06/05/2026
Hi dear and followers! This is Edgar Galicia writing to you. As CABA's Executive Director, I was invited to give my opinion on the future of the Kansas City Kansas Main Library. After hearing the presentation and talking to many members of our community, I felt compelled to share my opinion and ask you, dear reader, to do the same, share your opinion.
Even in our world of AI and smartphones, the answer is a strong "YES" to rebuilding and enhancing our KCK Main Library.
Libraries are far from obsolete; they are actively transforming into essential hubs for community, digital equity, and urban revitalization. The plan to build a new downtown library in KCK is not a nostalgic throwback, but a strategic investment designed to address specific, modern challenges and leverage the library’s role as an engine for growth.
Libraries today are more than just books.
Libraries today are community living rooms; libraries are reimagining themselves as dynamic "third places" beyond home and work that build social capital. They are often the only affordable, trusted spaces where anyone can connect and learn.
Libraries are on the front lines of "digital equity". They provide free access to high-speed internet and devices, plus digital navigators to help patrons apply for jobs, access telehealth, or do homework. For many, they are the only place to get reliable broadband.
Libraries are integrating AI and automation to improve searches and recommendations, and they lend out non-traditional items like laptops, hotspots, and tools.
Should we build a new Main Library in downtown KCK? Is this even a question?
The existing Main Library, built in 1966, suffers from outdated systems and a poor layout. It simply can't support the modern programming a 21st-century library requires.
Downtown KCK is undergoing a major transformation with new housing and entertainment districts. A new library is a key part of this, acting as an anchor to draw people downtown, boost local businesses, and spark further investment.
As many have heard me say, in order to balance the books, KCK needs 5 times the density we currently have. With out first class amenities, we won't get there.
The plan includes more computers and internet access, public spaces for events and adult education, and modern youth programming. The public is being asked directly for input through community workshops. I am asking to participate.
The library board has secured $20 million and a bond would provide another $20 million, supporting a resilient space for work, learning, and connection for decades to come.
If you'd like to learn more about the specific plans or have a say in how the new library takes shape, the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library (KCKPL) is actively seeking community input on the project... Visit:
https://publicinput.com/kckplesp?utm_source=publicinput&utm_medium=qr_code
I hope this gives you a clearer picture of the exciting future of libraries in our digital age and help you participate in recreating our Kansas City Kansas Main library.
