Omaha Public Library (OPL) encourages all community members to visit the library during National Library Week, April 7-13, to explore all they have to offer! This annual celebration is a perfect opportunity to explore the wealth of resources and experiences waiting for you at your local library! National Library Week serves as a reminder of the invaluable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in enriching lives, fostering connections, and promoting continuous learning. This year, the theme, “Ready, Set, Library!” embodies the enthusiasm and eagerness to engage with all that libr ..read more

Omaha Public Library has served the community for more than 150 years, and its rich history emphasizes the library's enduring mission to provide access to ideas, information, and innovative services. Throughout its lifetime, OPL has adapted to technological advancements and the needs of the community, offering diverse services such as language learning, a seed library, and digital resources — in addition to its expansive collection of books and materials — truly serving as a community hub that provides a space for learning, socializing, and access to resources. This video explores the origins ..read more

Spring is on the way, and it’s a great time to start new projects or get back to some old ones! For the historically-minded, there is no better place than Omaha Public Library (OPL)’s Genealogy & Local History Room, opens a new window at 3020 S. 84th St., and no better time than Genealogy Week, March 3-9. National Genealogy Day falls on the second Saturday in March (March 9 this year) and is a time dedicated to memorializing our families and recording their stories. As they did last year, OPL and the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, opens a new window (GOGS) are joining forces to celeb ..read more

          Omaha Public Library with Omaha Public Radio? A new way to connect listeners to OPL’s books, resources, events and more! “Off The Shelf” is OPL’s weekly segment on local NPR member station KIOS. The segment focuses on new and/or noteworthy books, resources, events and more at the library, and has been airing weekly since early 2023. KIOS’s  David Koesters serves as the host, reporter, and producer of the segment. For him, combining OPL with Omaha Public Radio was an obvious choice. “We strive to uphold the “public” by amplifying voices that also serve o ..read more

When Tamyra Howard received a call from “Paws for Friends,” a non-profit pet therapy organization, she sensed an opportunity to make a difference. The call was more than just an invitation; it was an opportunity for Howard to return to her home branch. Howard became a patron of the Willa Cather Branch after becoming pregnant with her first child, 28 years ago. Willa Cather Branch was a huge part of her children’s childhood–from the Summer Reading Program every year to the fond memories of checking out books and reading as a family. Once her children became adults, she missed the routine and c ..read more

Librarian Holly Pelesky’s journey to Omaha Public Library wasn’t a straight path. Like any great story, there were twists and turns when you’d least expect. She started life with a different career in mind. “I wanted to be a writer and I spent many hours consuming library paperbacks like “The Baby-Sitter’s Club” and “Nancy Drew,”” says Pelesky, who also laments she wasn’t allowed to read “Sweet Valley High.” “Then someone told me writers don’t make money, so I decided to be a teacher. Somehow, I’ve made a life doing a bit of both!”  Pelesky applied for a position at OPL around 15 years a ..read more

As you make your New Year’s resolutions for 2024, don’t forget about OPL! The library has many resources to help you accomplish some (or all) of your goals. Here are a few examples of how OPL can help to make 2024 your best year yet! Read moreReading is proven to make people happier, less stressed, and more empathetic, among other benefits, so it comes as no surprise that people want to spend more time with a good book. Push yourself out of your reading comfort zone by participating in the 2024 Reading Challenge, consider joining an OPL book club, or get a group of readers together and start ..read more

A dedication to the deceased. Day of the Dead, known as "Dia De Los Muertos," is a vibrant and heartfelt two-day celebration that bridges the gap between the living and the dead. Families come together to create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their loved ones who have passed away. These colorful altars are adorned with bright yellow marigold flowers, cherished photographs of the departed, and their favorite foods and drinks. These offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations! This ye ..read more

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Omaha Public Library! Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Via https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about.html On Saturday, October 14th, 2023, join OPL for a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at South Omaha Library. From 12:30pm–2pm, enjoy bilingual Spanish/English storytime, crafts, and a special dance performance from the Hi ..read more

Each year, Omaha Public Library (OPL) encourages the community to vote for and read one book as a way to promote literacy and inspire discussion among Omaha and Douglas County residents. The selection is celebrated with book talks and other related programming. Join us in reading this year’s Omaha Reads selection, “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings―asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass―offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten ho ..read more