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Results

 

There are many ways to gauge the success of the creation of the Main Library - the increase in the size of the collection, the number of visits to the Library, the programming offered to the citizens, and the diversity of the patrons. Below are a few of the results:

 

 

  • On June 9, 2001 the new 300,000 sq. ft. Main Library building design by Robert A.M Stern Architects opened to the public.

 

  • NPL Main Library's usage and programming have increased.

 

  • City's common language for Library " Civic living room" or "anchor of downtown"

 

  • Downtown District has evolved tremendously since the Library's development

 

  • The creation of the NPL Foundation in 1997 has enhanced the success and sustainability of the Main Library and its innovative, award-winning programs.

 

Tari Hughes - Current NPL Foundation President on
NPL Foundations's current work
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Signs of Current Success

 

NPL's Community Engagement programs target all demographics and cross-sections of Nashville's Community embracing the immigrant/refugee community, promoting youth access to libraries, and appealing to families, business people, etc. drawing in people from all walks of life to their public library. The public programs for all ages have 200,000+ in attendance annually.

 

Examples include:

  • Puppetry - Wishing Chair Productions & International Puppet Festival, The Puppet Truck

  • Teen CentersTeen Engagement (T.O.T.A.L.) Program

  • 21st Century Digital Teen Centers

  • The Writers' CircleCourtyard Concerts

  • Bringing Books to Life Program

  • Limitless Libraries with Metro Nashville Public School system

  • New American's Corner

  • Job Search Lab

  • Summer Reading Programs

  • Various Cultural Events

  • Special Collections - Civil Rights Reading Room, the Nashville Room

  • Salon@615 - authors and speakers

  • Art Gallery

 

For more information about these programs, click here.

 

 

 

Success

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Library enthusiasts met some resistance when advocating for the new downtown library in the mid-1990s, as technology and electronic books threatened the traditional view of a library’s purpose to merely house books and media. However, the Nashville Public Library’s vision is not simply having books, as their slogan, “Books are only half of the story”, suggests (Nashville Public Library, 2012). Rather than a typical view of a quiet, sterile environment, the Nashville Public Library and Foundation desire a place that is full of life (E. Adler, personal communication, March 5, 2014). Hence, the library’s programs include concerts, author speaker series, and puppet shows from the Wishing Chair Productions to name just a few.

 

Elyse Adler, Current NPL Associate Director of Community Engagement on NPL's approach to the community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to be sustainable, the Library realizes that it must stay relevant (E. Adler, personal communication, March 5, 2014). For this reason, the NPL ensures generational continuation of the library’s success through youth programming targeting teens. For local contributions and relevance, the Main Library’s Nashville Room and Civil Rights Room capture and showcase Nashville’s history (Nashville Public Library Foundation. 2004). These programs and initiatives are examples of the success of the Nashville Public Library and Foundation leaderships’ efforts to rebrand the library system as a whole through their efforts to build the new downtown library.

 

Margaret Ann Robinson's desire for the Main Library

 

 

 

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