Cleveland Public Library celebrated a historic moment with the opening of its newly rebuilt Martin Luther King Jr. Branch campus on January 25, 2025. The library is located at 10601 Euclid Avenue in University Circle and comes equipped with modernized areas designed for learning, creativity, and community engagement. In addition to University Circle, the branch will serve the neighborhoods of Fairfax and Little Italy.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony opened with a powerful rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing, setting the tone for a day devoted to honoring history while also looking toward destiny.
Serving as the master of ceremonies, Felton Thomas Jr., executive director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library (CPL), welcomed guests and guided the event. Thomas, a key figure in the library’s transformation efforts, underscored the significance of the new MLK Branch as a space for education, community engagement, and social justice. The program had American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters present for each portion of the program to ensure accessibility for deaf and difficult-of-hearing attendees. Accessibility for all people was an important component in the design for expanding the library.
The program featured remarks from city leaders, such as Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who reflected on the transformative power of libraries in his own life.
“Libraries are more than just brick and mortar,” Bibb remarked. “My library card was my passport to understanding the role I could play in my city and in my country.” He emphasized that libraries have historically provided access to knowledge and empowerment, especially for marginalized communities.
Bibb also spoke about the role of libraries in today’s climate, noting that institutions like the MLK Branch serve as defenders of democracy, diversity, equity, and inclusion — values that continue to face challenges nationwide.
Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, a civil rights leader, pastor, and longtime advocate for justice was another key speaker. Moss, who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, spoke about the importance of education and activism.
“I grew up in a segregated, racist society,” Moss shared. “I remember my father walking 18 miles to cast his vote against a system of injustice — only to be denied that right.”
He reflected on pivotal moments in the fight for civil rights, invoking the legacies of Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. “We should continue to educate our young people,” he urged. “This library can be a major force in that.” Seated on stage alongside his spouse, Edwina Moss, he underscored the ongoing warfare for equality and the position that libraries play in retaining records and fostering leaders.
In addition to serving as a key speaker, Moss was honored for his own contributions to the Civil Rights movement. The Maltz Museum shared a holographic video presentation of Moss from an exhibition. The video highlighted Moss’ lifelong commitment to justice.
Building a new, inclusive space
The new Martin Luther King Jr. Branch is the result of an international design competition launched by the Cleveland Public Library in 2017, supported by a $93,000 grant from the Cleveland Foundation. The competition invited architects from around the world to submit proposals that would honor Dr. King’s legacy while envisioning a library of the future.
The project’s construction was led by Panzica Construction.
Designed by SO-IL of Brooklyn and Cleveland-based J. Kurtz Architects, the two-story, 23,000 ft. rectangular building emphasizes flexibility and inclusivity. The new campus offers dedicated areas for children and teens, multiple meeting rooms, a 24-hour book locker, a laptop bar, and rotating exhibit area. One of its most striking functions is the “Table of Brotherhood,” a raised platform inspired by Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“This new space allows us to expand our services in ways we never could before,” said MLK Campus Branch Manager Kimberly Hunter. “Teens now have their own dedicated area, kids have a separate space, and we’ve increased our capacity for community programming.”
Some of the branch’s new services include movie and recreation nights, a wrestling club, and a maker space for creative technology programming. The library also continues its partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to offer food for kids after school.
The new campus replaces the original MLK Library, which stood on Stokes Boulevard for over 50 years. Built in 1970, the former building was designed as a regional hub, four to five times larger than other branches at the time. It featured a distinctive yellow brick exterior, arched windows, and an upper-level gallery that housed an extensive collection of African American literature, history, and cultural works.
Library leaders recognized the emotional connection many had to the old building but emphasized that the new space continues its mission while enhancing accessibility and community offerings.
The ribbon-cutting was a multi-generational affair, symbolizing the library’s commitment to the past, present, and future of Cleveland. In addition to Hunter and her staff, political leaders, and construction workers, children in the audience were chosen to wield the ceremonial scissors. As the countdown began, at 7 —the audience erupted into applause as the ribbon was cut, officially inaugurating the new space.
The event was a testament to the community-driven vision behind the new MLK Branch. From the dedicated staff and library leadership to the Cleveland residents who advocated for this transformation, the ceremony highlighted the power of public spaces to bring people together in the spirit of learning, equity, and progress.
The new MLK Branch is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information on available branch services and programming can be found on the CPL website.
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