George Holdgrafer of Lavender magazine. The library published a newsletter, The Gay Bookworm, which was later christened Quatrefolio.

The library took its name from the novel Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel by James Barr.[12] Founding member David Irwin had been so impressed with the positive portrayal of homosexuality, that he insisted on naming their collection the Quatrefoil Library.[13]

In 2013, the library moved to its present site in Minneapolis with twice as much space as it had in St. Paul.[14]

In 2019, the library announced the creation of a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students attending college in Minnesota.[15] In 2021, Quatrefoil switched to a free membership system that enabled anyone to sign up for a library card and borrow materials at no charge.[16] In October 2022, it launched Q Digital, a collection of LGBTQ+ ebooks and audiobooks that can be borrowed by Q cardholders for free.[17]

Mission statement[edit]

The mission of the Quatrefoil Library states that, "Quatrefoil Library is a community center that cultivates the free exchange of ideas and makes accessible LGBTQ+ materials for education and inspiration."[18]

Collections[edit]

The library's collection includes lesbian periodicals, documentaries, gay-themed posters, pulp novels, fiction, non-fiction, art, and photography books. As of 2007, the volume of the collection included more 14,000 books, 1,040 DVDs, 2,123 VHS videotapes, 500 periodicals and 1,550 pulp novels.[11] The library also houses a collection of rare and out-of-print books.[19]

Conferences[edit]

Quatrefoil collaborated with the University of Minnesota Libraries and the Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies to host the 2006 ALMS Conference, the first international conference on LGBT Archives, Libraries, Museums, and Special Collections in Minneapolis.[20]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Become a Member". Quatrefoil Library. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Charity Search Results: Quatrefoil Library". The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "Quatrefoil: Gay/Lesbian Library". Library Journal. 119: 25. 1986. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Keim 2008, p. viii.
  5. ^ Van Cleve 2012, p. 216.
  6. ^ Collins, Jon (September 24, 2013). "Spirit on Lake provides welcoming home for LGBT seniors". Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Larsen 2017, p. 172-3.
  8. ^ Frame, Robert (2016). "In and Out: Thirty Years At the Quatrefoil Library". Hennepin History. 75 (2): 12. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Sturdevant, A. (April 17, 2014). "LGBT history is lovingly preserved at Quatrefoil Library on Lake Street". MinnPost. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "Twin Cities Gaze". February 1986.
  11. ^ a b Keim 2008, p. 18.
  12. ^ Barr, James (1950). Quatrefoil. Greenberg Press. OCLC 542667.
  13. ^ Keim 2008, p. 7.
  14. ^ "History". Quatrefoil Library. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  15. ^ Christiane Cordero (May 21, 2019). "College Scholarship Opportunities Still Available For High School Seniors". CBS Minnesota. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "Announcing free membership!". May 17, 2021. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023. In one of the most significant changes in its 35-year history, Quatrefoil has launched free membership. The change officially went into effect June 1, 2021.
  17. ^ "Quatrefoil launches Q Digital!". October 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023. Quatrefoil Library is pleased to announce the launch of its first-ever collection of e-books and audiobooks. Anyone with a Q Card may browse a diverse and growing selection of new and classic LGBTQ+ books and borrow items with a few clicks. Thanks to the generosity of a Quatrefoil board member and a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, all Q Digital items may be borrowed at no charge.
  18. ^ "A Space for the LGBTQIA+ Community | Q Library". Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Marianne Combs (July 14, 2016). "From private collection to lending library: Quatrefoil grows as resource for LGBT community". MPR News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  20. ^ Greenblatt, Ellen (2011). Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users: Essays on Outreach, Service ... Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 147. ISBN 9780786448944.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Keim, Adam (2008). History of the Quatrefoil Library (PDF). Friends of the Bill of Rights. ISBN 9780966882827.
  • Van Cleve, Stewart (2012). Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota. Univ Of Minnesota Press.
  • Larsen, Elizabeth Foy (2017). 111 Places in the Twin Cities that You Must Not Miss. Emons Verlang GmbH. pp. 172–3. ISBN 9783740800291.

External links[edit]

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