LADUE, Mo. — The long-awaited Clark Library branch reopened July 9, following millions of dollars in improvements. Bob Clark, the executive chairman and founder, Clayco, along with Dr. Sam Page and others cut the red tape welcoming the public inside.
On the first-floor visitors may sit by two cozy fireplaces, enjoy a large browsing collection, and art from Kranzberg Arts Foundation. Throughout the branch are 18 private study rooms, an outdoor reading deck, a computer lab, community meeting rooms, and more.
“Well, on behalf of the whole Clark family we couldn’t be more proud and excited about what St. Louis County and St. Louis County Libraries has pulled off here, it’s way more than we thought it was going to be,” said Clark. “And it’s also the quality and the feel. We came through last night and it has energy when it’s empty, it’s really got a lot of energy when it’s full.”
Clark, whom the branch is named after, said the Clark Library is for kids, grown-ups, entrepreneurs, and has something for everyone.
An 800-seat event space will become home to popular author series. It may be divided into four separate rooms and will be available to library programs, community meetings, and other special events.
Multiple playhouses, a magnetic gear wall, light tables, large touch screens, and more await children in the upstairs space overlooking the plaza. Little readers may enjoy the reading nooks and comfortable seating throughout the room.
All 125,000 items of genealogy and local history will be available to the public for the first time. This center has six Family Search screens and a Memory lab where people can record their family histories. You’ll find a room dedicated to digitizing old photos or converting VHS tapes into a digital file.
Teens have real opportunities here. They can use the high-tech creative lab with many amenities. Helping expand those creative minds the space provides a 3-D printer, a recording studio, a green screen wall, a Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut, Black magic Cinema camera, and Mac computers with the Adobe suite ready to go. Or if they want to get their game on, you may find them in the video game room.
In here aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners may use computers, seating areas with moveable walls to create collaborative spaces, and virtual meeting space with soundproof walls.
