st. paul

Looking for an elegant turn-of-the-century building to hold your wedding reception, musical recital or art exhibit?

Or how about a distinguished conference room with solid oak walls and chandeliers for your next business meeting? Or rental office space across from beautiful Rice Park in St. Paul?

If so -- the James J. Hill Reference Library wants the world to know it's open for business.

For the first time in its 90-year history, the white marble library founded by St. Paul's legendary railroad tycoon is trying to reinvent itself. Not enough people are using it these days. The new mission: Get people in the front door.

"We've got this beautiful building in downtown St. Paul that is basically a secret,'' said Greg Heinemann, chairman of the library's board of directors. "I don't think we ever promoted it. We've got to bring people into this building.''

Mention the words "James J. Hill Library,'' and most Minnesotans will say "huh?'' The library is often confused with the sprawling St. Paul Central Library because it shares a common exterior.

With marble floors, limestone pillars, and original oak tables and leather chairs, the library looks virtually the same as the photographs hanging on the walls taken 60 years ago. In many ways, that's a symbol for the problem it now faces.

For the past nine months, library leaders have been contacting civic groups, universities, nonprofits and business associations about creating partnerships or ideas to breathe new life into the building. It's even talking with organizers of the Winter Carnival about hosting some events -- the "bouncing girl'' competition excluded.

''We really want the world to know that this building is ready to blossom again,'' said Tom Triplett, a former state finance commissioner who was hired this year to shake up new community partners. ''Folks with great ideas, come to us!''

History lesson

A quick history lesson may be in order here. The library was a gift to St. Paul by Hill, founder of the Great Northern Railway and considered one of the wealthiest and most powerful U.S. business leaders of late 1800s.

One of Hill's final philanthropic projects, it was inspired by the now-famous library built by his friend and business associate, J.P. Morgan of New York. It opened its doors in 1921 with great fanfare.

The nonprofit library, financed by an investment fund left by Hill, could buy books and materials that other libraries couldn't afford. For years, it was a popular hub of science, technology and business learning.

"We'd have 200 to 300 people coming through the door each day,'' recalled Steve Plumb, a librarian who worked at the library nearly 40 years. "On Saturdays you couldn't move in the place. It was intense. We were the top applied science technology library in the region.''

In the mid-1970s, the library narrowed its focus to business and attracted budding entrepreneurs and students from various Twin Cities business colleges, staff said.

Then came the Internet and do-it-yourself data searches. The library, in response, purchased more and specialized databases, hosted business seminars, launched a Center for Ethical Business Leadership, and worked closely with Small Business Development Centers across the country, said Anne Rasmussen, the library's chief operating officer.

The efforts were met with "limited success,'' she said. Meanwhile, the cost of running the library -- on the National Register of Historic Places -- was about $250,000 a year.

What to do?

Library leaders now are asking some tough questions. How can they stop the hemorrhaging of the investment fund that underwrites the library? What different role can the library play in the community?

"What's the best use of this extraordinary building?'' said Triplett.

While exploring options, library leaders have taken steps to attract visitors. This spring, for example, it hosted an exhibit by national landscape photographer Clyde Butcher.

The library was recently named "best reception site for small weddings'' by Minnesota Bride magazine. In keeping with its new dual mission, its reference desk won "best website in the nation'' award from the Special Libraries Association (SLA).

Among the civic leaders monitoring the library's new direction is John Labosky, executive director of Capital City Partnership, a nonprofit that promotes development in St. Paul. He's excited about the library throwing open its doors, and is especially interested seeing it work more closely with small area colleges.

"Maybe the staff members could become business consultants,'' Labosky said. "There's a whole series of things the library could do.''

Dick Slade, the great-grandson of James J. Hill, said his grandfather would no doubt support change.

"He [Hill] was a very pragmatic man,'' said Slade. "The library was designed to be helpful to people in the community who are trying to get ahead. If it's not, then something should be done. That's what he'd say.''

Jean Hopfensperger • 612-673-4511