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Tracy Mumford

The Floating Library hits the water in St. Paul

The Floating Library
Patrons browse the collection at the Floating Library on Lake Phalen in St. Paul.
Courtesy of Sarah Peters

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Paddles up! The Floating Library is back on the water this summer, this time at Lake Phalen in St. Paul.

The seaworthy (or lake-worthy) structure is stocked with handmade, one-of-a-kind books, ranging from a catalog of Prince's favorite foods to tales of the immigrant experience in St Paul. The books were submitted by both local artists and bookmakers from around the country.

Adventurous readers can reach the raft, which is no bigger than 10 feet on each side, by kayak, canoe or paddleboat. (All are available for rent from the Lake Phalen boat house.) Most of the collection is stored in splash-proof plastic sheeting, and the books are available to check out. There's a library return box on shore by the boat house.

Sarah Peters, founder of the Floating Library, said she's delighted to be in St. Paul this summer for the library's fourth year. Previously, it's floated on Cedar Lake in Minneapolis and Silver Lake in St. Anthony.

Lake Phalen is a little quieter than the library's previous watery venues, but Peters has taken it upon herself to kayak around and invite lake-goers over to the raft.

"It's my role as the captain," she laughed. "I kayak around and do on-water promotion. You sometimes get that classic Minnesota smile-and-say-nothing, but I've succeeded in luring some people over."

Patrons can paddle out to the Floating Library for two more summer weekends, from 1 to 7 p.m. on July 30 and 31, and Aug. 6 and 7.