Margaret Welch Memorial Library
Library Hours Tue, Thu, Sat: 10AM - 2PM
Library Hours Wed, Fri: 1PM - 5PM
The Library is Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Branch Manager | Cheryl Martin | (218) 363-2710 |
Conveniently located right next door to Longville City Hall at 5051 State Highway 84, this charming community fixture loans books, audiotapes, movies, music, and more to library card holders of all ages.
Did you know? Longville is the smallest town in Minnesota to have a public library! And despite being the smallest, the library is BIG on activities, reading incentives, and the latest materials.
Library Board Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every other month. All Board Meetings are open to the general public. (Click Here to View Our City Calendar).
Recent Additions to the Library
A long-awaited dream of the library board, the library's latest expansion began in 2023 and was completed in 2024. This significant project nearly doubled the available space and introduced several new features designed to better serve our community.
The new space features dedicated reading and study areas with comfortable seating and natural lighting. The large print section has been significantly expanded to better serve readers who need larger text. The collection now offers a much wider selection of popular fiction, nonfiction, and reference materials in accessible formats.
A beautifully appointed conference room now provides a versatile space for community meetings, book clubs, tutoring sessions, and small gatherings. Local organizations and groups can reserve this room free of charge. Locally-built pine bookshelves and pod desks add warmth and character to the space.
These additions enhance the services and experience for the thousands of patrons who visit each year, emphasizing the library's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its community. The expansion also helped improve the space for the seasonal programs and activities offered to visiting families and children during the summer.
A Brief History of the Library in Longville
Did you know? Back in 1952, the Longville Library actually started out as a book of the month club! The books were intended for "Longville Ladies Community Aid" members to read, and since they were carried from one meeting to the next it wasn't long before there were too many books to be carried from place to place.
By 1955, The Longville Library Board had been established, and in those early years of the library Margaret Welch was the one who paid the insurance. Margaret also gave a generous amount of books to the library herself while working hard to gather in books from many others. And when her health began to fail in 1958, arrangements were made to change the library’s name to the Margaret Welch Memorial Library.
The library eventually joined the Kitchigami Regional Library System in 1970, and the Friends of the Library later formed in 1986 to help focus public attention on library services, facilities, and needs.
These loyal volunteers and generous donors have been involved with fundraising events for the library for over 35 years, and they are still going strong today! (Click Here to View Upcoming Events at the Library).
Public Library Services
Essential library services including media lending, technology access, document and office support services, and more.
Books and Reference
Movies and Music
Wi-Fi and Computers
Scanner and Fax
Print and Copy
Conference Room
Arts & Crafts
Reading Programs
-
Expanded Collection of Books
(Including LARGE PRINT)
-
Magazines, Periodicals, and Newspapers
-
Movies and Music
(DVDs and CDs)
-
Printer and Copier Machine Access
(Both Color and B&W)
-
Regular book sales take place inside the library year-round, and summer book sales are held in the library parking lot in May, June, July, and September (Click Here to view our City Calendar). Summer book sales are sponsored by the Friends of the Library: Longville Chapter.
Book donations are accepted and appreciated throughout the year for all book sales! Please drop off new or gently used book donations at the library during regular business hours.
All you have to do is come to the library with your parents during the month of your birthday. Apply for a library card, if you don’t already have one, and check out 3 or more books that day. You'll be asked to sign the Birthday Club Register, and you will receive a plush Birthday Bear!
Small children that are too young to apply for a card of their own may check out items on their parent’s card instead.
Seasonal Programs and Services
Unique offerings and seasonal activities including educational workshops, live entertainment, interactive demonstrations, and more.
Painting
Classes
Beading
Classes
Nature
Activities
Summertime
Music Concerts
Weekly Turtle
Race Prizes
Minnesota Zoo
Zoomobile Visits
-
Author Visits
-
Historical Reenactments
-
Jewelry-Making Workshops
-
Children's Life Jackets
(1-Week Check Out)
-
Pre-School Story Time: Held inside the Library every Thursday at 10:30 AM from June through August.
Kid's Summer Craft Time: Held inside the Library every Friday at 1:30 PM in the month of June.