Missoula Public Library Celebrates Five Years in Downtown Location with Community Block Party

The Missoula Public Library invites the community to celebrate five years in its award-winning downtown building with a free block party on Main Street on Friday, July 17, from 3 to 6 p.m. 

The celebration will bring together community partners, local organizations, live music, food vendors and family-friendly activities to recognize the library's first five years in the downtown building and the community support that made it possible. 

Throughout the afternoon, attendees can enjoy live entertainment from DJ Coach Shane and the Missoula Tuba Ensemble while exploring activities hosted by library and community partners. Families can enjoy giant bubbles and sidewalk chalk with MPL Youth Services, hands-on science demonstrations from spectrUM Discovery Area, Blue Blocks creative play with Families First, a library memory booth hosted by MCAT, an interactive brain activity with the University of Montana Living Lab, and additional activities from Missoula Children's Theatre, Clark Fork Prep and EmpowerMT. 

Food and refreshments will be available throughout the event, including one hour of free hot dogs provided by Food Not Bombs, along with offerings from Dreamy's Soft Serve and Puma Peruvian & Eclectic Cuisine. 

The event will begin with an opening reception featuring Library Director Slaven Lee and All Under One Roof partners, who will reflect on the library's first five years and the partnerships that have helped shape the library into a vibrant center for learning, creativity and connection. Speakers Nicole Gomez and Chris La Tray will also share remarks during the celebration. 

Since opening its doors in 2021, MPL has welcomed millions of visitors and become a destination for lifelong learning, civic engagement, creativity and community gathering. The success of the project was made possible through the leadership and dedication of former director Honore Bray, Missoula County, the City of Missoula, the Friends of Missoula Public Library and the Library Foundation, whose fundraising efforts and community advocacy were instrumental in securing support for the new building. 

"Five years ago, our community opened the doors to a library unlike any other in the country," Lee said. "This building reflects what is possible when a community invests in learning, creativity and each other. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with the people and organizations who helped make it happen." 

The celebration is free and open to the public. Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend, reconnect with neighbors and celebrate five years of innovation, partnership and community at the Missoula Public Library. 

For more information about the Missoula Public Library, visit www.missoulapubliclibrary.org or follow the library on social media.