ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Renovations to the Clark Family Branch of the St. Louis County Library (SLCL) are nearing completion as the grand opening and an event with the lead singer from Hootie and the Blowfish are set for this summer.

What You Need To Know

  • The remodeled branch in Ladue is a two-story, 74,000-square-foot building, making it the largest branch in the library district. The branch is named after Bob Clark, executive chairman and founder of Clayco, who donated $4 million to the project in 2022

  • The Post Event Space, sponsored by Post Holdings, at the library branch will open June 1 at 1 p.m. for a ticketed event with Darius Rucker, of Hottie and the Blowfish

  • The official ribbon cutting for the entire Clark Family Branch will be held July 9 at 9 a.m. and the branch will be open to the public following the ceremony

  • The Family Clark Branch is the final project of the “Your Library Renewed” campaign that began in 2014

The remodeled branch in Ladue is a two-story, 74,000-square-foot building, making it the largest branch in the library district. The branch is named after Bob Clark, executive chairman and founder of Clayco, who donated $4 million to the project in 2022, according to a press release. Lamar Johnson Collaborative designed the building.

“The opening of the Clark Family Branch is a huge milestone for the St. Louis County Library District," said Kristen Sorth, St. Louis County Library Director and CEO.  

The Family Clark Branch is the final project of the “Your Library Renewed” campaign that began in 2014 and is funded in part by the voter-approved $.06 tax increase. Over the past 10 years under the campaign, six new library branches have been built, 13 branches have been renovated or expanded, and the Lynn Beckwith Jr. Administrative Building was completed, according to the press release.

The first floor of the renovated Clark Family Branch features two fireplaces, comfortable seating, a large browsing collection and an art collection from the Kranzberg Arts Foundation.

The second floor includes a large, brightly colored children’s space that features a large playhouse, a fire engine, light tables, a magnetic wall and interactive learning activities. There also are two large touch screens with educational games and activities, reading nooks and other cozy seating throughout.

“The Clark Family Branch will provide an array of unique resources for the entire region,” Sorth said.

The Post Event Space, sponsored by Post Holdings, at the library branch will open June 1 at 1 p.m. for a ticketed event with Darius Rucker, of Hottie and the Blowfish.

He will discuss his new memoir, “Life’s Too Short,” according to the press release. A ribbon cutting for the event space will be at noon.

The official ribbon cutting for the entire Clark Family Branch will be held July 9 at 9 a.m. and the branch will be open to the public following the ceremony.

Additionally, the remodeled branch features the Emerson Genealogy Center, on the second floor, that will house SLCL’s largest genealogy and local history collection.

It includes six interactive Family Search screens, a Memory Lab where people can record their family histories, and a room for digitizing old photos and converting VHS tapes to digital files, according to the press release.

The teen area will have a high-tech creative lab sponsored by Object Computing, Inc. It includes a 3D printer, a recording studio, a green screen wall and a video game room.

The Small Business Center will offer resources for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with computers, dedicated staff and programming, according to the press release. The area has a variety of seating, with moveable walls for collaborative spaces, and a Zoom room with soundproof walls.

Other amenities include 18 private study rooms, an outdoor reading deck, a computer lab, community rooms, comfortable seating, a courtyard, a nearby walking trail, an extensive collection of books, music, DVDs, magazines and more.

“We are very grateful for the generous support of the donors who contributed to this project: the Clark Family, Emerson, Post Holdings, Unity Foundation, Object Computing Inc., the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Stephany and Richard Kniep, the Rohrbach Foundation, Susan and Shanti Nagarkatti, and Sandy and Neil Jaffe,” Sorth said.

For more information about the event Darius Rucker, click here.