Quatrefoil Library
{{Short description|Non-profit LGBTQ library in Minneapolis}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox library
| name = Quatrefoil Library
| logo = Quatrefoil Library logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = 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.
| image = Quatrefoil Library.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt = 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".
| caption = Quatrefoil Library as seen from the pavement in front of the building.
| country = United States
| type = Special library
| scope = LGBT
| established = {{Start date and age|1983}}
| location = 1220 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota
| coordinates = {{coord|44|56|54.7|N|93|15|24.1|W|display=inline,title}}
| num_branches = 1
| items_collected = Books, magazines, DVDs, VHS tapes
| collection_size = 15,000+ books
7,000+ DVDs
| criteria =
| req_to_access = Library membership
| annual_circulation =
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| budget =
| director =
| num_employees =
| website = {{url|https://qlibrary.org/}}
| references =
}}
Quatrefoil Library is a member-supported, 501(c)(3) non-profit{{cite web |url=http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Charity/SearchResults.asp?FederalID=363297803 |title=Charity Search Results: Quatrefoil Library |publisher=The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson |access-date=June 18, 2016 |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624155548/http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Charity/SearchResults.asp?FederalID=363297803 |url-status=live }} library and community center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.{{Cite journal |date=1986 |title=Quatrefoil: Gay/Lesbian Library |journal=Library Journal |volume=119 |page=25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gNvgAAAAMAAJ |access-date=18 June 2016}} It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was founded by David Irwin and Dick Hewetson in 1983.{{sfn|Keim|2008|p=viii}} It is the second LGBT lending library in the United States,{{sfn|Van Cleve|2012|p=216}} and the oldest such library in the Upper Midwest. 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,{{cite web |url=https://www.qlibrary.org/support/become-a-member/ |title=Become a Member |publisher=Quatrefoil Library |access-date=December 5, 2016 |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103082807/https://www.qlibrary.org/support/become-a-member/ |url-status=live }} 7,000 DVDs, a collection of first editions and rare books,{{sfn|Larsen|2017|p=172-3}} and books in braille.{{sfn|Keim|2008|p=viii}} It hosts poetry readings, panel discussions, book launches, and other events, open to all.
The library celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016.{{cite journal |last1=Frame |first1=Robert |title=In and Out: Thirty Years At the Quatrefoil Library |journal=Hennepin History |date=2016 |volume=75 |issue=2 |page=12 |url=https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll13/id/4170/rec/27 |access-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406141019/https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll13/id/4170/rec/27 |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|last1=Sturdevant|first1=A.|title=LGBT history is lovingly preserved at Quatrefoil Library on Lake Street|journal=MinnPost|date=April 17, 2014|url=https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2014/04/lgbt-history-lovingly-preserved-quatrefoil-library-lake-street|access-date=June 18, 2016|archive-date=July 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702141648/https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2014/04/lgbt-history-lovingly-preserved-quatrefoil-library-lake-street|url-status=live}}
Early history
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.{{Cite news|title=Twin Cities Gaze|date= February 1986}} Sixteen months after its opening, the library moved to a bigger building in St. Paul to accommodate the growing collection.{{sfn|Keim|2008|p=18}} 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.{{Cite book|title=Quatrefoil|last=Barr|first=James|publisher=Greenberg Press|year=1950|oclc=542667}} Founding member David Irwin had been so impressed with the positive portrayal of homosexuality, that he insisted on naming their collection the Quatrefoil Library.{{sfn|Keim|2008|p=7}}
In 2013, the library moved to its present site in Minneapolis with twice as much space as it had in St. Paul.{{cite web |url=https://www.qlibrary.org/about-the-library/history/ |title=History |author= |website=Quatrefoil Library |access-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422155316/https://www.qlibrary.org/about-the-library/history/ |url-status=live }}
In 2019, the library announced the creation of a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students attending college in Minnesota.{{cite web |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/05/21/college-scholarship-opportunities-still-available-for-high-school-seniors/ |title=College Scholarship Opportunities Still Available For High School Seniors |author=Christiane Cordero |website=CBS Minnesota |date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605124734/https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/05/21/college-scholarship-opportunities-still-available-for-high-school-seniors/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://qlibrary.org/free-membership/ |title=Announcing free membership! |date=May 17, 2021 |quote=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. |access-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406141445/https://qlibrary.org/free-membership/ |url-status=live }} In October 2022, it launched Q Digital, a collection of LGBTQ+ ebooks and audiobooks that can be borrowed by Q cardholders for free.{{cite web |url=https://qlibrary.org/quatrefoil-launches-q-digital/ |title=Quatrefoil launches Q Digital! |date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=April 6, 2023 |quote=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. |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406141229/https://qlibrary.org/quatrefoil-launches-q-digital/ |url-status=live }}
Mission statement
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."{{Cite web |url=http://www.qlibrary.org/ |title=A Space for the LGBTQIA+ Community {{
!}} Q Library |access-date=June 10, 2021 |archive-date=June 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610233012/https://qlibrary.org/ |url-status=live }}
Collections
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.{{sfn|Keim|2008|p=18}} The library also houses a collection of rare and out-of-print books.{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/07/14/books-quatrefoil-library |title=From private collection to lending library: Quatrefoil grows as resource for LGBT community |author=Marianne Combs |date=July 14, 2016 |publisher=MPR News |access-date=December 5, 2016 |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221153826/http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/07/14/books-quatrefoil-library |url-status=live }}
Conferences
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.{{Cite book|title=Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users: Essays on Outreach, Service ...|last=Greenblatt|first=Ellen|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|year=2011|isbn=9780786448944|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|pages=147}}
See also
References
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last1=Keim |first1=Adam |title=History of the Quatrefoil Library |date=2008|publisher=Friends of the Bill of Rights |isbn=9780966882827 |url=https://qlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/QUATRE_FINAL_E-BOOK-1.pdf}}
- {{cite book|last1=Van Cleve|first1=Stewart|title=Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota |date=2012 |publisher=Univ Of Minnesota Press}}
- {{cite book |title=111 Places in the Twin Cities that You Must Not Miss |first=Elizabeth Foy |last=Larsen |year=2017 |publisher=Emons Verlang GmbH |isbn=9783740800291 |pages=172–3 }}
External links
- {{Official website|https://qlibrary.org/}}
{{LGBT in Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Libraries in Minnesota
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Minnesota
Category:Organizations established in 1983