Hundreds gathered outside the new Donelson branch of the Nashville Public Library to celebrate its opening Monday morning.
Families and community members gathered to celebrate along with state, city and library leaders, including Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. Metro Councilman Jeff Gregg, who represents Donelson, and his predecessor Jeff Syracuse were also part of the ceremony. Both advocated for funding for the new library, along with other developments in the area.
“I think what you’re seeing in the attention from state and local officials is that Donelson’s future is not only important, but incredibly bright,” O’Connell said.
At exactly 10 a.m., a ribbon was cut and visitors began to enter the building.
The new two-story space spans nearly 25,000 square feet at 2714 Old Lebanon Pike, about a mile east of the now-closed previous location. In addition to space for nearly 30,000 books, the new branch also includes a variety of public art inside and outside the building, including a hanging sculpture illustrating parts of Tennessee’s ecosystem.
Children fanned out into the maze of shelves to explore. A few wasted no time checking stacks of books. A puppet show, Afro Latin drums and dancing, storytelling, Irish step dancing, cookie making and a forum with the Urban Design Overlay team were also on the agenda for the day-long celebration.
What is included in the new Donelson branch
Designed primarily by Hastings Architecture, the new facility has several environmentally friendly features, including solar panels on the roof, a geo-exchange system that creates more efficient heating and cooling, and a third of an acre of open green space to the front. The facility is also expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Gold certification, according to the website.
Here’s a snapshot of what else is in the space, which is part of a larger ongoing development called Donelson Plaza:
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Three special program rooms
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Six study rooms
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Extensive Spanish-language materials
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Signage in English, Spanish and Arabic
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Artworks by local artists
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A mobile kitchen where cooking lessons and demonstrations can be given
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A kiosk for renewing vehicle registrations
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Charging ports for electric cars
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Outdoor water stations for pets and people
O’Connell praised the extensive community services that come with the ongoing development around the library and square.
“Not only are we trying to make it easier for children to explore their future in our incredible public facility, we’re also trying to make it easier for adults to live here,” he said.
Learn more
More information about the Donelson branch can be found at library.nashville.org/new-donelson-branch-library.
Learn more about Donelson Plaza, an ongoing revitalization of a historic shopping center, at DonelsonPlaza.com.
Reach children’s reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or follow her on Twitter, Threads and Bluesky @RachelAnnWegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Public Library opens in new Donelson branch
