Connect News from Omaha Public Library • OPL Foundation • Friends of OPL
Volume 29 • Issue 1 • Spring 2022
Steps Taken Toward OPL Facilities Master Plan Updates on major facilities projects, relevant documents, and related news can be found at omahalibrary.org/facilities-projects.
Downtown Branch & Library Administrative Branch On November 23, 2021, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced the intent to relocate Omaha Public Library’s (OPL) downtown library from its current location at 215 S. 15th St., to 1401 Jones St., and library administrative services to a former Shopko at 84th & Frederick streets. These moves are the first steps toward implementing priorities established in OPL facilities master plans in 2010 and 2017. The plans (available at omahalibrary.org) recommended that W. Dale Clark Main Library be replaced with a smaller, more efficient downtown branch. Following tours of the buildings and a period for community feedback, the OPL board of trustees voted to approve the moves during their January 20 board meeting. Building renovations and moves are expected to be complete by fall 2022. The new downtown library branch will revitalize a building originally constructed in 1912, and that served as a creamery throughout most of its existence. A rendering provided by the developer envisions updates at 14th & Jones.
Central Library
A website launched in January 2022 provides project updates and gathers community input.
During their November 2021 board meeting, the OPL board of trustees approved a resolution to “working jointly with Heritage Services, the City of Omaha, and other community stakeholders to create a plan for enhancing existing and creating new public library spaces and programming for the benefit of all citizens of Omaha.” On January 28, 2022, OPL, the Omaha Public Library Foundation, the City of Omaha, Heritage Services, and Do Space/Community Information Trust affirmed this commitment when they publicly announced their intent to work together and with the communities they serve to create a vision for a new central library. Updates about this project can be found at omahacentrallibrary.org. “A new central library provides OPL with an opportunity to welcome its patrons at an accessible location, offering services they value and expect, while incoporating flexibility and technology that will help meet their needs well into the future,” said OPL Executive Director Laura Marlane.
Strategic Plan Update Last summer, OPL began work on a new strategic plan to help guide library services over the next three to five years. OPL’s previous strategic plan was created more than 10 years ago, and much has changed in the world and our community since that time. A new strategic plan provides
OPL with an opportunity to evaluate how to meet community needs and create goals to help it become the best library system for Omaha and Douglas County residents. OPL staff worked with a consultant to gather input from internal committees and the public to help create a new vision
for library services. In October 2021, a series of community forums took place at different library branches throughout the city. Participants expressed their ideas, hopes and vision for the future of OPL, and heard from others in the community who are passionate about their libraries. A survey was also available to collect feedback. Continued on page 3