Omaha Public Library

For the original building which housed the Omaha Public Library, see Omaha Public Library (building).

Omaha Public Library
Established	1872
Location	Omaha, Nebraska
Branches	12
Collection
Size	1,477,593[1]
Access and use
Population served	265,806 register users
Other information
Budget	$10,693,926
Website	http://omahalibrary.org

Omaha Public Library is a public library system for the city of Omaha, Nebraska. Originally founded in 1857, the library struggled for many years before formally forming in 1877. In 1895, the library became one of the first six in the nation to create a children's section. There are currently 12 libraries in the system.^[2]

History

In 1857, the Omaha Library Association was formed, folding after three years. In 1872, a tiny library was opened on the second floor of the Simpson Carriage factory at 14th & Dodge Street. In 1877, the Omaha City Council appointed a library board, which levied a tax to create Omaha Public Library. They immediately accepted 4,500 books from the disbanded association as a gift.

Real estate tycoon Byron Reed donated land and his vast collection of coins, books and manuscripts to the library in the early 1890s, and in 1894, Omaha Public Library opened in its first permanent home at 18th and Harney. A year later, Omaha Public Library became one of the first six public libraries in the nation to create a separate children’s section. A new central library called the W. Dale Clark Library opened at 14th and Farnam Streets in 1977 across from the Gene Leahy Mall.

Of the 12 libraries in the system, the W. Dale Clark Library currently houses the largest collection, including 7,000 genealogy books; 2,000 photos of the 1898 Trans-Mississippi International Exposition; a cuneiform collection; thousands of old postcards; and a rich collection of Omaha and Nebraska history resources.^[2]

Mildred L. Batchelder, Namesake of the ALA award given to the publisher of a translated children's book was formerly a librarian at an Omaha Library. One of her stated goals in her work, which was encouraging the translation of children's books from around the world, was "to eliminate barriers to understanding between people of different cultures, races, nations, and languages."

Governance

The Omaha Public Library is governed by a nine member board of directors. These people are appointed by the mayor of Omaha and confirmed by the Omaha City Council. Terms are for 3 years with the next appointment occurring May 31, 2012^[1]. The Board of Directors meet every third Wednesday of the month at different branches throughout the system. Meetings are open to the public and the agenda and minutes are posted on the Omaha Public Library website^[3].

Branches

Main article: Omaha Public Library Branches

Current Omaha Public Library locations Locations listed in alphabetical order by most common name
Name	Address	Notes	Link
W. Dale Clark Main Library	215 South 15th Street	Main Library/Downtown Library	Link
Milton R. Abrahams Branch	5111 North 90th Street		Link
Benson Branch	60th and Binney Streets	library and community center	Link
Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch	100 Reading Road	became 11th Omaha Public Library location with annexation of Elkhorn on March 1, 2007	Link
Florence Branch	2920 Bondesson	In fall 2010 Library closed for renovations	Link
Millard Branch	13214 Westwood Lane		Link
Saddlebrook Branch	14850 Laurel Avenue	opened August 17, 2009, shared facility with the Omaha Public School District	Link
A.V. Sorensen Branch	4808 Cass Street		Link
South Omaha Library	2808 Q St	formerly South Branch, shared facility with the Metropolitan Community College	Link
W. Clarke Swanson Branch	9101 West Dodge Road		Link
Charles B. Washington Branch	2868 Ames Avenue	formerly North Branch	Link
Willa Cather Branch	1905 South 44th Street		Link

Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL)

Friends of the Omaha Public Library

The Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL) is a non-profit, volunteer run organization which helps to fund literacy and community outreach programs for Omaha Public Library and the Omaha community. FOPL raises money through membership support and sales of used books. General book sales are held quarterly at the W. Clarke Swanson Branch. The Friends of Omaha Public Library can also be found online on AbeBooks as the Omaha Library Friends and on eBay as the Friends of the Omaha Public Library.

See also

• History of Omaha

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Omaha Public Library Nebraska Library Commission Library Database
2. ^ ^{a b} Omaha Public Library. Retrieved 1/11/08.
3. ^ Board of Directors Omaha Public Library

External links

• Omaha Public Library official website.
• Friends of the Omaha Public Library
• Director Gary Wasdin on Omaha.net
• Nebraska Library Commission website