The new Minneapolis Central Library is now open!

Minneapolis Central Library

Statement from Katherine G. Hadley, Director, Minneapolis Public Library:

Every part of last Thursday’s Teen Leadership and Media Day, Friday’s benefit gala, and Saturday’s grand opening was moving. Just like the reopening of Pierre Bottineau, Sumner, and Franklin but on a bigger scale, it was so emotional welcoming the public back to the Central Library. Everyone worked so hard – and with such heart - to get ready and to help patrons on Saturday.

Many, many people were genuinely awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the Library. But for me, the images of people using the Library are the ones replaying since we closed on Saturday. A mom and her son lying on the floor reading together in the Children’s Library. Teens filling every inch of the walls in the Teen Zone with comments. Patrons signing up for conversation circles in the New American Center and being greeted in their own language. Heads bent together as friends poured over maps or sheet music or pictures or material in Special Collections. People oohing and aahing over the gallery exhibition. Lines of patrons excited – and, mostly, patient – about checking out books and A/V material.

I was outside the Library when the doors opened and patrons started in. But the reports – and the photo in the paper - of the staff and volunteers clapping as the patrons poured into the Library are unbelievably moving. There were tears all around then and throughout the day.
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