Process

The Building

With funding procured, the city of Nashville opened an international building design competition to invite submissions for the design of the “great library”. The winner was Robert A.M. Stern Architects from New York who submitted a “modern classical” design which was in keeping with many of Nashville's other buildings. In the process, Donna Nicely enlisted her staff to help envision the new library. She asked them for their "million dollar" ideas that would make their departments outstanding. Many of these ideas were incorporated into the building’s design. Margaret Ann Robinson spoke of weekly Friday meetings with the design and construction team, one of which produced the idea of a garden and courtyard, which is now named for her and her late husband, Walter.

Margaret Ann Robinson on Main Library's design

In June 2001, the Main Library opened, bringing these dreams to life.

The Foundation

Public-Private Partnership

Private funding ultimately allowed for the grand library’s success. Designed to enhance the Nashville Public Library’s work and collections, the Nashville Public Library Foundation support bolstered the government support of the library as it confirmed the importance of the library. In fact, private funds did not result in a reduction of public funding. The Foundation brought private dollars into the equation without diminishing Metro’s funding. In addition, the Foundation enabled the Library’s flexibility and innovation in programming and expanded reach in the community.

Keith Simmons on public-private partnership of NPL & Foundation

The Pitch

Mayor Phil Bredesen loved libraries.

“Think what a new library system will do for our city, for our children. We were the Athens of the South before we were Music City; let’s build some libraries”.

-Second Inaugural Address, 1995

Robinson, Nicely and sometimes Mayor Bredesen attended events in all forty districts in Davidson County during the period leading up to the Metro Council’s vote to approve funding for the Main Library and branch construction. A campaign in favor of voting for the new library was launched in 1997 by Dave Cooley, grassroots and public affairs consultant, using the “A city with a great library is a great city” slogan on bumper stickers and t-shirts to spread the word around the city .

Donna Nicely on gaining Council support

Bredesen admits that this was the only Council vote during his terms as mayor that he was uncertain of the vote’s outcome (P. Bredesen, personal communication, March 7, 2014). However, the Metro Council approved the funding on June 24, 1997 for the new main library, five new branches, and three renovations within the Nashville Public Library System (Nashville Public Library Foundation, 2004). This project, approved by a 29-9 vote margin, would devote a total of $50 million in funding for the Main Library’s construction, financed through an increase of eight cents in property tax for Davidson County (Carey, 2001; Sprayberry, 2000; Friends of the Public Library, 1997).

Dave Cooley on the community campaign for Main Library

Bearing in mind the local needs and interests of Council members and citizens, the new downtown library plan was presented to the Council as part of a broader expansion plan for the Nashville Public Library system. The plan included an additional five new branches and three branch renovations, which allowed Councilmen to advocate for the plan. At Large Councilman Ronnie Steine played an integral role as the Council’s champion for the library vote (M. Robinson, personal communication, March 31, 2014).

Margaret Ann Robinson on Metro Council's vote

The Main Library:

Nashville's Civic Living Room