Private, Non-Profit Library In St. Paul Looks to Extend Its Reach

James J. Hill Reference Library

Link to July 28 Pioneer Press article, "On a quest to be useful".

Excerpt: The James J. Hill Reference Library in downtown St. Paul is a distinct, beautiful and under-appreciated edifice. It is a private, non-profit library that abuts the much-appreciated main branch of the St. Paul Public Library.

The James J. Hill library "houses a world-class collection of resources and is considered the most comprehensive publicly accessible practical business library in America," its promotional materials assert. Its mission "is to provide access to and assistance in finding the practical business information clients need to succeed."

Its directors' mission, at the moment, is to find ways to extend the library's usefulness, its reach and the legacy of its namesake, the St. Paul railroad magnate.

As board chairman Greg Heinemann wrote on these pages yesterday, "We are considering proposals to share space, host events, inspire and support budding entrepreneurs and bring people to downtown St. Paul. We are even examining how we can invest a portion of the Library's reserve funds with select partners to further its original purpose and benefit its users."