MILWAUKEE— What started as a vision among Milwaukee Public Library leaders 9 years ago has finally been brought to fruition on Saturday as the newly renovated and expanded Martin Luther King branch opened to the Harambee neighborhood.
Mother Shanita McMurtry says she and her family learned about the new branch opening and decided to attend the event.
“I love to read and open my younger children to new experiences and get them involved in reading as well. It’s always an adventure,” said McMurty. “We currently live in a community where you see a lot of poverty and the education system isn’t really the best and I think that it’s always great for a child to be able to just pick up a book. Even when they’re bored, for them to be able to pick up a book and learn something helps them out a lot.”
The newly renovated branch has thousands of new books that residents can borrow with their Milwaukee Public Library cards, but the location provides more than just books for reading.
Branch manager Tiffany Thornton says the new renovations make the King branch a safe haven for members of the community who are searching for are looking for helpful resources.
“My goal is to have this branch become a hub for the community. Have this be an anchor. So not just having a space where there’s books, but also just having this be a community space that everyone can connect with everyone within the Harambee area,” said Thornton. “One of the things I’m most excited about is seeing kids experiencing what I experienced as a young girl which is getting a library card, but having it be used in a more expansive environment.”
Those resources include multiple computer stations, free internet, study rooms, and a maker space which is one of four in the Milwaukee Public Library system.
Peter Hulbert helps run the maker space and says its a room where library members can access different techologies in an effort to push creativity.
“We have a 3-D printer which can be taught to any library member by our staff on site and learn to design and print objects they generate from a computer. We also have recording capabilites including podcasting equipment which members can use to record audio or podcasts of their own or even create music, there are no limits,” said Hulbert.
Danielle Brooks used to live in the Harambee neighborhood, but says what she’s seen with the newly renovated branch is a positive step forward towards supporting the community.
“I remember going to this library growing up and now I’m really happy to be a part of this event and to see where the library is heading,” said Brooks. “I think this location brings a symbol of hope for the youth in this neighborhood. I was able to take a look at some of the books on the shelf to see a lot of the titles that represent young Black children and I think it’s phenominal that in this day and age where we have so many African American and Black authors on the shelves, students are able to come here and read about how great they can be.”
