East Side Freedom Library
{{Short description|Library in Saint Paul, Minnesota}}
{{Infobox library
| name = East Side Freedom Library
| logo = Logo of the East Side Freedom Library.jpg
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| logo_alt = East Side Freedom Library logo
| image = Arlingtonhills.jpg
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| alt = Exterior of the library
| caption = Exterior of the library
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| established = 2013
| architect = Charles A. Hausler
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| location = 1105 Greenbrier Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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| coordinates = {{coord|44.9745|-93.0714|format=dms|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
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| director = Saengmany Ratsabout
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}}The East Side Freedom Library is an independent, non-profit library in the East Side neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2013 by Beth Cleary and Peter Rachleff,{{Cite journal|last=Rachleff|first=Peter|date=December 2018|title=Creating a Crossroads: At the Intersection of Labor and Immigration History|journal=Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas|volume=15|issue=4|pages=11–12|doi=10.1215/15476715-7127225}} it has occupied the Arlington Hills Carnegie library building since leasing it from the city of Saint Paul in 2014. The building is located in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood which is known for being a working-class neighborhood with a large immigrant population.{{cite news |last1=Grossmann |first1=Mary Ann |title=East Side Freedom Library honors its founder with free symposium |url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/06/03/06-03-pp-f-mycol/ |access-date=14 July 2024 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=3 June 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Nick |title=Once stagnant for economic growth, St. Paul's Payne-Phalen corridor on the rebound |url=https://www.startribune.com/stagnant-payne-phalen-corridor-building-momentum-through-local-businesses-again/600376371/ |access-date=14 July 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=June 27, 2024}} The library's collections and programming focus on the labor history and diverse immigrant communities of the neighborhood.
In summer of 2022, the East Side Freedom Library's board of directors hired ethnographer and community advocate Saengmany Ratsabout as the library's first paid full-time executive director.{{Cite news |last=Melo |first=Frederick |date=August 8, 2022 |title=Laotian refugee, University of Minnesota research tapped to lead St. Paul's East Side Freedom Library |work=TwinCities.com Pioneer Press |url=https://www.twincities.com/2022/08/08/laotian-refugee-university-of-minnesota-researcher-tapped-to-lead-st-pauls-east-side-freedom-library/ |access-date=March 28, 2023}}
Collections and programs
The mission of the East Side Freedom Library is "to mobilize community knowledge for solidarity, advocate for justice and work toward equity for all".{{Cite web|url=https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org/about/|title=About Us|website=East Side Freedom Library|access-date=10 March 2020}} The library's resources and activities serve to provide historical context for the communities of Saint Paul's East Side neighborhood, create connections among them, and encourage celebration of the area's diverse cultures. Events held at the library include workshops, presentations on regional history, and tutoring{{Cite news|last=Walsh|first=James|url=http://www.startribune.com/east-side-freedom-library-continues-to-reach-new-audiences/404393206/|title=East Side Freedom Library Continues to Reach New Audiences: The Staff is Dedicated to Telling the Stories of the Surrounding Community|date=2 December 2016|work=Star Tribune|access-date=10 March 2020}} as well as meetings of clubs and unions.{{Cite book|last=Gaut|first=Greg|title=Reinventing the People's Library|publisher=East Side Freedom Library|year=2019|isbn=9781095283479|location=Saint Paul, MN|pages=111}} The library also functions as a cultural center.{{Cite news|last=Grossman|first=Mary Ann|url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/06/03/06-03-pp-f-mycol/|title=East Side Freedom Library Honors its Founder with Symposium|date=3 June 2018|work=Pioneer Press|access-date=9 March 2020}}
The library's non-circulating collection of over 20,000 books and other items{{Cite book|last=Gaut|first=Greg|title=Reinventing the People's Library|publisher=East Side Freedom Library|year=2019|isbn=9781095283479|location=Saint Paul, MN|pages=110}} focuses on the regional histories of labor, African-Americans, immigration, and social movements.{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Jasmine|url=https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/11/east-side-freedom-library-receives-75000-grant/|title=East Side Freedom Library Receives $75,000 Grant|date=11 July 2019|work=Pioneer Press|access-date=10 March 2020}} The collections have been developed primarily from donations from the personal libraries of a number of scholars, including co-founder Rachleff.
Since 2015, the library has also housed the Hmong Archive.{{Cite journal|last1=Hartlep|first1=Nicholas D.|last2=Xiong|first2=Brian V.|date=Fall–Winter 2018|title=The Hmong Archives as a Community Resource for Social Studies Educators in Saint Paul, Minnesota|journal=The Journal of Educational Foundations|volume=31|issue=3–4|pages=119|via=Education Full Text}} This archive was established in 1999 by Marlin L. Heise, Yuepheng L. Xiong, Tzianeng Vang, and others, and is one of the largest collections of books, documents, and material objects related to Hmong culture and history. It functions as an important resource to the large Hmong community in Minnesota, as well as to educators.{{Cite journal|last1=Hartlep|first1=Nicholas D.|last2=Xiong|first2=Brian V.|date=Fall–Winter 2018|title=The Hmong Archives as a Community Resource for Social Studies Educators in Saint Paul, Minnesota|journal=The Journal of Educational Foundations|volume=31|issue=3–4|pages=146|via=Education Full Text}}
Murals
The East Side Freedom Library features murals by Hmong-American artist Ger (Jackie) Yang.{{Cite book|last=Gaut|first=Greg|title=Reinventing the People's Library|publisher=East Side Freedom Library|year=2019|isbn=9781095283479|location=Saint Paul, MN|pages=116}} Funded by a Knight Foundation grant,{{Cite web|url=https://www.daytonsbluff.org/knight-foundation-arts-challenge-winner-east-side-freedom-library/|title=Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Winner: East Side Freedom Library|website=Dayton's Bluff Community Council|access-date=9 March 2020}} these commissioned murals depict many of the peoples and immigrant groups who have lived in the East Side of Saint Paul, including the Dakota, Hmong, and Karen peoples, African-Americans, and immigrants from Mexico and Europe. Another mural represents the history of labor movements in Saint Paul.
Awards
In 2017, the East Side Freedom Library was awarded the John Sessions Memorial Award by the Reference and User Services Association division of the American Library Association. The award is given to libraries for accomplishments in highlighting the contributions of the labor movement in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://rusaupdate.org/2017/03/east-side-freedom-library-named-winner-of-john-sessions-memorial-award/|title=East Side Freedom Library Named Winner of the John Sessions Memorial Award|date=6 March 2017|website=RUSA Update|access-date=9 March 2020}}
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council awarded the library its Arts Achievement Award in 2017 for commitment to arts in the region.{{Cite web|url=https://mrac.org/2017/07/26/2017-arts-achievement-awards-announced/|title=2017 Arts Achievement Awards Announced|date=26 July 2017|website=Metro Regional Arts Council|access-date=9 March 2020}}
== References ==
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External links
- [https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org/ East Side Freedom Library]
- [https://hmongarchives.org/ Hmong Archives]
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{{Authority control}}
Category:2013 establishments in Minnesota