Heritage Omaha is a nonprofit that helps create large civic projects for the betterment of the city. In the words of their President, Rachel Jacobson, Heritage Omaha “specializes in building philanthropic projects”, including fundraisers, institutional development, and helping their projects get themselves up and running. Heritage strives to do the best that they can to improve communities across the Omaha Metro.

Founded in 1989, they have helped create and support multiple large-scale projects such as the Joslyn, Durham, and Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museums; the CHI Health Center, Baxter Arena, and Charles Schwab Field; The Holland Performing Arts Center and Orpheum Theater; Lauritzen Gardens; the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center; the VA Ambulatory Care Center; Siena Francis House; Do Space; the Kiewit Luminarium; and many more.

As one of their many projects working on improving the city, Heritage Omaha is currently working to build the Central Library, the new hub location for the Omaha Public Library (OPL) system. Set to open in the first half of 2026, it will be located at 72nd and Dodge, and will also host Do Space, working to be an all-encompassing information hub. 

According to Jacobson, the project was initially designed in 2012, with the idea of improving the more neglected parts of the library system.

“Think about where libraries are. Nothing has changed more in the last 20 years than information and how people access it. If the mission of libraries are about helping people access the resources they need, then they need to evolve into more forward-facing” said Jacobson.

They believe the new building, which is set to be 3 floors and 96,000 sq. ft. will be “the nucleus that empowers Omaha’s entire public library system”, hosting the vast majority of the books in the OPL system as part of their new Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), where they can be distributed to the different branches as needed, allowing for more variety and access to stories for all citizens of Omaha. They will also host the library system’s historical and archival collection for people to be able to explore.

But they are not only focused on the books; Heritage is aiming for this to be a community enrichment area, that will allow people to spend their time and interact with others. They will have multiple meeting rooms and event spaces, an early childhood area, a gallery, cafe, and garden areas. Their second flour will be the permanent home for Do Space, another of Heritage Omaha’s projects and a nonprofit that works to help people have access to technology and information. Currently using the Abrahams Library at 90th and Fort, the plan is to combine the OPL system and Do Space to create an all-access network for students and adults.

“Let’s make sure they are not just warehouses for books, but vibrant spaces where people can be, that can partner with different organizations to access whatever they need, “said Jacobson. “We are working in partnership with the Library and Do Space to help them figure out how to integrate and how to have the funding for ongoing resources, and to make sure we’re taking all that we have learned and donating that to the whole library system so that those programs can be sued throughout.”

Construction along 72nd and Dodge has already started, beginning with deep and shallow foundation work on the site. The construction company has been able to recycle more than 90% of the building materials from the original Do Space building that had been at the location, with the internal fixtures and furniture all being donated to local community organizations.

“We don’t just care about this one library at 72nd and Dodge,” Jacobson assured, “we want to make sure that the branches [are] also well-resourced and they have the advantage of this. Everyone who is involved in this and everyone who has contributed want to see a really amazing investment in library services. Because when you think about it, it’s kind of the last non-commercial place that you can go. For this to be a real hub, where you see everyone from the community, and everyone has a reason to go there, there’s something really special.”

“Heritage is all about placemaking,” said Jacobson when talking about the projects that her organization has been a part of. Jacobson became the president of Heritage in 2020 following the previous president, Sue Morris, stepping down after twenty-five (25) years with the nonprofit. “Our board is made up of philanthropic leaders in the community who what to work together to decide the most impactful projects.”

Not only have they been part of large-scale projects, but they have also helped create the stadiums for Central and South High Schools as a part of helping at every level of the community. Heritage’s goal, in their own words, is to “identify substantial needs or opportunities with high community impact and support the realization of viable and sustainable civic projects.”

While the library will take until 2026 to finish, Heritage will still be taking on other projects as well, which they will determine on a case-by-case basis. When it comes to how the organization will pick a project, Jacobson says “sometimes a project comes to us. Sometimes there’s a board member who is passionate about something who initiates a project. Sometimes there’s a clear need that becomes apparent. A lot of what we talk about when selecting projects is that we want to take things on that wouldn’t happen without us.”

Heritage works to deal with the funding and building, helping organizations get themselves off the ground and able to function on their own. “We can be the entity that’s just about bringing whatever works together to make something for the future of the city,” said Jacobson.

“We’re just a group of people who want to see Omaha thrive.”

If you would like to donate to the Central Library’s building, you can go to their website at omahalibraryfoundation.org/donate/central, or you can contact them via mail at the Omaha Public Library Foundation, 8790 F St, Suite 108, Omaha, NE, 68127. They have raised over 90% of their projected building so far and are nearing their funding goal. For more information about the Central Library, you can go to the project website at omahacentrallibrary.org. If you would like to learn more about Heritage Omaha, you can go to their website at heritageomaha.org.