The Loft Literary Center is a nonprofit literary organization located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Incorporated in 1975, the Loft's stated mission is "to support the artistic development of writers, to foster a writing community, and to build an audience for literature"[1]. The Loft is the "nation’s largest independent literary center"[2] and offers a variety of writing classes, grants, readings, writers' studios and other services to both established and emerging writers.
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Following a series of successful readings held at Rusoff & Co. Book Dealers in Dinkytown, Minnesota, the Loft was incorporated in 1975 with the support of bookstore owner Marly Rusoff and writers Jim Moore, Patricia Hampl, Phebe Hanson and Michael Dennis Browne. Later, the Loft joined forces with the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the publisher Milkweed Editions to build the Open Book building, which opened in May 2000 and is the current home of the Loft[3].
The Loft's current Executive Director is Jocelyn Hale. She replaced former Executive Director Linda Myers, who retired in the fall of 2007[4].
Records of the Loft Literary Center are available for research use. They include bylaws and statement of purpose, minutes, correspondence, financial information, annual reports, information on classes and readings, class proposals, membership data, and miscellaneous files relating to an organization formed to provide a meeting place and support group for local writers, as well as offering classes to advance people's writing skills [5]