Omaha Branch Library Closure Stirs Up Florence Neighborhood

Link to August 12 Omaha World-Herald article, "Florence rallies for library".

Excerpt: Teresa Miller, 20, and her brother Jonas, 15, were checking out story and music CDs when they heard the news Tuesday.

“That's weird to close a library,” Jonas said. “I mean, you need books, right?”

It never occurred to Teresa that her childhood library had a shortage of customers. She said the Florence library probably has fewer visitors because it is smaller than most branches.

“I like the small things,” she said, adding that she's frustrated that she'll have to use more gas to drive to a different branch.

For Craig and Deborah Johnson, a stroll to their public library is a family affair they hate to see end.

The Florence branch, one of 11 facilities in the Omaha Public Library system -- a 12th (Saddlebrook*) is scheduled to open on August 17 -- will remain closed through the end of the year. In addition, Florence was scheduled to undergo a $768,000 renovation, but this project has been put on hold until next year.

*The Saddlebrook Joint Facility project is a collaborative effort between the Omaha Public Schools, Omaha Public Library and City of Omaha Parks and Recreation for a community based public use facility.