The Clark Family Branch is the largest branch in the St. Louis County Library District. The new two-story building, encompassing 74,000 square feet, offers something for everyone.
Address
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63131-3598
Hours
Sunday:
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Monday - Thursday:
9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Friday - Saturday:
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Library Amenities
![Clark Family Branch - exterior of building with clouds and blue sky reflecting in windows](https://www.slcl.org/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/images/2024-07/location-CF-072024-1200x800.jpg)
The Clark Family Branch features several one-of-a-kind spaces including:
Post Event Space & Plaza
Sponsored by Post Holdings Inc., the 800-seat event space is the new home to the our popular author series. The Post Event Space can be divided into four separate rooms, and will be available for library programs, community meetings and other special events. Outside, the Post Plaza courtyard features lush landscaping along with seating, tables, and a nearby walking trail.
Stephany and Richard Kniep Children’s Space
This large, brightly colored children’s space, sponsored by Stephany and Richard Kniep, features a large playhouse, a fire engine and other interactive learning activities such as light tables and a magnetic gear wall. Two large touch screens will offer educational games and activities. There are reading nooks where kids can curl up with a book, and other cozy seating throughout the space.
Emerson History and Genealogy Department
Our large genealogy and local history collection, featuring approximately 125,000 items, will be accessible to the public for the first time. The space includes six interactive Family Search screens and a Memory Lab where people can record their family histories. There’s also a dedicated room for digitizing old photos or converting VHS tapes to digital files. The lead gift for the History & Genealogy Department comes from Emerson, along with support from other organizations and individuals.
Unity Foundation Teen Space
Teens have access to a high-tech creative lab sponsored by Object Computing Inc. that includes a 3-D printer, a recording studio, a green screen wall and a video game room. Other amenities include a Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut, Black Magic Cinema Camera, and Mac computers loaded with the Adobe suite of software.
Small Business Center
The Small Business Center offers a variety of resources for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. There are computers and dedicated staff to assist patrons, as well as programming. This area has a variety of seating along with moveable walls to create collaborative spaces. There’s also a Virtual Meeting Space with soundproof walls.
Branch History:
The Clark Family Branch opened to the public on July 9, 2024. It is the final project of Your Library Renewed, a capital improvement campaign that began in 2014 to renovate or rebuild library buildings throughout the Library District. The Clark Family Branch is a stunning, two-story building, encompassing 74,000 square feet. It replaced the former Headquarters building, and is now the largest branch in the St. Louis County Library District. The branch is named after Bob Clark and family, who donated $4 million to the project in 2022. Mr. Clark is the Executive Chairman & Founder of Clayco.
The Clark Family Branch offers something for everyone. The first floor features two fireplaces, comfortable seating, a large browsing collection, and a collection of art on display from the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. The Post Event Space , sponsored by Post Holdings Inc., is the new home to the SLCL’s popular author series with seating for up to 800. Upstairs, the large, brightly colored children’s space, sponsored by Stephany and Richard Kniep, features a large playhouse, a fire engine and other interactive learning activities such as light tables and a magnetic gear wall.
The Emerson History and Genealogy Center holds SLCL’s large genealogy and local history collection. The space includes six interactive Family Search screens and a Memory Lab where people can record their family histories. There’s also a dedicated room for digitizing old photos or converting VHS tapes to digital files.
Teens have access to a high-tech creative lab sponsored by Object Computing Inc. that includes a 3-D printer, a recording studio, a green screen wall and a video game room.
The Small Business Center offers a variety of resources for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. There are computers and dedicated staff to assist patrons, as well as programming. This area has a variety of seating along with moveable walls to create collaborative spaces. There’s also a Virtual Meeting Space with soundproof walls.
Other amenities at the branch include 18 private study rooms, an outdoor reading deck, a computer lab, community meeting rooms, comfortable seating and a large collection of books, music, DVDs, magazines and more. Visitors can take advantage of the lush landscaping outside of the branch by sitting in the Post Plaza courtyard or stretching their legs on the nearby walking trail.