Downtown Debut in Indianapolis

The much-delayed Indianapolis—Marion County Public Library's (IMCPL) Central Library opened to the public on December 9, at 293,000 square feet plus a 183,000 square foot parking structure. The 1917 Cret Building (foreground of photo) was restored and adjoined to a new six-story Tower Building, connected by a 7000 square foot atrium, which houses information and circulation desks, an exhibition area, café, and more. The downtown facility holds one-third of the IMCPL collection (700,000 items) and offers 398 parking spaces, more than 900 patron seats, and over 300 public access computers.

The library is now fully accessible to the disabled. Enhanced features include study rooms, a language lab, a catered event space, and 30 additional staffers. IMCPL has aimed to create unique and compelling environments for children and teens with its 18,000 square foot Learning Curve area. IMCPL has also designed Curve World, a virtual space in which children can work on collaborative projects or just have fun. The Baby Zone is for parents, infants, and toddlers.

Architecture critic Lawrence Cheek wrote in the Indianapolis Star, "Against all odds and logic, the new Central Library's appalling trail of botched construction, mind-boggling cost overruns, preposterous delays, and volleying lawsuits have led to a stunningly good building."

Library board president Louis Mahern told the Star, "I think it will be a tremendous recruiting tool to entice companies to...locate here and for existing companies to draw employees to Indianapolis."

Construction of the new facility took two years longer than expected and cost more than estimated owing to parking structure foundation problems. IMCPL is suing to recover damages from some 20 contractors it blames for construction delays. The library cost about $150 million, some $50 million over the original budget.

"In all the hoopla surrounding the grand reopening," one resident pointed out to the Star, there was little focus on the library's move toward using a larger percentage of library assistants to staff the building. Moreover, IMCPL has cut its materials budget by $350,000, put two branch plans aside, and minimized salary increases. "The building is going to be such a huge opportunity for the community that it will overcome the negative aura," City-County Councilwoman Jackie Nytes told the newspaper. "But it will be a rough couple of years financially."

Shortly before the opening, Laura Bramble, the interim head of the system for nearly a year, was chosen as the new CEO. Four members of the library board chose Bramble, while two voted for Nytes, a former library employee, citing her political experience.

Mahern said Bramble had helped to improve the morale of staff, who had expressed dissatisfaction during the tenure of former CEO Linda Mielke, who resigned in January 2006. Bramble will receive a salary of about $115,000.