New Downtown Library (1401 Jones Street)

[Coyote]

Omaha Public Library announces opening date of new downtown branch

[Brad]

Is it bad that I think this actually looks pretty cool for a library?

I have no complaints about the outdoor visuals. Especially considering how the building looked prior.

It's turning out to be a really nicely done building, based on these pics. I need to see it in person.

I drove by Monday and it looks great. I think its a perfect fit for a library and really looks welcoming from the street.

[ita]

Omaha Public Library announces grand opening date for new downtown branch

The Omaha Public Library announced Tuesday that the new downtown branch will open later this month.

The new building, located at 14th and Jones streets, is set to open to the public on May 21.

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12:30 p.m., including Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, City Councilmember Danny Begley, OPL Board President Mike Kennedy and OPL Executive Director Laura Marlane.

Doors will open at 1 p.m. with events scheduled throughout the afternoon, including storytimes at 2 and 4 p.m. and a scavenger hunt for all ages.

[windsor]

This building turned out fantastic on the outside. I can't wait to see the inside.

[Jins123]

Is this going to be permanent? Does anybody know. This is the “sidewalk” that I think is suppose to be safe to get to the library? The right side is a bike lane.

[JDJase]

It's boggled my mind for years why the city refuses to have actual sidewalks on this block.

[windsor]

It's boggled my mind for years why the city refuses to have actual sidewalks on this block.

Remove all the loading docks and replace them with sidewalk that matches the street? What about all the building entrances at dock height? Who will pay for the engineering and construction of all that work? Are any of these buildings historic landmarks?

[Big E]

It's boggled my mind for years why the city refuses to have actual sidewalks on this block.

I can see not having sidewalks since the docks on either side of 14th are prob grandfathered in in some manner from their previous use. Or if conversion was done before sidewalks were a thing, I guess.

But it's likely for the same reason there's no stop sign or lights at 13th or 14th and Jones, either, despite there being residential all around: This city constatnly does stupid |expletive| in favor of commuters and their cars.

[JDJase]

It's boggled my mind for years why the city refuses to have actual sidewalks on this block.

Remove all the loading docks and replace them with sidewalk that matches the street? What about all the building entrances at dock height? Who will pay for the engineering and construction of all that work? Are any of these buildings historic landmarks?

I did not say remove the loading docks. Sidewalks can very easily be constructed along side the platforms - just like what was done around the Old Market Lofts at 11th and Jones, as well as the more recent rebuild of Jones St area between 11th and 13th. You just have to *gasp* reduce the unnecessary 4 lanes of one-way traffic (which thankfully they just did). And there's even enough room to do this since they just literally painted "sidewalks" onto the street lol.

You don't have to spend a lot time in the area to have seen some close calls of cars nearly sideswiping pedestrians walking in the traffic lane. These new lines are a start at least, but that relies on Omaha drivers following the lines lol (not a day goes by where I don't see at least one car driving in the bike lanes along Jackson/St. Mary's, Leavenworth, 14th).

But I just don't see any legitimate excuses in this area beyond lack of investment by the city. It's not like Spaghetti Works in the Old Market, which is more justifiable (lack of space due to diagonal parking and already-minimal lanes).

[ita]

https://www.facebook.com/134404499412/p ... 7S9Ucbxw6v

Just saw this post. The inside looks really nice!

[Brad]

https://www.facebook.com/134404499412/p ... 7S9Ucbxw6v

Just saw this post. The inside looks really nice!

So much better than the old library!

[thenewguy]

honestly, that looks fantastic. I don't know what my expectations were, but that really looks great. I was worried people would think they they just halfassed it, but it seems like there was quite a bit of thought put into it

[Louie]

So this person hasn't left their house in yearsssss

[Toto]

So this person hasn't left their house in yearsssss

No kidding, possibly decades. I love open ceilings in old buildings.

[Linkin5]

So this person hasn't left their house in yearsssss

We have reached the point where people will just complain about anything regarding the new library. I really wonder how many of them actually visited the former downtown location.

[Louie]

So this person hasn't left their house in yearsssss

We have reached the point where people will just complain about anything regarding the new library. I really wonder how many of them actually visited the former downtown location.

I'll wager that its never.

[Coyote]

Rewriting Omaha history with new downtown library



KETV NewsWatch7 gets a sneak peek of the new Omaha Public Library branch downtown. The new space, on 14th and Jones, is in an historic Old Market building. Inside, two stories of books and study spaces are illuminated by natural light. Exposed brick and original tiles capture the character of the building, which is more than a century old.

However, the old building features the latest technology and bestsellers. "More than ever, I think people really need libraries. We see it every day with the number of people who come into any one of our branches. And I think we're going to see it here at Downtown," said OPL Assistant Director Rachel Steiner.

[Coyote]

A look inside the new downtown Omaha Public Library



The new downtown Omaha public library is set to open to the public on Sunday.

[Coyote]

New downtown branch will capture Old Market feel while providing a modern space



Executive Director Omaha Public Library Laura Marlane feels that the new downtown branch will capture the essence of Old Market while providing a modern space.

Architect on new downtown library branch "You could see pretty quickly it was going to be a great



HDR Design Architect Kevin Augustyn You could see pretty quickly it was going to be a great space"

[Duggers_Dad]

I find it interesting that the central library is not downtown. Memphis is another such example.

[Athomsfere]

I find it interesting that the central library is not downtown. Memphis is another such example.

We don't have one right now. And I really hope the current idea doesn't happen out west.

I get where it's coming from: A library consultant looked at everything and suggested it. And I'm glad the city actually listened to outside consultants. If only they'd do better at that more often.

My gripe: They are taking a broken city, and where the city is / was heading and just accepting it to continue down that dark path.

Keeping it the core would be a great way to give accessibility to those everywhere, with a slight cost to west O. While also continuing to build a great city.

Moving it to west O gives a slight benefit to West O, and remove accessibility for the rest of the metro. While also damning us to more car infrastructure.

[halgy]

Personally, I have no issues if the main library isn't downtown. I do have an issue with putting it in the middle of the asphalt sea that is 72nd and Dodge. That intersection is positively hostile for anyone that isn't in a car. Even moving it across the street so it is part of the new Crossroads development would be an improvement (if a minor one).

IIRC, the new downtown library lease is for 10 years. I'd wish we'd hold off for a few years until the next round or two of development gets done, and then reevaluate where a central library would add the most benefit. Adding it to an education neighborhood near the Luminarium (along with a new children's museum) would be good. Adding it to one of the North Downtown neighborhoods might be nice. Or move it to midtown as part of the MOO campus redevelopment. probably lots of other good spots, too. Just anywhere but 72nd and Dodge.

[Athomsfere]

IIRC, the new downtown library lease is for 10 years. I'd wish we'd hold off for a few years until the next round or two of development gets done, and then reevaluate where a central library would add the most benefit. Adding it to an education neighborhood near the Luminarium (along with a new children's museum) would be good. Adding it to one of the North Downtown neighborhoods might be nice. Or move it to midtown as part of the MOO campus redevelopment. probably lots of other good spots, too. Just anywhere but 72nd and Dodge.

I'd be good with any of those spots too. Especially if it happened to be within an easy walk of the streetcar line.

[ita]

IIRC, the new downtown library lease is for 10 years. I'd wish we'd hold off for a few years until the next round or two of development gets done, and then reevaluate where a central library would add the most benefit. Adding it to an education neighborhood near the Luminarium (along with a new children's museum) would be good. Adding it to one of the North Downtown neighborhoods might be nice. Or move it to midtown as part of the MOO campus redevelopment. probably lots of other good spots, too. Just anywhere but 72nd and Dodge.

I'd be good with any of those spots too. Especially if it happened to be within an easy walk of the streetcar line.

Love these ideas. I know the City is just following the outside consultant's recommendations, but it seemed to me that the moving the 'central' library to a more central location was more for making distribution of materials easier, particularly for better serving the libraries in the suburbs. I don't know if they are keeping the 84th street distribution/genealogy center after the 72nd St. central library is built, but if that's the plan, the central/main/flagship library could of stayed in downtown. In that scenario, it doesn't matter where the main library is because the distribution center at 84th alleviates the distribution issues identified by the consultant. I am talking in wind because decisions are made, but I love the 'education neighborhood' idea a lot and makes me wish the City was doing this another way.

Anyway, the new downtown branch looks really neat and I may come down and check it out next week with the kiddos after it opens this weekend.

[ita]

Sneak peek from WOWT:

https://assets.scrippsdigital.com/cms/v ... =kmtv&ex=1

This dude's voice is almost too soothing for news reporting. He's about to put me to sleep.

[Athomsfere]

Anyway, the new downtown branch looks really neat and I may come down and check it out next week with the kiddos after it opens this weekend.

But with the Shopko distribution center... Not sure how the location of the central library really matters.

I'm sure it adds some expense if the biggest, best library is further from the hub. But it seems like a good trade to have a site worth visiting for the architecture alone to be somewhere people actually want to be.

[Garrett]

Who knows. Maybe in 10 years things will be in greater swing downtown and they'll invest in a nice new downtown library. I really don't terribly mind a 72nd/Dodge library if the city also makes a vested effort to make that intersection more friendly to pedestrians rather than wide roads and a series of parking lots.

[Athomsfere]

Who knows. Maybe in 10 years things will be in greater swing downtown and they'll invest in a nice new downtown library. I really don't terribly mind a 72nd/Dodge library if the city also makes a vested effort to make that intersection more friendly to pedestrians rather than wide roads and a series of parking lots.

I'll say, I was half willing to give it a chance, until the Crossroads development started adding lanes through there.

I think the odds of it being even "ok" are much lower now.

[Coyote]

Omaha Public Libraries' downtown branch now open to the public



Over the last 18 months, Omaha Public Libraries along with their construction partners have been turning a historic building downtown into the new downtown library branch. On Sunday, they opened their doors to the public. 3 News Now Photojournalist Bo Peterson stopped by for the ribbon cutting.

[Coyote]

Omaha’s new downtown library holds grand opening



Omaha’s new downtown library is officially open. About 100 people lined up for the grand opening and ribbon cutting on Sunday. Mayor Jean Stothert and other city officials spoke to excited guests. I The new library is in a historic building off 14th and Jones streets.

6 News spoke with visitors who fondly remember the former downtown library, W. Dale Clark Library, but say they’re looking forward to this new chapter. “We use the library during the summer for school and so a library opening doesn’t happen all the time, so we thought it was a historic occasion,” said visitor Amanda Schroeder. “And so I wanted to share it with my son with our love of books.”The new downtown library is open most days from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with shortened hours Friday through Sunday.

[Renovator2559]

Personally, I have no issues if the main library isn't downtown. I do have an issue with putting it in the middle of the asphalt sea that is 72nd and Dodge. That intersection is positively hostile for anyone that isn't in a car. Even moving it across the street so it is part of the new Crossroads development would be an improvement (if a minor one).

IIRC, the new downtown library lease is for 10 years. I'd wish we'd hold off for a few years until the next round or two of development gets done, and then reevaluate where a central library would add the most benefit. Adding it to an education neighborhood near the Luminarium (along with a new children's museum) would be good. Adding it to one of the North Downtown neighborhoods might be nice. Or move it to midtown as part of the MOO campus redevelopment. probably lots of other good spots, too. Just anywhere but 72nd and Dodge.

I agree and the worst part, they are adding yet another lane to that area because of the crossroads development.... So many inconsistencies to these two projects. In the one hand, they say they want to improve the pedestrian access in both of these projects, while at the same time making this intersection more hostile to pedestrian, who is calling the shots for these two projects and overlooking walkability?

We need to radiate walkability out from the urban core, not encroach with more grey asphalt jungles from sprawling west omaha

[Renovator2559]

Omaha’s new downtown library holds grand opening



Omaha’s new downtown library is officially open. About 100 people lined up for the grand opening and ribbon cutting on Sunday. Mayor Jean Stothert and other city officials spoke to excited guests. I The new library is in a historic building off 14th and Jones streets.

6 News spoke with visitors who fondly remember the former downtown library, W. Dale Clark Library, but say they’re looking forward to this new chapter. “We use the library during the summer for school and so a library opening doesn’t happen all the time, so we thought it was a historic occasion,” said visitor Amanda Schroeder. “And so I wanted to share it with my son with our love of books.”The new downtown library is open most days from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with shortened hours Friday through Sunday.

I visited the library on the opening ceremony and was impressed at both the modern architecture and a nod to the past.

Does anyone know why the brick lined street was replaced with black asphalt in front of the library? Was the brick lined street beyond repair? Or was it tire noise they wanted to keep low?

[Brad]

Does anyone know why the brick lined street was replaced with black asphalt in front of the library? Was the brick lined street beyond repair? Or was it tire noise they wanted to keep low?

Jones Street is still Brick Correct? Only 14th Street is Asphalt?

[Renovator2559]

Does anyone know why the brick lined street was replaced with black asphalt in front of the library? Was the brick lined street beyond repair? Or was it tire noise they wanted to keep low?

Jones Street is still Brick Correct? Only 14th Street is Asphalt?

Partially, Jones in front of downtown library is fresh black asphalt, as well as 14th street. 14th street was cracked, now it's pristine

[Brad]

Does anyone know why the brick lined street was replaced with black asphalt in front of the library? Was the brick lined street beyond repair? Or was it tire noise they wanted to keep low?

Jones Street is still Brick Correct? Only 14th Street is Asphalt?

Partially, Jones in front of downtown library is fresh black asphalt, as well as 14th street. 14th street was cracked, now it's pristine

Is it possible its just the parking stalls that are asphalt and the lanes of the street are still brick? That may have been done for accessibility issues.

While 14th street has a fresh coat of asphalt, its been asphalt since at least the 90's if not before.

[JDJase]

There’s no asphalt on Jones in front of the library at all, neither in the lanes nor parking. There’s that very small patch on the corner on the north side of Jones in front of the old O’Keefe by the hydrant, but that has been asphalt/concrete for a very long time.

[Brad]

There’s no asphalt on Jones in front of the library at all, neither in the lanes nor parking. There’s that very small patch on the corner on the north side of Jones in front of the old O’Keefe by the hydrant, but that has been asphalt/concrete for a very long time.

Thanks for the photos. I was trying to figure out where he was looking. I knew most of the street was brick but I was mostly looking at the building so I didn't really pay attention to all the street so I figured I just missed it.

[Renovator2559]

There’s no asphalt on Jones in front of the library at all, neither in the lanes nor parking. There’s that very small patch on the corner on the north side of Jones in front of the old O’Keefe by the hydrant, but that has been asphalt/concrete for a very long time.

You are right, my gaze was too focused on 14th street, that I did not see Jones. I'm glad it is still brick, there's just that level of charm that brick streets give to the old market that replacing them with asphalt would be a detriment.

[Brad]

Here are a couple of my photos I put together for a before and after. One heck of an improvement!

January 2014 and July 2023

BEFORE-AFTER-SC8A4576.jpg

[Omaha Cowboy]

Great comparison pics Brad …

The building looks “Alive” and “Lively” today..It was definitely brought back from the dead..

The entire block is rejuvenated…

Ciao..LiO…Peace