The Andersen Horticultural Library has served as a regional research library for horticulture since 1970.  The Andersen Horticultural Library and its collections were conceived and built through the vision and support of the late Governor Elmer L. Andersen and his wife Eleanor who were long interested in horticulture and book collecting.

Construction of the library wing was completed in the fall of 1973, and the book collection, originally housed on campus, was transported to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  The Andersen Horticultural Library was formally dedicated on June 26, 1974.

To promote and raise funds for the Andersen Horticultural Library a group of library supporters organized the Friends of the Andersen Horticultural Library  in 1988.  The Friends organize an annual book sale in October to raise funds for acquisition of rare books, antique catalogs, and other items for the library.

On June 20, 1988 a new research addition was added to the Library to house the periodicals and the special collections.  The addition included  a climate-controlled room to house rare and old texts, catalogs, and botanic artwork.