As flowers bloom and trees leaf out, there’s music in the air – for real. The Downtown Eugene Public Library is now playing music on outside speakers. The music is among a number of steps the library has taken in the past several months to ensure safe and welcoming access for the entire community.

The music is intended to create a pleasant, uplifting environment as visitors enter and leave the Library. Audio selections will be played at a volume that affects the atmosphere outside the library, but not loud enough to disrupt conversation or draw an audience.

“So far, people are really enjoying it. Our playlist is widely varied, since we’re able to draw from the library’s collection of more than 22,000 music CDs,” reports LaVena Nohrenberg, the library’s Customer Experience Manager.  “And we’re happy to take recommendations.” 

“If you hear something you really like,” she adds, “library staff can tell you the the title so you can request that CD for future checkout.”

Other steps taken to encourage a positive atmosphere outside the Downtown Library include the City Council ban on smoking on the sidewalk that will take effect March 12, more frequent power washing of the sidewalks to improve cleanliness, focused enforcement of “walk bicycles, carry skateboards” rules, and increased police patrols.