Take a Tour of Minneapolis Central Library with Mary
Minneapolis Central Library is one of the most notable architectural structures in Downtown. What’s discoverable inside the building is even more fascinating. Where else could you select an 18th Century piece of music to play on Emil Oberhoffer’s grand piano? Or be surrounded by notable works of art and literature while browsing the Internet? Docent-led tours of the Central Library are a great opportunity to discover more about the architecture, art, and vast collections of more than just books.
I took a quick tour with docent Mary to learn more about what inspires her at Central Library. We started our tour outside, where Mary instructed me to look up and look around—to really view the library in its ever-changing downtown setting. As we walked into the lobby, she pointed out her favorite architectural feature of the building, the trapezoidal wedge that hangs heavy over the light and glass of the atrium. “There’s lyricism in the architecture,” Mary said. “And tension. Feel that tension and release.”
You get a new feeling and experience on every floor, she explained. The colors, the ceiling heights, the types of collections—all of these changing aspects that alter your experience of the space.
Mary’s favorite collections can be found on the 3rd floor in the Art, Literature, and Music department. Here she pulls out a beautifully illustrated piece of sheet music at random, and begins to read the poetic lyrics. We move over ten feet or so to the picture files, where she opens up a drawer bursting with images of Africa—people, places, art, culture. And just beyond the rows of picture files, we stop to watch a patron playing the piano. Art, music, and books all in one place. All of Mary’s favorite things.
Mary tailors her tours to the group and their personal interests (and she’s had quite the variety!), but she always incorporates aspects of architecture, philosophy, science, art, history, and of course books and literature. A central theme throughout her tours is light—both the brightness and weightlessness of light.
Mary has been a docent at the Central Library for three months. She also leads tours at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Central Library is her “home” branch.
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Come explore Minneapolis Central Library. Tours are offered on the following days:
Monday (2nd and 4th of each month) — 1 p.m.
Wednesday (1st and 3rd of each month) — 6:30 p.m.
Saturday (1st and 3rd of each month) — 11 a.m
Sunday (last Sunday of the month) — 2 p.m.
The Saturday tours include highlights from the James K. Hosmer Special Collections.
Registration is not required. Families are welcome. Groups of 15 or more, or with mobility issues, contact Rochelle at 612-543-8120 or [email protected]
This is the first in a series of Minneapolis Central Library docent profiles.