GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. >> [cheering] >> I HAVEN'T EVEN SAID ANYTHING. >> We know who you are. >> Welcome back to your HAMLINE MIDWAY LIBRARY. >> [cheering and applause] >> MY NAME IS MAUREEN HARTMAN. I have the great privilege of serving as the 14th library director in the history of the Saint Paul Public Library, and it is one of my great top professional moments to welcome you here today. Thank you, all of you, for being here at YOUR LIBRARY. >> [cheering] [applause] >> I WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE that we have a few elected officials here today. Senator Sandy Pappas. Thank you for being here and for your continued support of Saint Paul. We are so thankful for your 42-year career of Saint Paul advocacy. We know your advocacy will continue as a private citizen. Thank you, Sandy. Also, Senator Mary Kunesh is here. Thank you, Senator Kunesh. In addition to representing nearby neighbors in District 39 and being chair of the Education Finance Committee, those of us in the Minnesota library world know Senator Kunesh as one of our strongest statewide champions for library issues. Thank you, Senator Kunesh, for your continued advocacy and support for Minnesota libraries. This is the latest Minnesota library addition. >> [applause] >> I know we also have a couple of city council members. They'll be here to speak in a minute. I I saw Ward 7 Council Member Tenequa Johnson. She She is behind me. Awkward. Thank you, all of you. Thank you for your continued to support. Uh it is incredible. Today we welcome you into a new building. And at the same time, we thank and acknowledge the previous building that stood in the same place and the neighbors that it served, including many of us gathered here today. We also honor the long process that our city and our library team and the community went through to get here today. We thank the neighbors who raised their voices. Through all of these voices, the library got better. This accessible, art-filled, history-honoring, light-filled space is now ready to serve these kids here today and generations of kids and grownups to come. >> [applause] >> It's easy to see libraries as just buildings, and certainly we're so proud of this one. But more than a building, libraries are people. They're you and you and you and me. They are us. And thank you for showing that today. This is a library built for the community today at this time. And I couldn't be prouder to speak on behalf of my team and welcome you to this library, to your library. And before I step away, I want to make sure that I acknowledge folks that are not standing with me at this podium who have worked so hard, so tirelessly towards this day. And almost all of them are here today, and so thank you for standing with us. This project was so important to SPPL and to the city and to the Friends of the Library that it took two library directors, two mayors, three Ward 4 City Council members. >> [laughter] >> In particular, library team members Marika Stalock, our library project manager, and Stacy Opitz, our communications manager, have been in this project even longer than me, and I'm so grateful for their partnership. Our architectural partners LSE stood with us every step along the way when they could have easily stepped away, and we have them to thank for this beautiful space. Our construction partner Stahl Construction did miracles with a very small urban city lot, and it is incredible how much bigger this space feels, doesn't it? Our community artists, you'll see them and hear from them later, did exactly what community members asked us asked them to do, which was make this a space that reflects all of the all of the cultures in our community and bring art into our space. And then our Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, who stood with us from the beginning, >> [cheering] [applause] >> and supported this project with additional private philanthropy beyond the funding that the city provided. My predecessor, Library Director Catherine Penkert, beg- began this project and graciously has allowed me to finish it up. We each did our part, and there is nothing I have learned about public sector leadership than that. Do the part you can, then step away and let somebody else carry it to the next stage. Our partners in the City Attorney's office, especially Anissa Maddiger, I know she's here. I didn't see her, but I heard she was here. Where is Anissa? Okay, she may be hiding. Libby Cantner and Sarah Sullivan spent hours, hours, so many hours with me and my team Anessa in particular the litigator fought for this library and this neighborhood and I am so grateful for her and in particular I am so grateful for a city that stood with the importance of building a space that's for today and for the future that also honors our history. If you haven't already, you'll meet our Hamline Midway Library team today led by Naweed Santiago. Thank you Hamline team for saying yes to this opportunity and allowing me to make these remarks on your behalf today. I'm so pleased to turn over the podium to my colleague Assistant Mayor Nou Xiong. >> Thank you Director Hartmann and thank you for your leadership. Mayor Her could not join us today but sends her regards and is excited for this library's grand opening. My name is Nou Xiong, Assistant Mayor of Staff and Strategic Partnerships. Um it's been such a joy to be here today since 10:00 a.m. Um I'm here I'm joined by my colleagues Assistant Mayor Stumolinger who's right back here and then our constituent associate David Chernak. So I want to say that it's such a beautiful beautiful day with such amazing company and beautiful people and I want to make sure that today we honor the past and we move into the future. I think that that's definitely the messaging today and I want to say thank you to our library staff, the tireless work of community members, local leaders, artists, library advocates, the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and city staff whose vision paved the way and made Hamlin Midway Library possible. So, a library is so much more than a building. It's where children discover a lifelong love of reading. Students find a place to learn. Job seekers access new opportunities. Neighbors gather, and our community comes together. Libraries are one of our city's greatest investments because they invest directly in people. Every person who walks through these doors belongs here and has the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. To everyone who has been waiting patiently for this day, welcome home. Congratulations to the Saint Paul Public Library, the Hamlin Midway community, and everyone who made this day possible. On behalf of Mayor Her, I am honored to present a proclamation commemorating the grand opening of the Hamlin Midway Library. I'd like to invite Director Hartman to come forward to accept the proclamation. >> [applause] >> Thank you. No, it's them. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. >> Is this working? Okay, it is. Hi, everybody. I'm Mitra Jalali. >> [cheering] >> I'm just so so thrilled to be back here today with all of you, and a lot of what I have to say about this library you all heard me say for several years as your former council woman. So, just with an expression of noise, how does today feel to you all? Like >> [cheering] >> There's There's a litany of thank yous. There's more people than could possibly be named in one continuous readout. Um you know, I just I want to really start with thanking the community and I really sincerely want to lay out why that is. We asked from all of you to inform and shape and give input on what you want this city facility to be. And when we started out, we didn't know if we were going to rebuild it or not. We genuinely had to weigh that decision with all of you through hundreds of hours of meetings, including through the pandemic, including through virtual and remote sessions, going outside the Cub Foods, going to Hamlin High-Rise, like going everywhere in the community to talk to anybody who might use this community building. And we heard you say, "We just want this to be a space for the next generation. And we also want it to feel like how our library has always felt. We want to walk in and see our library, but we want to see it bigger and better." And I'm just near tears today at how that vision has shaped this space. And I want to thank you for your trust and patience. My wish today is that you feel like your trust and patience were rewarded because what a gorgeous building we have now thanks to this community effort and to you. So, thank you for that. A few moments that have made me emotional today are watching people push their big strollers right through the front door. Watching people be able to enter using their wheelchair right through the front door. Being able to use accessible technology. How good, clean, and healthy this building feels because it is a because it is a sustainable design powered by geothermal energy in a week where we couldn't even go outside because the air quality was so bad. This is a library for the future. And just seeing the arch above all in brick and the thoughtfulness and the vision of thousands of you and our architects and our capable many experts. I'll I'll end with you know the history of the library is that a group of women in the neighborhood organized and they took the building over and they turned it into a space for the community. And you'll see up here a group of women who have been organizing to take it over and shape it into a space for the community. And >> [applause] >> And um I will say there were some exceptional men who also made this possible. You know who you are. I'm going to confide you and give you all a hug because together as a community we made this space. So um to the children here today, I hope that you know this is here because we love you. This is here because we love you and we want you to have an incredible space you can go to. Thank you community for your patience, your time, and your trust. And I'm going to pass it now to my predecessor, my successor, and your councilwoman Ward 4 councilwoman Molly Coleman. >> [cheering] >> Good morning everybody. I am so incredibly excited to be here today as I know everybody except for maybe my toddler who's crying right now is Um You heard from former Council President Jalali, from Director Hartman about the hours and hours and hours, months, and years of labor that went into making this day possible. The leadership of former Mayor Melvin Carter who is here, right here. >> [applause and cheering] >> Of former library director Catherine Penkert who's also here. >> [applause and cheering] >> Of former Council President Jalali, the library staff, community partners, community members, lawyers, so many people who put in the work to make this possible. So, I want to thank you all on behalf of of the current Ward 4 seat for your work. I also want to thank you personally for letting me swoop in at the very end. Um my meetings about this library were like, "What should we do for the party when we have our grand opening?" So, um thank you for making that job really, really fun and really, really easy. This library, truly because of the labor of everybody here, represents so much of the very best of what our city can be. It is, like Council President Jalali said, a beautiful, sustainable building. It honors our history while also showing that we can build a better future. It brings together so much of the creativity and entrepreneurship that defines Saint Paul. We have our EV electric charging spots right in front for our local, municipally owned electric car share program. We have art from local artists throughout the building, the bike racks that you can actually also like run under and around in some instances designed by our local artists. But most importantly, it is a space that welcomes every single person in our community, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender identity, immigration status, age. You are welcome here. You will find resources and opportunities and community here. So, while we are celebrating this moment, while we are celebrating the work that got us here, I also just want to invite and challenge everybody who is standing outside in the sun on this very hot day, so I'll make the challenge quick, to recommit ourselves to ensuring that this library, that all of our libraries, that this community continues to see this type of investment, this type of engagement, and this type of love for many, many years to come. It is that work that will make it possible for years or even decades from now people to walk into this library and feel the same enthusiasm and joy and opportunity that we all feel today. So, that work will start Monday. Today, please enjoy this incredible incredible celebration and I am very excited to turn things over to my colleague, our St. Paul Library Board Chair, Council Member Sara Jos. >> [applause] [cheering] >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> The time for the Hamline Midway Library IS FINALLY HERE. WE ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS incredible building because our city continued to believe that our libraries should be a place for everyone. >> [cheering] [applause] >> Whether this is your neighborhood library or you're just stopping by for a visit or this is your place of work, you deserve a space that is safe, accessible, and welcoming to all. And I want to give a shout out to our library staff. Raise your hand if you work in the library. >> [applause and cheering] >> Hopefully they're inside, too. Our library staff works tirelessly to fulfill that promise every single day because they know that our libraries are essential to the vitality of our city. And they know that these spaces provide learning and discovery and connection that is so important to our youngest learners and our elders in our community. And this library is state-of-the-art. It uses amazing technology while also honoring and respecting the past that came before it. And I am so so excited to celebrate with you all the day and to see everyone enjoy this library for many years to come. And with that, I'm going to turn it over to a partner that we would not be here without, the president of the Friends of the Library, Beth Burns. >> [cheering and applause] >> Hi, everybody. If you are here today listening right now, sweating in this heat, you are a friend of the Saint Paul Public Library. >> [cheering and applause] >> I have been trying not to cry since about 9:30 this morning. I may currently fail, but I am so proud of what we as a city envision and accomplished together. And this is just the beginning. Every single neighborhood in Saint Paul deserves to feel what we are feeling right now. Pride of place, deep welcome, and access to resources in our own neighborhoods. At the Friends, that's our work. We are unapologetic in our partnership with the city to do the fundraising that takes things from good to great, to do the advocacy that helps council members and elected officials all over the state understand and appreciate and value and invest in our libraries and do the programming that brings our library spaces to life. We are just at the beginning of that. We have branches all across the city of Saint Paul that need love. They need resources, they need investment. And that's what our work is. We are so excited for today and everything that this library here on the Hamline Midway neighborhood represents, but we're not done. We are just getting started, and if you want to learn more about how the Hayden Heights neighborhood, how the Riverview neighborhood, how the West Side, the East Side, every single neighborhood in Saint Paul, we're working to improve every library. And we would love the chance to tell you about it right inside there. But for today, what I want to say is thank you. The best job to have in the world is the executive director of the Friends of Saint Paul Public Library because we got friends everywhere, and that is you. Enjoy, celebrate, thank you. >> [cheering] >> Um hi everyone, I'm Senator Sandy Pappas and my colleague Senator Mary Kunesh is here with us this morning. Um I'm very proud to represent this library and it's hot and I'll be short. I just want to say that as an elementary school student, I used to ride my bike every week to my local library and take out eight books. That was the limit the librarian would allow me to take out. So, I go way back with libraries and in these days of screens and movies and TV and visuals, libraries are even more important for our children to be exposed to. So, and here is Mary Kunesh. >> I I won't talk long. Um I just want to say that um at the at the state government, we are dedicated and we are determined to uh invest and fund and support our libraries, not just our public libraries, but our school libraries, our library media specialists. I see our state librarian out there and more librarians. Um and and and as a um as a former library media specialist myself, at the at the uh legislature, I have made that my priority and we have been able to invest tens of millions of dollars that had not been for a long time invested and it is our intention to continue to support programming um and access to information and access to the world through our libraries and we know how important that is to the community. So, I'm really happy to be here today and welcome to the neighborhood. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> READY? DID ANYONE BRING THEIR OWN SCISSORS? NO? OKAY, GREAT. Good thing we have two. Here we go. Ready? Three, TWO, ONE. YAY! >> [screaming] >> WELCOME TO THE HAMLINE MIDWAY LIBRARY! >> [screaming] >> WOOHOO!