Omaha Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. cuts the ribbon during the grand opening of Omaha Central Library on April 19, 2026, joined by community leaders and library officials.
Omaha, NE – Omaha Central Library officially opened to the public Sunday, giving the city a new flagship space that brings together books, technology, public art and community gathering areas under one roof.
Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. cut the ribbon before a crowd of library patrons of all ages at the new building at 72nd and Dodge streets. Once the ceremony ended, visitors moved through the library to explore its book collections, indoor and outdoor seating areas, technology spaces and the three-story automated storage system at the center of the building.
The 102,000-square-foot library becomes the new hub of the Omaha Public Library system, combining traditional library services with expanded technology access, makerspace equipment and meeting areas. The project also includes a strong emphasis on design and public use, with comfortable reading spaces, gathering areas and a large collection of commissioned local art.
Omaha Public Library Executive Director Laura Marlane described the opening as a major step for the city and for the future of the library system.
“This library is more than a building – it’s a statement about who we are and what we believe in,” Marlane said in the release shared after the opening. “Omaha Central Library stands for access – to information, technology, and opportunity – and for the idea that everyone in this community deserves a place where they can learn, create, and connect.”
A major public-private investment in Omaha
The new library carries a total project cost of $158 million. According to project details, Heritage Omaha raised $138 million from donors to fund the effort, while the City of Omaha contributed $20 million in redevelopment bonds. The city will continue to support ongoing operations and maintenance across the Omaha Public Library system.
Mayor Ewing said the project reflects the kind of public-private partnership Omaha has relied on for other major civic efforts.
In the same release, he described the building as an investment not only in books and services, but also in literacy, digital access, community development and long-term opportunity for residents.
The building’s centerpiece is a three-story book retrieval system
One of the most talked-about features during opening day was the Automated Storage and Retrieval System, known as ASRS. The climate-controlled system can hold up to 600,000 items and uses robotic arms to retrieve requested materials from Omaha Public Library’s collection.
Library leaders say the system will support a collections hub model across the OPL network, allowing branches to display more curated selections while still giving patrons access to a much larger inventory. According to project information, Omaha Central Library is the only public library in the United States with this kind of ASRS system.
Visitors on Sunday watched the system in action as books were requested and retrieved.
Visitors gather outside Omaha Central Library on opening day, April 19, 2026, as the new 102,000-square-foot facility opens to the public.
Do Space now has a permanent home inside Central Library
Another major part of the project is the integration of Do Space into the Omaha Public Library system. Do Space, which first opened more than a decade ago near 72nd and Dodge, is now housed on the second floor of Central Library.
The area includes 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing and embroidery machines, a serger, a long-arm quilter, an apparel printer, a swell printer, and dedicated video and podcast studios, according to the project fact sheet. The goal is to expand Do Space programming and technology access throughout the Omaha Public Library system.
For visitors on opening day, the technology and makerspace equipment drew as much attention as the traditional book collections.
Public art and community spaces are built into the design
The library also opened with a major local art component. Sixteen artists from the Omaha area were selected through a public call that drew 242 applicants from across the metro. Together, the commissions represent a philanthropic investment of $1.3 million in local art.
Project materials say the artists were able to develop their work alongside the construction process, creating pieces specifically for the building as it took shape.
In addition to its art program, the library includes 16 reservable meeting rooms, a rentable community room, an outdoor garden, a floor dedicated to genealogy and local history, and a large children’s area. Exterior book lockers, book drops and a drive-thru window were also built into the project to make pickups and returns easier.
Access, parking and sustainability were part of the project plan
The site includes about 300 parking spaces in an attached garage and nearby lots. Omaha Central Library is also accessible via the ORBT route along Dodge Street and Route 18 along 72nd Street, with bus stops just outside the building.
Project materials also note that the building achieved LEED Gold certification for sustainable design, energy efficiency and environmental quality, placing it among a relatively small number of buildings in Nebraska to reach that standard.
With the ribbon now cut and the doors open, Omaha Central Library begins its role as the system’s new central hub, one designed to serve readers, researchers, families, students, creators and residents looking for both books and technology in one place.
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