Martha Lueders
Murphy News Service
Residents of the Uptown area impatiently waited for the doors of the Walker Library to re-open Saturday morning.
After being under construction since 2012, residents were restless to see the final results.
Maggie Whelan who has lived in the area for nearly five years said, “[The former Walker library] was a cave, that wasn’t fun.” She explained that there was no fresh air and everything was brown and dark.
Whelan grew more excited for the opening as she walked by and could see the progress that was being made.
Another resident, Elizabeth Short, has used the Walker Library for over 20 years. When asked why she thought the former library was ugly she joked, “How can I count the ways?”
“It was the opposite of welcoming,” she said.
After a much-needed facelift the Walker Library has resurfaced onto street level. With a budget of $12 million, extensive changes were made including a stronger street level presence, use of green energy sources, and an improved access for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.
The architecture firm Vincent James Associate Architects designed the new Walker Library.
The crowd clapped and cheered as the doors opened on Saturday.
“This may be the quietest the library ever is,” Hennepin County Library Director Lois Langer Thompson joked as everyone silently waited for the opening ceremony to finish so they could explore their new library.
“We wanted to build a 21st century library and we have achieved that,” Thompson said.
Patrons can now check out iPads that can be used in the library, while they sit on the new brightly colored armchairs.
During the opening ceremony, other public official praised the hard week of all those involved and expressed the excitement they had for the library’s future.
“I think it’s going to be packed to the rafters about every day of the week,” said Mike Opat, the Chair of Hennepin County Commissioners. Some Hennepin County libraries now can be open for 100 hours a week due to the Minneapolis ballpark tax, Opat explained.
“[Walker Library] is another gem in our system,” Opat said.
Former Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman also spoke at the opening ceremony.
“Our goal was to create a new civic space that draws all people of all ages that well serves this community now and into the future,” Dorfman said. “And I think we’ve delivered on that promise!”
The Minneapolis Park Board has designed an outdoor room that will be added to the exterior of the library, Dorfman said.
“We now have a significant civic presence on this corner in the city of Minneapolis, a 21st century Hennepin County Library,” Dorfman said.
Gary Thadenthe, president of the Hennepin County Library Board, said he’ll be a regular at the library.
“As president I shouldn’t pick a favorite library,” Thaden said. “But you will note that this is the closest library to my house, it also where my reserves will be picked up.”
He highlighted that the Walker Library now is more eco-friendly because of the use of daylight harvesting and efficient storm water management system, to name a few.
The opening ceremony ended with the cutting of the ribbon.
Within moments of the ribbon being cut members of the community took books off the shelves and made themselves at home. Many lounged in the colorful armchairs as they paged through the new books, while others gawked at the amount of natural light that flooded into the library.
Wheldan settled down with a stack of books from the non-fiction section. The new books is the most exciting part, Wheldan said having to squint as the natural light impaired her vision. “I feel like I’m part of outside,” she said
Short looked around excitedly and said, “It has all the things I love!” She pointed at the brightly colored chairs and at the large windows that extended from the floor to the ceiling.
The biggest change was that the library now feels welcoming, Short said. “I’m happy it’s open.”
Martha Lueders is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.