South Omaha Public Library

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South Omaha Public Library
South Omaha Library Omaha, NE.jpg
South Omaha Public Library in 2018
South Omaha Public Library
41°12′22″N95°57′21″W / 41.20601250742746°N 95.955833811392°W / 41.20601250742746; -95.955833811392
Location2808 Q St., South Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Type Public library
Established1889
Branch of Omaha Public Library
Other information
Website omahalibrary.org/locations/os/

The South Omaha Public Library is the South Omaha branch of the Omaha Public Library system. The original library was established in 1889 as a subscription library. It then moved to a Carnegie library located at 2302 M Street that opened in 1905. The most recent building, completed in 2008, features the city of Omaha's largest Spanish language collection and a large collection hosted in partnership between the City of Omaha, the Omaha Public Library and the Omaha's Metropolitan Community College. [1]

Contents

History

The South Omaha Public Library began as a subscription library, founded in 1889 by A. M. Winebrener. The library was originally located in an old drug store at N and 25th Streets. By 1895, the library was financially struggling and needed to move to a new building.

After getting a $50,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Library Fund, the library chose a site at 2302 M Street, and the library began construction in 1902. The library officially moved into the building in 1905. [2] The building was designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball, and used a Renaissance Revival style, reminiscent of a small Italian palazzo. [3] When the City of Omaha annexed South Omaha in 1915, the South Omaha Public Library became the first branch of the Omaha Public Library system. [3]

In 1953, it was announced that a new library would be built on the site of the previous one. [4] The Carnegie library was demolished later that year, and the library moved to a temporary location. [5] The library was designed by Leo A. Daly. [6] The new library officially opened in October 1954. [7]

By the late 1990s, the library's building was outdated, too small, was short on parking, and needed to rebuilt. In 1999, a new location was announced, which would be adjacent to Metropolitan Community College's South Omaha campus. The decision to build it there was criticized, as many people viewed the part of Omaha as unsafe, with many refusing to use it. [8]

The library's initially endured several delays and rising construction costs. Ground was broken for the current library in October 2006, with construction commencing shortly after. [9] The old library closed on May 17, 2008 and the current library opened later that same month. [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "South Omaha's Library Has Grown With Its Service to Community". Omaha Public Library. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ "South Omaha Public Library Ready to Move Into Its New Home". Omaha Daily Bee. December 25, 1904. p. 18. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Jeffrey S. Spencer [researcher & writer], Kristine Gerber [project director] (2003). Building for the ages : Omaha's architectural landmarks (1st ed.). Omaha, Neb.: Omaha Books. p. 31. ISBN   0-9745410-1-X.
  4. ↑ "New Library Bids Wanted". Evening World-Herald. October 1, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Library Move Next Week". The South Omaha Sun. November 12, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ "South Omaha's library has grown with its service to community". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. March 15, 2014. p. 4E.
  7. ↑ "New Chapter Beginning". The South Omaha Sun. October 21, 1954. p. 17. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Views Differ On Proposed Library Site". Omaha World-Herald. August 31, 1999. p. 3. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Shovels open new chapter for library". Omaha World-Herald. October 18, 2006. p. 16. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Summer readers can check out new South Omaha Library". Omaha World-Herald. May 16, 2008. p. 13. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
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