TEAM Forums

TEAM Forum Overviews

TEAM Forums took place at eleven area libraries on January 7th, 2006 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. They were entertaining, enlightening, and informative. Those in attendance were able to engage in a behind the scenes discussion with community members who make a difference in our everyday lives. Our community guests shared personal stories and experiences of growing up in and living in Omaha.

Council Bluffs Public Library

Forum Guests: Lucy Bell-Graham, Roberta Maron, Lynn Friesner

There were 5 students, 1 teacher, and 10 community members in attendance. Lucy Bell-Graham is on the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation Board and Roberta Maron is on the Library Board of Trustees. Everyone introduced themselves and mentioned why they were there. Then discussion started with what it was like to grow up and or live in Council Bluffs. Major historical events were discussed. One that was of great interest and engaged those in attendance in discussion was a treacherous flood that threatened to destroy Council Bluffs. The community joined forces and set to work stacking sand bags. Workers didn’t rest for days and due to their commitment and hard work they were able to save their city from being damaged by the rising waters.

Community members discussed their loyalty to and love for Council Bluffs. One woman told of going away to school. When she met the man she was to marry she accepted his proposal on the condition that he would relocate with her to Council Bluffs.

Many of those in attendance are from Council Bluffs families that go back several generations. They talked about how Council Bluffs is a city of 60,000 people with the amenities of a big city and the camaraderie of a small town.

A.V. Sorensen Branch

Forum Guests: Anne Alston, Penelope Smith, Dan Rock, Sarah Newman

A.V. Sorensen is a popular reading library, neighborhood library, and part of a parks and recreation facility. It is in a very diverse neighborhood – both economically and culturally. The UNMC and Creighton draw people from around the world that settle in the surrounding neighborhoods. Our toddler story times are of great interest to area daycares who bring their kids.

There are two Bemis murals at the A.V. Sorensen Branch Library. One was installed in 2000. This one is inside the library on the wall to the right of the check-out area. The other mural, installed in 2001, is above the doorway to the recreation center. There is a great view of it when standing in the library and looking down through the interior window.

The TEAM forum brought together 5 teens, 2 teachers, Dan Rock their adopt-a-branch liaison, Penelope Smith, and Anne Alston.

The meeting started at 12:00 with all members introducing themselves. Penelope Smith, and later Anne Alston and Dan Rock gave the students a feel for the neighborhood with their comments. Claudia Alvarez mentioned some ideas she had regarding the stairway entry for the library, and Russ mentioned another possibility – the large space in the Young Adult (teen) area. With this discussion, the meeting became mobile, with a complete tour of the library area, as well as the area outside the entryway, with many pictures taken of the spaces. Once reconvening in the meeting room, the students shared some of their ideas for what they had seen. Ideas included a possible video component, and sculpture using pottery beads was also discussed. Thematic ideas were explored, such as the use of book characters, or perhaps a motif inspired by sequential art (i.e. comics) where a ‘story’ could be told visually, possibly in more than one library area. It was established that another meeting would be scheduled after the students had a week or two with their classmates to refine their ideas. The meeting adjourned at 1:40 with much enthusiasm for a wonderful new piece of public art coming to Sorensen!

Benson Branch

Forum Guests: Joe Watson, Bridget Gilmore, Janet Wetovick-Bily,

There were 14 people in attendance. Everyone was welcomed to the library, and the three panel members and three teachers introduced themselves.

One community member said that two things that have driven her success are gratitude and enthusiasm, and urged the students to keep this in mind as they work on this exceptional community art project.

There was also talk of dark times when the area was headed into crime, drugs, etc. Benson was brought back from that trend by some unseen energy that seemed to well up in the community, as if to say “This is where I live and it isn’t going to be this way”. That community action has changed the face of Benson, and changed the way government deals with Benson and other communities. Community guests stressed that the kids are the future of wherever they live.

The students were told some historical fun facts and encouraged to join the Benson Artists Guild when they graduate, or to seek out something like it wherever they wind up living.

When asked what people wanted to see in the art piece the various answers were: New beginnings reflecting Benson Alliance plans, something to portray the dark times before the community pulled itself back from a bad direction it was going in, the cultures that made up Benson’s past and the cultures of today, something that isn’t representative but more abstract, made up of smaller pieces within a defined boundary, something that shows the soul of the area.

It was recommended that the students get a chance to see the results of the studies Omaha by Design has compiled. A suggestion was made to have a community component in which a piece of clay could be marked individually by community members, and then the clay piece become part of the art work. The teachers and the students then looked at the areas in the library that are candidates for the space the art will fill.

Charles B. Washington Branch

Forum Guests: Captain Denise Cousin, Peggy Jones, Yusef Bowmani-Mustafa

There were 16 people present - teachers, students, parents, and guest panelists The TEAM Forum started with the introduction of all participants. The TEAM Project Proposal was handed out and a brief description of the project was announced. Guest panelists then spoke about living in and growing up in Omaha. All in attendance talked about the role of the Omaha Public Library in the Community, Public Art, the New Charles B. Washington Library Branch, library Services & Resources, and a tour of the new Charles B. Washington Library Branch was scheduled.

Captain Cousin described her memories of 24th Street before the riots of the 1960s. Peggy described her artistic background and her experiences with public art. Yussef is a retired person but a continuing student. He has served different terms on the Omaha Public School board. John Bernardi, the manager of Charles B. Washington Library Branch, gave a brief description of the new library—teen center, computer lab, meeting rooms, and public art projects.

Millard Branch

Forum Guests: Shannon Drickey, Kim Bainbridge, Suzie Sandstrom, Nycole Toll, Juli Maly, Mary Trenerry, Stephanie Burdic

Millard North High School students and art facilitators were able to gather at the Millard Branch Library on South Center Street and 132nd during winter break. The discussion was led by Mr. Paul Christopherson, the Millard Branch teen librarian. Community members Mary Trenerry (Media specialist from Millard South), Stephanie Burdic (Media specialist from Millard North), Shannon Drickey (teen volunteer who gave her view on library use and book discussions), Kim Bainbridge (Millard parent and library volunteer), Suzie Sandstrom (teacher at St. Mary’s and library supporter and volunteer) and Nycole Tolle spoke of their fondest memories of Omaha and their involvement with the public libraries. Vivid imagery came from their stories of old time Omaha (trolleys, Brandeis windows, and Santa’s Floor, the train station, the stockyards, and “Story Time” at the libraries). After our reminiscing experience we toured the facility and checked out Mr. Chirstopherson’s suggested area for our project.

Milton R. Abrahams Branch

Forum guests: Charlotte Engskov, Richard and Pat Galusha, Susie Hollman, Leah Hotovy, Bethany Padron, Joyce Schwartze, Chuck Siegerson

11 students from Northwest High School were in attendance with their art teacher, Kelly Lesser. The discussion was led by Mary Henriksen and Jan Bolte, librarians from Abrahams Branch Library.

The forum began with introductions of the community participants. They each gave a brief description of themselves and then questions were asked:

Why do you choose to live in Omaha?
The school system, the friendliness of people in Omaha, and the variety of things to do.

What was it like to grow up in Omaha?
Good times were shared with neighbors at the pool, and there is a fondness for the people and the diversity of Omaha.

What are some of your favorite things about Omaha?
The trails, greenspace, the art galleries, the museums, cohesiveness, neighborhood associations, and Omaha’s interesting history

What are some of Omaha’s problems?
The westward sprawl, insufficient public transportation, the overall aesthetic,
the conflict within the city i.e. one school system, the trails only go north and south.

Possible themes for the art:
Spirit of community, bridges linked with the idea of connections, past and future, modern and historical, connecting with children, something very visual, something bright and colorful because the building is very gray inside.

After the meeting Mary and Jan showed Kelly Lesser and the students around the building, inside and outside. Kelly took digital photographs.
The meeting was videotaped by a student, for use by the students.

South Branch

Forum Guests: Jeannie Mill, Bette Swanson, Al Rodriguez

We had an excellent meeting. Eleven students from South attended, along with five teachers. We had three local historians and two visitors, a total of 22 people. Much of the discussion centered around the fact that immigration has always been an important part of this community and will continue to be. The area has always been known for its diverse populations, with Latin Americans being the most current group to settle here. Historically, the packing houses and other low skill jobs drew immigrants to South Omaha. Each immigrant group had its own community, church, saloon, etc. and they often did not integrate. South Omaha was an independent city for many years before it was annexed in 1917. South Omaha’s Sokol Hall is famous for having trained two gymnasts who went on to become Olympic medalists.

W. Clarke Swanson Branch

Forum Guests: Dr. Mark Manhart, Abe & Rivkah Sass

The Youth Service Librarian Karen Berry, 5 students, 1 teacher, and 5 community members were present. The community guests were Dr. Mark Manhart a dentist and a supporter of the Grand Ole Players local community theater, Rivkah & Abe Sass the Omaha Public Library Director and her husband. A guest of Rivkah’s who is an art teacher from Spokane Washington was also present.
We introduced ourselves and told a little about ourselves and why we were a part of this group. The students were freshman through seniors and had various interests. We all thought this was a plus to the project. A few of the students had worked on other projects that the Bemis Center had funded. The Students came prepared with an idea that they had discussed at school. They want to do something with shoes & shoes boxes. They talked about making a giant foot and footsteps leading to the large shoe. They wanted to show that the library was the “sole” of the community and how it brought people together from all walks of life. Many ideas and concepts were talked about at this meeting. After thismeeting they were planning on meeting as a group again and coming upwith more concrete ideas. After the meeting the students and teacher walked around the library to get ideas on placement and what they could design. They asked for a floor plan of the building and Ms. Berry said she would get one for them. They also checked out books on public art. Everyone that participated in this forum was excited about the project and couldn't wait to see what the students would come up with.

W. Dale Clark Branch

Forum Guests: Debra Sledge, Marilee Miller, Daniel Kiper

Pam Scott facilitated the discussion. Presenting guests were Debra Sledge, a passionate library user who brings her children to the Main Library, Marilee Miller, the former Library Board President, President of the Library Foundation Board, lifetime Omaha resident and library supporter, and Daniel Kiper, a retired businessman, and lifetime Omaha resident who researches and writes Omaha history. The TEAM Facilitators from Central High School, Margie Quinn and Jane Taucreti came with their student artist team leaders. The total attendance was 21.

Daniel Kiper gave the historical background of Ms. Edith Tobitte an art promoter and the Omaha Librarian from 1907-1931. He continued to kick off the discussion by telling the history of the Joslyn art museum and the library’s role in its development. He spoke of free Saturdays and riding the bus to the museum as a child. He was so appreciative of his experiences that he was determined to do something in return and is writing a book on the Joslyns’ and their contributions to Omaha. He also suggested that at election time we ask candidates what plans they have to increase funding to the Omaha Public Library.

Marilee described herself as a library “junkie”. When she was a child her father traveled for work and when he was home on Saturday he would take the children to the downtown library. This was a treat!

Debra brings her children to the Main Library for books and programs. She praised Lori Brezina, the W. Dale Clark children’s librarian and mentioned her exceptional outreach efforts both at daycares and elementary schools.

The student artists were asked their preferred art form. Responses included:
portraiture, acrylic, pottery, watercolor, pencil, and poetry (the April Poetry Bash was announced). One student enjoys helping her father with his mural painting business, and likes the idea of painting something she has designed. She also enjoys print making, etching, painting in oil and working with graphite charcoal and paint thinner.

John Hansen, a local artist, talked about the need for a venue for artistic discussion. He works in oil and soft stone sculpture. He uses the library constantly, particularly Swanson Branch, primarily to study modern art (1900-1940) and to read artists biographies.

The neighborhood used to be primarily commercial but recently has changed to a more residential neighborhood with plans to become even more residential in the future. Inclusive of all people and family friendly are two phrases that describe the library. It is a place where one might gather with friends before setting out to watch fireworks or setting out on some other downtown excursion

Discussion varied widely also including the following topics:

The connection of Catherine Ferguson’s sculpture Totem to the Library, memories of opening day at Willa Cather Branch, the WPA murals, the Farm Service Administration funded photographs of Omaha, the Colt storage building at 12th and Jones Street - Omaha’s first free standing concrete building, the station master at Union station who unbeknownst to UP went in every day and adjusted the heat and air for three years saving the building for future use, the shift from downtown west and the current movement back downtown, Marty Shukert, Marc Kraft, the Burlington Building, Avalon bar where vaudevillians once hung out, 18 movies have been shot in Omaha, Orville Menard a retired UNO Political Science Professor who produced If these walls could talk, a Omaha historical documentary, the 1919 lynching, the Standing Bear trial, the Mormon presence in Omaha, the stockyards, the panic of the 1890s, the early wealth in Omaha ­­of Kountze and Barker, Omaha began as a ferry landing across from Kanesville, IA, H.W.S. Cleveland the landscape designer who designed Hanscom Park, Frederick Law Olmsted, the Columbian exposition, the Trans-Mississippi railroad, the Books The Wicked Little Town and If These Walls Could Talk, the trial of Standing Bear, the 1880 Civil Rights movement, the “Barker letters”, Riverview Park, Hanscom Park. the PBS series by the Farm Service Administration, the Old Market walking tours once run by the library, Jun Kaneko museum tours on Saturdays, Jobber’s Canyon, the Byron Reed Collection at the Western Heritage Museum.

Willa Cather Branch

Forum Guests: Robert Coleman, Georgia Clark

There were eleven Bryan High School students in attendance. Mr. Pospisil, the Willa Cather Teen Librarian, conducted the meeting with input from the Bryan High School students and art teachers: Liz Langdon and Karen Drickey. They talked about the neighborhood, the community, and the project concepts of collaboration, identity and self-image. They also discussed the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Willa Cather neighborhood. The group talked about who uses the library and how it is used, toured the indoors and outdoors, got ideas for potential art areas, and learned a little about the author Willa Cather, the library's namesake. It was suggested that the students come and read to children one school day, so they get a better feel for the clientele.