Omaha Public Library is one month away from opening the doors to the new Central Library. In this fourth installment of OPL’s Welcoming You To Central Library series, many of the voices behind the vision of the space share their invitation to you for celebrating this new community resource.
Read on for the full transcript of the video.
“We are ready for you and we're waiting for you. So come in. We've got something for everybody. We have a place for you to sit and drink your coffee. You can be inside the library in a quiet space, inside the library, in a more noisy place. You can be outside in the garden. You can be upstairs or downstairs. But we’re ready for you to come and see everything that we have for you.” - Nancy Novotny, OPL Program Manager
“Central Library is going to be really fun. It is going to be an incredible space, and it is going to be just so fun to be in.” - Matt Couch, Omaha Central Library Branch Manager
“We're really excited to open in this amazing community space. Come out, have a coffee, grab a book, bring your family and your kids, and enjoy all that the new library has to offer.” - Abby McLeay, Zen Coffee Company
“Opening day is going to be very exciting. And I'm so excited to be able to welcome people to this particular space. There's just so much that's happening in that library, and I'm excited to be able to talk with people about all the different opportunities they will have. … And in particular, in Do Space, I'm looking forward to welcoming people into this space, really encouraging them to try it out, not be intimidated by the machines, ask questions, and just become part of a maker community where we're all learning and growing and exploring together with these particular technologies.” - Ashley Hamernik, Programming Special Projects Manager
“We're so excited to welcome you in the doors. Invite you to be inspired by all of our great programming, resources. And we can't wait to meet you.” - Amy Mather, Partnerships Manager
“I think the best invitation I can make to people is that there’s something here for you. No matter who you are, what you're doing, what kind of things you're working on, or if you're not working and you just want to find a new hobby, play with the technology, there'll be plenty of cool technology. Bring your kids for a program, a storytime. Come to a program yourself. There is so much here. There is something for everyone. And I feel like I can say that to anybody in the community. There is a space here for you, and everybody is welcome here.” - Laura Marlane, OPL Executive Director
“When you walk in this facility, it's going to take your breath away. You are going to see something that you not only never imagined. In Omaha, Nebraska. You're going to see a building that, when you walk in, is vast and as big as it is, with all of the resources. It's a very comforting place.” - Tina Cherica, Heritage Omaha President
“It's been an incredible five years getting central ready for you. We're so excited to welcome you in 2026 to this amazing space.” - Elizabeth Johnson, Senior Manager of Operations
“Why not come and see what we have? Like, that's what the library's here for. We're here to offer you something. And I'm sure you'll be able to find something that excites you, or at least wants you to come back and do some more digging, you know? I mean, that's what we try to do here.” - Jess Vermeulen, Genealogy & Local History Librarian
“To me, this is a space that was really built for everyone. It's a space that has something for everyone. And, you know, you might say, well, I'm not really a reader. Are you an art lover? Are you, Gosh, I just need some place to sit down and really kind of relax for a few moments and people watch? Central's for you. Are you somebody that's always interested in learning something new or creating something new for you? Central’s for you. At the end of the day, really Central was built for our community. And as we get closer to opening, it's just a matter of opening the doors and saying, welcome, this is for you. Because that's it. At the end of the day, we're so lucky to be the trustees of this, but it belongs to our community, and it would be great to open the doors and say, please come in.” - Stacy Lickteig, Senior Manager of Community Engagement
“You're going to go in for all different reasons, and you're going to end up having ten different experiences because you really are coming together with your community. You're coming together with your friends, with coworkers, or with people you don't even know yet.” - Nancy Novak, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
“We are so excited to welcome you to Central Library. We hope you can join us upon opening, so we can all be a community in this space together. Celebrating each other, finding each other, and really beginning to understand what community means in a whole new way.” - Rachel Steiner, OPL Assistant Director
“The physical building and then the people in it, all of you, that's the thing, is that I feel like in this specific time and place that I can say to my children, you know, look at what I said, this is important, this symbol that we've created. And then the fact that it's not just, you know, it's not just a piece of sculpture, an icon. It has living, doing stuff in it that I believe is the makings of what keeps us, you know, a great, you know, a great community of Omaha.” - Tom Trenolone, HDR
“Come and explore. I mean, that is, first of all, that's what genealogy and local history is exploring.” - Martha Grenzeback, OPL Genealogy & Local History Librarian
“You should come visit the new Central Library at 72nd and Dodge, because we haven't had anything like this here in Omaha before. The variety of spaces to explore, the things to look at, and actually interact with. Technology pieces. The garden, everywhere on the grounds is going to be a little bit different. I truly feel like there is something for everybody at this library and all you need to do is come see.” - Maggie Petersen, OPL Outreach Manager
“You drive by, and you’re like, that's the place I want to go. But, you know, I would definitely say come into the door, find a book that speaks to you, grab a seat, read it. That's what this place is for.” - Melanie Feyerherm Schultz, OPL Collection Development Librarian
“Spring 2026 Omaha is going to have a new Central Library. If you miss the opening you're going to regret it. This is going to be a really special space. And if you don't come hang out, then you're not going to have your foot in the door right at the beginning to help shape the space. And this experience for the bigger, for the larger Omaha. We want you to come be a part of this. Come visit us. You're welcome at the library. If you haven't come before, it doesn't matter. We take all comers. Come get a library card, check out some seeds, check out a book for your kid. Get a movie. Get on the computer. Create something. There's something for everybody. Go up in the genealogy room. Learn about your grandparents. How they got to Nebraska. Go hang out in the garden. Just come hang out. I promise you won't have a bad time.” Jeff McWhorter, OPL Senior Manager of Branches
OPL’s Central Library Opening Spring 2026
As OPL prepares to open its new Central Library, the voices featured in this series will offer a glimpse into the heart behind the building, a shared belief in the library as a space for everyone. The Central Library is more than a building, it’s a reflection of OPL’s commitment to strengthening our community by connecting people with ideas, information and innovative services.
On November 18, 2021, the Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees approved a resolution to work with Heritage Omaha to explore opportunities aligned with OPL’s 2017 facilities master plan, which recommended a new central library on Dodge Street between 72nd and 90th streets. On January 28, 2022, project partners confirmed that the library will be located at the southwest corner of 72nd and Dodge. Learn more about the vision, design, and progress at omahacentrallibrary.org.
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