Malcolm O'Hagan, a businessperson who has a love for literature, is scoping out U.S. places to house a writers' museum similar to the
Dublin Writers' Museum in Ireland.
He says it could happen in the Twin Cities, according to a Star Tribune
story by Laurie Hertzel.
Though Chicago has been hailed as a strong maybe,
Minnesota Historical Society acquisitions librarian Patrick Coleman invited O'Hagan to come to the Twin Cities--in the hopes that he would think about it as an alternative.
O'Hagan took him up on his offer to visit. During the author's trip to the area, which was timed around the
Minnesota Book Awards in April, O'Hagan met with local publishers and librarians; toured the
Loft,
University of Minnesota campus, and various libraries; and stopped by a few literary landmarks.
In the story O'Hagan reflects on his trip, saying, "Everything about it was hugely engaging and enjoyable," adding, "The Twin Cities, with its corporate structure and support for the arts, is a very viable candidate."