The fourth floor of Minneapolis Central Library houses the history and social sciences collections, which include a wide variety of subjects such as psychology, sociology, education, child rearing and development, sports, games, dance, religion, philosophy, crime, astrology and the occult, women’s studies, Native American studies, political science, law, holidays, mythology, etiquette and costumes. 

 

Based on the range of subjects covered by these collections, it won’t come as a surprise that the reference questions people ask us are as varied as the world around us. For example, costume designers use our one-of-a-kind costume books, covering costumes both historical and contemporary and including all categories of accessories like shoes, ties, hats and even undergarments! We also have books on etiquette, social customs and even dance for nearly every region of the world. The fourth floor also has a strong collection of materials on religion and spirituality. In addition to books on religions of the world, we have bibles in more than 100 languages from Armenian to Yoruba.

 

Special areas have been created for the use of the following collections. The areas contain a combination of printed and electronic resources. Each area has computers set up with a special start page which provides guided access to materials supporting the collection.

 

Online resources:

 

Other resources:

 

Books and materials to help individuals and nonprofits find funding, including philanthropy periodicals, Foundation and Nonprofit annual reports and newsletters

 

Online resources:

 

Other resources:

Major languages include– English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish.

Materials include books, cassettes, CDs, videos, and DVDs for:

 

Computer Software programs for English Language Learning include:

 

A Partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools allows us to have an adult basic education English language learning teacher onsite, who holds classes four days a week.

Audio-Visual materials to learn languages other than English (Print materials for learning languages are on 3^rd floor; World Literature materials are on 1^st floor)

Online index of articles on local and statewide politics, news, current events, history and the arts that appeared in nine Minnesota magazines. Produced from 1991 through 2005 by staff at the library, MNMag includes more than 20,000 citations.

Directories on Microfiche:
Starting with the 1930 Minneapolis City directory, addresses can be checked to find out who resided there.  City directories are also sources for schools, cemeteries, churches, fire stations, and businesses.

Minneapolis, St. Paul, and some for smaller communities – Search MPL catalog under the name of the town as in Edina (Minn) – Directories

Minneapolis Journal Newspaper Index, 1899-1914 (stacks):

A unique historic resource indexed cumulatively over time by library staff, a great resource for Minneapolis History during this time period

Large-scale maps of cities and towns, drawn at a scale of 50 feet to an inch which provide detailed historic views of 178 Minnesota towns and cities. Of interest for people researching their house, their neighborhood or the history of Minneapolis or the area. 

A list of authoritative websites reviewed and evaluated by resource librarians and arranged topically

 

 

 

A-B                                  General Works, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

 

C-G, GF, GN, GR, GT           History, Geography, Cartography, Anthropology, Folklore, Manners and Customs

 

GV                                   Recreation, Sports, Games

 

H, HM-HX                          Social Sciences

 

J-L                                   Political Science, Law, Education

 

 

Principal Librarian:             Renée Reed   rreed@hclib.org   612-630-6304

 

Toni Miller                Social Sciences, New Americans Center, Scholarship Collection

612-630-6061

 

JoEllen Haugo           History-including local, Genealogy

612-630-6081

 

Roger Lindsay           Social Sciences, Foundation Collection

 

4^th floor iDesk – 612-630-6037