Written by Joe Armstrong, Content Specialist, Marketing, Downtown Main Library
After several months of construction, a new outdoor space at the Downtown Main Library is open for you to explore and enjoy! Designed with your feedback, the new North Plaza on the corner of 9th and Vine streets is built for the community to gather and connect with each other.
1. Take In The Scenery In New Green Spaces
Replacing an imposing brick wall spanning the entire street corner, the North Plaza is an open, accessible area available to all. Perfect for morning meetings, lunch with the family, or meeting with friends in the evening, the North Plaza is a pocket of vibrant nature in the middle of Downtown Cincinnati.
2. Attend Plaza Pop-Ups Throughout Fall
To kick off its opening, stop by North Plaza for Plaza Pop-Up midday events in September and October. Catch a BLINK lantern workshop, opens a new window, a community disco party, opens a new window, non-stop smashes on One Hit Wonder Day, opens a new window, and get connections to community resources. Check out all the upcoming Plaza Pop-Ups on our calendar, opens a new window.
3. Stop inside the Downtown Main Library – We're Open!
After you enjoy one of the Plaza Pop-Ups, stop in our North Building to pick up your holds, browse new titles, check out our MakerSpace, opens a new window and more. The building entrance is right around the corner on 9th Street.
4. Bike to and From the Library with the New Cincinnati Red Bike Station
Arrive in style at the North Plaza using one of the most convenient and affordable ways to travel across Cincinnati: Cincinnati Red Bike! A new station featuring standard and electric bicycles is available for you to use. Each bike is complete with a basket perfectly sized for the books, movies, CDs, and more you’ve checked out from the Library during your visit. Find more information about Cincinnati Red Bike on their website, opens a new window.
5. Find All the Hidden Cincinnati References On the Due Date Wall
Don’t miss the plaza’s illuminated art installation featuring historical due date cards synonymous with library materials years ago. At first glance, the numbers found on these cards seem to be random, but look closer and you might recognize some famous dates in Cincinnati lore. Here’s a hint: eagle-eyed visitors may spot the dates of when the Cincinnati Reds won their World Series titles. There are 17 Cincinnati-themed dates in total hiding along the wall – can you find them all?
6. Sneak a Peek at the Upcoming Renovations to the Downtown Main Library
Looking north across the street while standing in the North Plaza you’ll have the perfect view of another area of the Downtown Main Library that’s undergoing a renovation as part of CHPL’s multi-year facilities improvement project called Building the Next Generation Library. The Downtown Main Library’s South Building and South Plaza are currently in the middle of a renovation transforming the space for generations to come. (Reminder: Our North Building is still open during the construction!) Keep an eye out for a new welcoming plaza, an interior social staircase, and a revitalized atrium space. Follow along on our Next Generation Library webpage, opens a new window for construction updates and photos on the Downtown Main as well as other construction projects happening across Hamilton County.
What are you most excited to experience at the North Plaza? Let us know in the comments below!
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