THE EAST SIDE FREEDOM LIBRARY IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE PUBLICATION OF
REINVENTING THE PEOPLE’S LIBRARY BY GREG GAUT
Reinventing the People’s Library traces the history of the Arlington Hills Public Library, one of the branches of the St. Paul Public Library funded by Andrew Carnegie, and its reinvention as the East Side Freedom Library, an institution dedicated to telling the stories of the East Side, including the Dakota who first lived here (and still do), European immigrants who settled here in the 19t hand early 20t hcenturies, African Americans and Mexicans who came between the wars, and the more recent immigrants from Southeast Asia, central America, and east Africa, who are revitalizing the area.
This book “demonstrates how faithfully the East Side Freedom Library is carrying on this story of the library as the knitter of social cohesion, the place of community, and the driving force for an informed citizenry.” – Annette Atkins, Professor Emerita of History, College of St. Benedict’s
“Readers encounter a capsule history of the East Side, a primer on the immigration history of St. Paul, the broader story of the emergence of public libraries and their function in Minnesota, and a multi-generational introduction to those committed to social change and community development.” – Michael Lansing, Associate Professor of History, Augsburg University
Greg Gaut earned his doctorate from the University of Minnesota and taught history at St. Mary’s University in Winona until his retirement in 2011. Since then he has focused on historic preservation, preparing nominations for the National Register of Historic Places and for landmark status under local presentation ordinances. He has contributed frequently to the journalMinnesota History, twice winning the David Gebhard Award for best article on Minnesota’s built environment. He has also written Laird’s Legacy: A History of the Winona Public Library.
Reinventing the People’s Library is available for $14.95 from the East Side Freedom Library.
Contact us at [email protected] or 651-207-4926Learn more about us https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org
