# Quatrefoil Library

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**Quatrefoil Library** is a member-supported, [501(c)(3)](/source/501(c)_organization) non-profit[2] library and community center for the [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community](/source/LGBT_community).[3] It is located in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), Minnesota, where it was founded by David Irwin and Dick Hewetson in 1983.[4] It is the second LGBT [lending library](/source/Lending_library) in the United States,[5] and the oldest such library in the [Upper Midwest](/source/Upper_Midwest).[6] In the beginning, it was not only an educational resource center but also a [safe space](/source/Safe_space) for LGBT people. The library houses over 15,000 books,[1] 7,000 DVDs, a collection of first editions and rare books,[7] and books in [braille](/source/Braille).[4] It hosts poetry readings, panel discussions, book launches, and other events, open to all.

The library celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016.[8][9]

## Early history

The doors of the library officially opened to the public on February 4, 1986. It opened with a significant donation from the collections of David Irwin but afterwards received donations from individuals across the country. Quatrefoil Library shared space with the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union at 1021 West Broadway in Minneapolis.[10] Sixteen months after its opening, the library moved to a bigger building in [St. Paul](/source/St._Paul,_Minnesota) to accommodate the growing collection.[11] Early volunteers and supporters include [Jean-Nickolaus Tretter](/source/Jean-Nickolaus_Tretter) of the [Tretter Collection](/source/Jean-Nickolaus_Tretter_Collection_in_Gay,_Lesbian,_Bisexual_and_Transgender_Studies), Tim Campbell who provided ad space in his publication and George Holdgrafer of [*Lavender*](/source/Lavender_(magazine)) magazine. The library published a newsletter, *The Gay Bookworm*, which was later christened *Quatrefolio*.

The library took its name from the novel *[Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel](/source/Quatrefoil:_A_Modern_Novel)* by [James Barr](/source/James_Fugat%C3%A9).[12] Founding member David Irwin had been so impressed with the positive portrayal of homosexuality, that he insisted on naming their collection the Quatrefoil Library.[13]

In 2013, the library moved to its present site in Minneapolis with twice as much space as it had in St. Paul.[14]

In 2019, the library announced the creation of a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students attending college in Minnesota.[15] In 2021, Quatrefoil switched to a free membership system that enabled anyone to sign up for a library card and borrow materials at no charge.[16] In October 2022, it launched Q Digital, a collection of LGBTQ+ ebooks and audiobooks that can be borrowed by Q cardholders for free.[17]

## Mission statement

The mission of the Quatrefoil Library states that, "Quatrefoil Library is a community center that cultivates the free exchange of ideas and makes accessible LGBTQ+ materials for education and inspiration."[18]

## Collections

The library's collection includes lesbian periodicals, documentaries, gay-themed posters, pulp novels, fiction, non-fiction, art, and photography books. As of 2007, the volume of the collection included more 14,000 books, 1,040 DVDs, 2,123 VHS videotapes, 500 periodicals and 1,550 pulp novels.[11] The library also houses a collection of rare and out-of-print books.[19]

## Conferences

Quatrefoil collaborated with the [University of Minnesota Libraries](/source/University_of_Minnesota_Libraries) and the [Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies](/source/Jean-Nickolaus_Tretter_Collection_in_Gay,_Lesbian,_Bisexual_and_Transgender_Studies) to host the 2006 [ALMS Conference](/source/ALMS_Conference), the first international conference on LGBT Archives, Libraries, Museums, and Special Collections in Minneapolis.[20]

## See also

- [Libraries and the LGBTQ community](/source/Libraries_and_the_LGBTQ_community)

## References

1. ["Become a Member"](https://www.qlibrary.org/support/become-a-member/). Quatrefoil Library. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161103082807/https://www.qlibrary.org/support/become-a-member/) November 3, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2016.

1. ["Charity Search Results: Quatrefoil Library"](http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Charity/SearchResults.asp?FederalID=363297803). The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160624155548/http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Charity/SearchResults.asp?FederalID=363297803) June 24, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 18, 2016.

1. ["Quatrefoil: Gay/Lesbian Library"](https://books.google.com/books?id=gNvgAAAAMAAJ). *Library Journal*. **119**: 25. 1986. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

1. Keim 2008, p. viii.

1. Van Cleve 2012, p. 216.

1. Collins, Jon (September 24, 2013). ["Spirit on Lake provides welcoming home for LGBT seniors"](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2013/09/24/spirit-on-lake-lgbt-seniors). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240106110717/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2013/09/24/spirit-on-lake-lgbt-seniors) January 6, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 3, 2024.

1. Larsen 2017, pp. 172–3.

1. Frame, Robert (2016). ["In and Out: Thirty Years At the Quatrefoil Library"](https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll13/id/4170/rec/27). *Hennepin History*. **75** (2): 12. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230406141019/https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll13/id/4170/rec/27) April 6, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 6, 2023.

1. Sturdevant, A. (April 17, 2014). ["LGBT history is lovingly preserved at Quatrefoil Library on Lake Street"](https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2014/04/lgbt-history-lovingly-preserved-quatrefoil-library-lake-street). *MinnPost*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160702141648/https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2014/04/lgbt-history-lovingly-preserved-quatrefoil-library-lake-street) July 2, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 18, 2016.

1. "Twin Cities Gaze". February 1986.

1. Keim 2008, p. 18.

1. Barr, James (1950). *Quatrefoil*. Greenberg Press. [OCLC 542667](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/542667)

1. Keim 2008, p. 7.

1. ["History"](https://www.qlibrary.org/about-the-library/history/). *Quatrefoil Library*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170422155316/https://www.qlibrary.org/about-the-library/history/) April 22, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 16, 2018.

1. Christiane Cordero (May 21, 2019). ["College Scholarship Opportunities Still Available For High School Seniors"](https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/05/21/college-scholarship-opportunities-still-available-for-high-school-seniors/). *CBS Minnesota*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190605124734/https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/05/21/college-scholarship-opportunities-still-available-for-high-school-seniors/) June 5, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 3, 2019.

1. ["Announcing free membership!"](https://qlibrary.org/free-membership/). May 17, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230406141445/https://qlibrary.org/free-membership/) April 6, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 6, 2023. In one of the most significant changes in its 35-year history, Quatrefoil has launched free membership. The change officially went into effect June 1, 2021.

1. ["Quatrefoil launches Q Digital!"](https://qlibrary.org/quatrefoil-launches-q-digital/). October 1, 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230406141229/https://qlibrary.org/quatrefoil-launches-q-digital/) April 6, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 6, 2023. Quatrefoil Library is pleased to announce the launch of its first-ever collection of e-books and audiobooks. Anyone with a Q Card may browse a diverse and growing selection of new and classic LGBTQ+ books and borrow items with a few clicks. Thanks to the generosity of a Quatrefoil board member and a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, all Q Digital items may be borrowed at no charge.

1. ["A Space for the LGBTQIA+ Community | Q Library"](https://www.qlibrary.org/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210610233012/https://qlibrary.org/) June 10, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 10, 2021.

1. Marianne Combs (July 14, 2016). ["From private collection to lending library: Quatrefoil grows as resource for LGBT community"](http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/07/14/books-quatrefoil-library). [MPR News](/source/Minnesota_Public_Radio). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161221153826/http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/07/14/books-quatrefoil-library) December 21, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2016.

1. Greenblatt, Ellen (2011). *Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users: Essays on Outreach, Service ...*. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 147. ISBN 9780786448944.

## Bibliography

- Keim, Adam (2008). [*History of the Quatrefoil Library*](https://qlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/QUATRE_FINAL_E-BOOK-1.pdf). Friends of the Bill of Rights. ISBN 9780966882827.
- Van Cleve, Stewart (2012). *Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota*. Univ Of Minnesota Press.
- Larsen, Elizabeth Foy (2017). *111 Places in the Twin Cities that You Must Not Miss*. Emons Verlang GmbH. pp. 172–3. ISBN 9783740800291.

## External links

- [Official website](https://qlibrary.org/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Quatrefoil Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatrefoil_Library) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatrefoil_Library?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.