The idea for a new central public library is one that elevates books, storytelling and community connection, while also promoting creativity, knowledge and technology. Given today’s information and employment landscape, Omahans need greater access to resources and training to confront some of our most pressing issues, including inequity and information gaps.

The 2017 Omaha Public Library (OPL) Facilities Plan Update outlined why our city needs a world-class central library: Omaha’s geographical expansion and population growth; the need for more robust programming spaces and new technologies; and a location reachable within a reasonable drive time for most Omahans. This new location will strengthen OPL’s system of branches by centralizing distribution, thus providing more equitable and timely access to library collections.

The same facilities plan also called for a central public library that is relevant for today and tomorrow — a reimagined space that can combine books with community and technology while setting a new standard for placemaking, sustainability and green spaces for all.

This project would likely be one of the most innovative libraries in the country, and with the benefit of transformational philanthropic investment, Omaha could dream big — and make it a reality. We could increase the use and circulation of Omaha's physical library collection, support student success by providing more robust resources for kids in collaboration with schools, introduce advanced technology to our community and more.

Much would not change: Omaha Public Library (OPL) would continue to operate just as it does now, and library staff would continue to make decisions in service of the people of Omaha. Books and collections would continue to be available and accessible. The people of Omaha would continue to own their public library.

Changes could include state-of-the-art technology and new gathering spaces to better serve Omahans. Books will remain at the heart of the system, along with access to technology, training, employment assistance, digital services and much more. The potential central public library would also incorporate the highly impactful and nationally recognized Do Space technology programs with traditional library services.

This project is a partnership between Omaha Public Library, Omaha Public Library Foundation, the City of Omaha, Do Space and Heritage Omaha. Local architects HDR and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture are designing and developing the space. National library expert Margaret Sullivan Studio is leading public engagement.

Omaha residents will have the opportunity for significant involvement. Your input is highly valued, and your voice will be important as this project advances. The Omaha community and Omaha Public Library will be at the heart of this project.

The confirmed location for the potential central public library is 72nd and Dodge Streets.

To date, this project builds on previously gathered input, and stakeholders — including library staff, library users and the general public — will all have multiple opportunities for ongoing involvement as the project progresses.

The aspirational schematic design phase of the project is complete, informed by valuable input gathered during a community engagement phase. Read the full report outlining those community engagement findings here.

In September 2022, the project entered the design development phase. Project partners and the design team are reviewing, revising and expanding schematic plans to incorporate all the details and specifications required for construction.

Meanwhile, Heritage Omaha has committed to raising the necessary funds and facilitating the construction project through building completion.

Beyond alignment with the 2017 Omaha Public Library (OPL) Facilities Plan Update, the area near 72nd and Dodge Streets was selected as the future library site is being explored because of its central location and great potential to advance a multimodal vision for Omaha. This intersection has some of the best public transportation options in the city, with an ORBT bus arriving every 10-20 minutes and plans to expand access along 72nd Street through MetroNEXT. Making this area more accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and people with limited mobility would also be a key design goal for the project.

Do Space has also provided a proof of concept that this area can successfully serve library patrons, having anchored the area for seven years while attracting and serving a broad and diverse audience of over 90,000 members with free technology programs and services. While OPL’s 2017 facilities plan update was not a technology assessment, it identified inadequate bandwidth as a limiting factor in maximizing the use of OPL facilities. Significant Do Space investments made in fiber at the future site would provide central library visitors with reliable and scalable Gigabit internet access.

Nearby developments, including apartments, retail, restaurants and arts organizations, will heighten interest in this growing, vibrant neighborhood.

Do Space would continue to operate during the construction phase and is committed to providing ongoing access to technology and innovative programs. If the project moves forward, Do Space’s programs and technologies are expected to be available to the public at an existing Omaha Public Library (OPL) branch and at community pop-up events around the city during the construction of the central library.

Through the transition, OPL and Do Space will strengthen their partnership and identify opportunities for future collaboration to reach under-connected Omaha community members and expand citywide technological and educational offerings. Upon building completion, OPL and Do Space staff will relocate to the world-class central public library.

The new central public library would include parking spaces in an attached, multi-level parking garage on the southwest side of the new structure. Vehicles would be able to enter from the eastbound lanes of Dodge Street and access the on-grade upper level of the garage. There would also be an accessible collections drop-off and pick-up point at the west entry of the building.

Westbound lanes of Dodge Street could enter at the 74th Street signal and then turn on Douglas Street to access the lower-level south side of the garage. From Douglas Street, there would also be access to the collections drop-off and pick-up point on the west side of the building. From 72nd Street northbound and southbound, vehicles could enter at the Farnam Street signal and then turn onto 73rd Street to access the garage.

A new central public library would be operated by Omaha Public Library. Like all of Omaha’s library branches, the City of Omaha would own the new central public library.

Omaha has an incredible history of philanthropic giving, and most of the funding for a new central public library would come from philanthropic contributions. Additionally, the City of Omaha has pledged $20 million in redevelopment bonds to the central library project and remains committed to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the entire Omaha Public Library system.

Founded in 1989, Heritage Omaha is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to developing impactful philanthropic projects in Omaha. Past projects supported by Heritage include the Siena Francis House’s Baright Shelter, the VA Ambulatory Care Center and the Do Space community technology library, among others.

While Heritage Omaha did not play a role in developing the original plan for a new central library on Dodge between 72nd and 90th Streets, it has committed to raising funds and facilitating construction of the library. The project aligns with Heritage's mission to enrich the lives of Omaha community members.

Once completed, the building will be donated to the City of Omaha for Omaha Public Library (OPL) to operate; Heritage Omaha will have no involvement after that point. Management and funding of the OPL system is the responsibility of OPL, the OPL Board, Omaha Public Library Foundation and the City of Omaha.

To learn more about Heritage Omaha, visit its website.

The project team is working on some innovative ideas for the project, including a planned garden, landscaping for increased privacy and sound absorption, a play space, a patio with café seating and a lawn that could be a place for interesting library and community programming opportunities. The garden could be a future catalyst for further neighborhood development and greenery.

The new central public library will be filled with dynamic, user-friendly spaces for studying, working and playing with retail-style book and material displays to encourage browsing interspersed with cozy reading nooks and technology workstations for all ages. Plans also include a vibrant cafe, a fireplace for quiet reading, maker spaces and meeting rooms of various sizes.

Community Information Trust (CIT) is a nonprofit organization formed by Heritage Omaha, also a nonprofit organization, to oversee operations of Do Space, the nation's first technology library located at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Do Space provides free access to technology and innovative learning experiences to the Omaha community.

Passed with unanimous City Council approval in July 2022, the agreement between the City of Omaha and CIT outlines several items:

• The City of Omaha agrees to provide annual financial support to the Omaha Public Library (OPL) system at the same level or greater as it is providing in the 2022 budget and contribute $20 million to provide support for the new central public library.
• CIT and Heritage Omaha will make a good-faith effort to construct on behalf of the City of Omaha and OPL a new central public library building at 72nd and Dodge Streets.
• Once the new central public library is built, CIT will transfer ownership of the library to the City of Omaha for OPL to operate and fold into the nonprofit Omaha Public Library Foundation.
• CIT will also transfer control of and integrate its Do Space technology library into the OPL system.
• The agreement is intended to ensure that a new central public library serves the needs of Omahans for generations to come, that it is well funded and that it is modeled after best practices of libraries from around the world. Thoughtful, thorough, future-oriented agreements like this one will ensure responsible stewardship of our community's best attributes. With this strong collaboration, we can come together to create a truly transformational public library to benefit Omaha.

The committed merger of Community Information Trust (CIT) into the Omaha Public Library Foundation (OPLF) is intended to help OPLF increase its capacity to raise significant capital from philanthropic gifts to support the Omaha Public Library (OPL) system.

OPLF would still serve in all of its current functions — advocacy, fundraising for programs and management of special events — but would have an increased capacity to launch and develop capital campaigns and serve as an innovative programming partner to OPL. OPLF has been raising money for the library system for decades, and this agreement ensures that more library advocates are at the table for ongoing fundraising. Both organizations are still in conversation about the details of what this merger could look like.

Omaha Public Library (OPL), Omaha Public Library Foundation, the City of Omaha, Do Space, Heritage Omaha, and the Omaha community are working together to develop a community-driven 2023 Library Facilities Plan. This plan will include the new central public library and OPL’s neighborhood branches.

The new central public library will support OPL’s system of neighborhood branches by centralizing distribution through a regional collections hub model, providing more equitable access to books, technologies, and other collections.

Every branch will continue to have ample book and material displays to encourage browsing interspersed with cozy reading nooks and technology workstations. The 2023 Library Facilities Plan will help determine what other spaces and places will help Omaha and Douglas County residents achieve their personal, family, and community goals at their neighborhood library branches. Please visit OPLSurvey.org or OPLEncuesta.org (Spanish) for more information.

Your voice matters! Please take the short neighborhood library community survey by May 1st and share your vision for your library’s future. The survey is available online in English and Spanish and in print in both languages at all OPL branches and Do Space. For the latest on Omaha’s Library Facilities Plan including FAQs, an overview of in-person engagement activities, and a schedule of upcoming public engagement events around the city, please visit: OPLSurvey.org or OPLEncuesta.org (Spanish).

The project team will continue to prioritize the Omaha community’s engagement and feedback as development continues on the new central public library and a citywide 2023 Library Facilities Plan. Those closest to the libraries are involved too: Omaha Public Library (OPL) leadership, staff and librarians; the Omaha Public Library Foundation; and the Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees will all play an integral role in managing, creating and implementing plans for a new central public library, and broader facilities planning and community engagement.

While 2022’s engagement opportunities focused on community aspirations for a new central public library, 2023’s opportunities will instead focus on each of the 12 branch libraries, the system as a whole, and what specific community needs and aspirations look like in each diverse Omaha neighborhood.

Project and community partners will present on 2023 community engagement findings and the developing Library Facilities Plan at a Community Share Out event in the summer of 2023. Stay tuned for more event details. OPL will publish the final plan to its website in June 2023.