WORCESTER, Mass. – Fatou Niang proudly watched her daughter, 8-year-old Bineta Diallo, grip the top loop of the red oversized scissor handle. 

“My daughter here is very excited,” said Niang, who came to Worcester with her family from Senegal, West Africa, in 2019. Bineta stood in front of the newly built Worcester Public Library entrance that opened along Franklin Street. A crowd of more than fifty people, young and old, gathered around, nearly spilling out into the road. She was assisted by the much shorter 5-year-old, Aavin Hill, who held the bottom loop of the handle.

Bineta Diallo, 8, and Aavin Hill, 5, are helped by Worcester Public Library Executive Director James Horner with cutting the ribbon. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba.

The girls were guest ribbon cutters as library and city officials celebrated the completion of recent renovations to the city library that included the new front doors and the Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas Children’s Center on the third floor.

Niang said her daughter never experienced the wonders of a public library before coming to America. “The first time she came to the library she used say to me, ‘mom, this is the first time in the U.S. This is the first library I ever go to.’ Because in my country at preschool, she had never been in a library and every time she used to say to my family, ‘that here, kids go to the library!’ … How excited for our children to get to use the new children’s center.”

The new Worcester Public Library sign above the new Franklin Street entrance. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba.

James Homer, the executive director of the library, helped guide the scissors to the long, red ribbon at the front entrance. As they cut, the crowd enthusiastically applauded. Niang felt it was significant for the children to be the ones cutting the ribbon, because she said “the future of the city is in the kid’s hands.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony began with comments from members of the Worcester Public Library, the Worcester Public Library Foundation, and city officials. Senator Jim McGovern and Worcester Red Sox president Dr. Charles Steinberg were also in attendance along with several members of the community.

However, it was the emotional reflection by Niang explaining how important the library was for her when she first came to this country that stole the show. “I’m pleased to talk about the importance of the library in the community based on my real experience,” she said as she placed her right hand on her heart. She said programs at the library helped her with learning and understanding English. “Once I moved here, I had to familiarize myself with the English keyboard and Microsoft office in English,” she said. “I used to come here to the library to practice … The library helped me overcome it. The public library has played a key role … giving me the resources to overcome some obstacles … I’m very grateful for all your efforts that you do for helping us on our way to make our American Dream come true.”

People crowded the Worcester Public Library to check out the new renovations. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba

The renovation project has increased the library’s footprint by 8,000 square feet, creating more public space, and allowing for a new children’s area on the third floor. The city has provided $9 million in funding to support the design and construction of the project. The Worcester Public Library Foundation is concluding a multi-year $4.1 million capital campaign to help fund the renovation and create an endowment for future needs. 

The library was last renovated in 2001. Since that time, technology has dramatically changed the way people use library services. This renovation was designed to create modern spaces to meet the needs of current and future library users. The timing of the improvements come during a period of much uncertainty, and the new spaces will help meet the community’s needs that have emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new children’s room was the key attraction during the event. As people entered, they were greeted by a large blue interactive rocket in the center. The expanded children’s room has a wide selection of shelves filled with books, games and movies. There’s a new computer lab with dozens of new computers, updated teen space, a digital studio, an interactive castle along the wall, and a new story-telling space in the rear.

Raisa Bali of Worcester was impressed and happy with the new children’s space. “Oh my god! I think it looks beautiful and I think that it’s something the children of Worcester need,” Bali said as she watched her 4-year-old, Hadassah, play in the castle. “It’s about time. It definitely feels like a safe environment for them to come in, learn and be kids. And the parents can have peace of mind that they are somewhere safe.

“I was raised in Worcester and I’ve been coming to the library since I was a little girl and now, I can bring my little girl,” she said.

Each year the Worcester Public Library welcomes over 600,000 visitors. City officials think the new improvements to the library will better meet the needs of Worcester’s residents and contribute to and capitalize on the redevelopment taking place in the downtown area. 

“I couldn’t be more excited for people to see and enjoy the renovated Worcester Public Library,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “From the new front entrance that connects the library to our downtown core, to the outstanding new Pappas Children’s Center on the third floor, this project takes a vital community resource, enhances its many offerings, and creates new, vibrant spaces that will serve people for generations to come.”

Stephanie Pasha, the Worcester Public Library board president, said the shutdown from the pandemic only highlighted the importance of the library. Now that this current renovation project has been completed, the library is well positioned to support the evolving needs of current and future library users.

“While our plans were well underway before the pandemic struck, that situation certainly affirmed how important these improved spaces and technology are to our patrons of all ages,” Pasha said. “The opportunities for enhanced in-person experiences in the Hanover Teen Space and Fletcher Family Innovation Center are just as important as our focus on increased virtual offerings. Our staff has been wonderfully creative in developing new programming, virtual and in person, to meet our patrons’ needs and circumstances. We are excited to see what’s possible with these improved spaces and technologies.”

Homer, who has only been on the job for eight months, said he wants to encourage the community that there is more to the library than just books. “Sure, we have books,” he said. Further, he cited how the Worcester library also offers fun programs and informative classes like resume and job search assistance, 3D printer classes, podcast programs, genealogy research, etc. “We want everyone in our community to understand that there is something for them here … Our new motto is ‘You Belong Here’ because we want everyone to come to the Worcester Public Library to see what we have to offer.”