About Quatrefoil Library

Mission Statement

Quatrefoil Library is a community center that cultivates the free exchange of ideas and makes accessible LGBTQ+ materials for education and inspiration.

The History of Your LGBTQ+ Community Library

Quatrefoil Library was named after the book Quatrefoil by James Barr. Published in 1950, it was the first modern book to portray homosexuals positively.

Cover of the novel Quatrefoil, by James Barr. It shows two men dressed as sailors in a black-and-white photo.

The Quatrefoil Library is the fulfillment of a dream for the late David Irwin. In the mid-1970s both he and Dick Hewetson started collecting gay-themed books, housing their collections in a linen closet. As David continued to buy more books, the collection soon outgrew the “closet.”

David and Dick’s long-time idea of starting a lending library was realized when Matthew Stark, Executive Director of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, invited the Quatrefoil Library to be a tenant in MCLU’s new building on West Broadway in North Minneapolis. The library opened there on February 4, 1986.

The first year was one of unprecedented growth, so much so that the demand and use of the library soon outgrew the facilities. The library reopened at the renovated Richards Gordon School on June 6, 1987, with more than 4,000 volumes and over 300 periodicals. The collection continues to grow, now consisting of over 15,000 books, 5,000 DVDs, periodicals and sound recordings.

The library’s newest home on East Lake Street, reopened its doors on November 1, 2013, and shared the space with Spirit on Lake Housing.

Get in Touch

To contact the Quatrefoil Library, head over to our Hours and Location page for information on the best ways to reach us.