The Gale Family Library is located on the second floor of the Minnesota History Center. The Minnesota History Center is on the northern edge of downtown St. Paul, across from the St. Paul Cathedral at the corner of Kellogg Boulevard West and John Ireland Boulevard.
The main entrance faces the parking lot, which can be entered from Kellogg Boulevard West.
The parking lot entrance is off Kellogg Boulevard. Daily parking is $6 (History Center members receive a discounted rate when they show their card). Public and disability access is at the front entrance off John Ireland Boulevard.
Limited disability parking is available free of charge (with permit) at the parking meters when you pull into the History Center entrance driveway. Additional disability parking is available for a fee in the parking lot.
A sensory map of the Minnesota History Center is available for viewing and download here (pdf).
When you first enter the Minnesota History Center, you will walk down a long hallway with Cafe Minnesota to your right. You will enter another set of doors into the rotunda of the building with the ticket window on the right side.
If you are planning to come directly to the library, you do not need to stop at the ticket window. You can take the stairs which are just to the right of the ticket window or continue past the stairs to the set of elevators.
Once you are on the second floor, you will either take a right from the elevator or a left from the stairs. You will see a set of double glass doors which open to the library lobby.
Once you are in the library lobby, one of our friendly volunteers will be able to check you in. If this is your first time visiting the library, they will ask for a picture I.D. in order to create a Gale Family Library card for you. If you already have a Gale Family Library card, they will scan it for you before you enter the library.
Due to the types of rare materials in our collection, we do not allow pens, food and beverages, purses and bags, or outside jackets in the library. If you have a medical exception to bring in a beverage, please let the volunteer know. For everything else, you can choose a locker which are to the right of the registration desk.
Now that you have checked in at the registration desk, you will have the option of beginning your research in the microfilm room or the reading room. If you are unsure where to begin, you can briefly describe the type of research you are interested in to the registration desk volunteer and they will assist you.
For microfilm research, you will go the Hubbs Microfilm Room which is to the left of the registration desk. Once inside, you will check in with one of our helpful staff at the desk to the right of the door. They will assist you in finding the necessary microfilm and a microfilm reader or printer which will be best for your research.
For all other research, you will enter the door to the right of the registration desk. From there, you will check in with our friendly reference staff at the desk to the right. We offer one lower reference desk with a chair for easier accessibility. You can ask our reference staff for whatever help needed to begin your research.
Once you are ready to begin, you will be shown to one of the numbered reading room tables. If you did not schedule an appointment ahead of time, the reference staff will assign a table to you. Please let them know if you need a table with an outlet or one which is accessible.
Please let the reference staff in either room know if you need any accommodations, we are always happy to help.
Once you have an assigned table, our reading room staff will show you how to search for materials using online search tools (library and archives catalog, Collections Online database, and other useful databases) found on our Library In-House webpage. Once you are reading, our staff will show you how to request library materials with our digital call slip. This slip can be accessed from any of the wired computers found in the reading room or on your own device with internet access.
Once you have submitted your call slip(s), you can browse in the reading room, use a computer, ask in-depth questions about your research, or wait at your table until the material is retrieved from archival storage or the book stacks. Our friendly retrieval staff will bring the materials directly to your table.
When you are finished, please return the materials to the window with a sign marked "Retrieval". If the box came to you on a cart, please return it on the cart. If you have any questions during the ordering process, any of our reading room staff are available to assist you.
Virtual Viewings
A virtual viewing appointment allows you to view books, documents from archival boxes and folders, video and sound clips, maps, or photographs on your computer without visiting the library.
In a teleconference session a member of the staff will act as your “research hands” to open folders, turn pages, mark files for copying, move the camera over maps or oversized items, and control audio or video clips. These sessions are 30 minutes long, free, currently offered Tuesday or Wednesday mornings or afternoons, and must be booked at least one week in advance. For more on this free service or to request a session, please see the Virtual Viewing page.
Requesting Distance Copies
For researchers who have already identified items of interest, low-resolution, black-and-white PDF scans of some materials may also be sent to you. This is a fee based service, with prices varying by page count for books, or per folder for items from manuscript boxes. This is not a research service, so you must have an exact citation for what you wish copied. Please see the Distance Copy Request page for more information and pricing breakdowns.
Gale Family Library
Minnesota Historical Society Library
Located on the Second Floor of the Minnesota History Center
345 West Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
Library Hours:
Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
More Information on Visiting the Library
Contact Us:
651-259-3300
