Omaha Public Library less than a year away from move to new central location

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The Omaha Public library is less than a year away from moving books into its new central location . In 2026, the building on 72nd and Dodge is expected to open. Steel and glass are up at the construction site as the expansion begins to take shape.

"They've also started work on the unitized curtain wall which will give the building its signature look that we have seen in all of those renderings," said Courtni Kopietz, OPL Marketing Managers. "The iconic staircase that will go from the main level up to the third floor is also under construction and should be completed by the end of this month."

Once the building is fully enclosed at the end of 2024, staff will begin working on the interior, moving books, material and technology inside.

"The Central library will be really reflective of the history OPL as a system as well as bring in kind of the advancements and the future of libraries as we see today," explained Kopietz.

The central location will feature an expanded technology library, programs, new podcast studio, community art work and more. It will also enhance the services currently offered at other locations.

"Central will have places for content creation like those media labs and the podcast studio, the maker space," said Kopietz. "As well as quiet study rooms or places to host a business meeting as well as public events. There will be a café, so even if its just informal study session or a meetup with a client whatever that may be, the central library will have something for you."

An Automated Storage and Retrieval System or ASRS will soon be installed into the new location. ASRS are commonly found at academic institutions OPL will be the first public library to have this system.

"Items will be stored in the bins in the ASRS and when we need them we will retrieve them and there are essentially robotic arms that will bring those bins of materials to our staff to retrieve those items," said Kopietz.

Kopietz says staff have already begun the process of moving materials ahead of the move.

"The cataloging of all these materials is a huge fete and we have a great team to accomplish all of that," said Kopietz. "They will be working with those movers to make sure things are moved as swiftly as possible, as cleanly as possible so that people can start accessing those materials as soon as we open to the public."

The building should be fully completed by spring 2026. No other OPL locations are expected to close with the expansion. Once central is open, work will begin on a new Southwest branch at 204th and F street.