The Floating Library

For the fifth year, the public is invited to kayak, canoe, or paddle boat to the Floating Library to peruse and check out artist-created books and printed matter submitted to the Floating Library from around the world. New this year is the Floating Library’s first public art commission. Anh-Hoa Thi Nguyen’s project, Waves Enfolding: A Paper Memorial, is a collaborative public art piece commemorating the lives lost during the Vietnamese refugee waves of 1954-1992.

About 50 new artist books, zines, comics, and other materials are being added to the collection from local, national, and international artists this year. Their work explores immigrant histories and lives, homelands, and relationships to water in all forms, as well as artist-chosen themes. Roughly 80 artist-created materials are part of the year’s total viewing collection. The collection includes artfully crafted zines, creative comics, handmade or letterpress printed books and pamphlets, poetry chapbooks, and bookish objects. Some are one of a kind, some are created to be temporary, some are made to float!

The Floating Library, anchored near Lake Phalen Beach, is designed for access by small watercraft. Canoe, kayak and paddle boat rental is available at Phalen Park Beach through Saint Paul Parks and Recreation during Library open hours. Swimming to the Library is not recommended.

Dates and times
Saturdays & Sundays, July 21 - August 5, 1-6 pm
The Library may open late or close early if the weather is dicey. Altered hours will be posted on the Floating Library’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

July 21 & 22
July 28 & 29
August 4 & 5

Location: On Lake Phalen, St. Paul, MN
Boat rental: Phalen Park Beach, 1400 Phalen Drive, Saint Paul, MN

Prices: FREE to read/check out books
Boat rental: $8 - 15

Boat Making Workshops
Sundays, July 22 & 29, 1-4pm
Lake Phalen Beach, St. Paul

Closing Receptions and Readings
Final Boat Making & Reception: August 5, 2:30-4pm
Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul
Reading/Ritual to follow at 4:30pm, Lake Phalen Beach, St. Paul