With tears in her eyes, 11th Ward Committee Woman Amber Cole stood inside the newly restored Julia Davis Library and reflected on what the building means to the neighborhood.
“When you take knowledge out of the community you take health and wealth — this is our community, this is our pillar,” Cole said, describing the library as a vital “community hub.” Looking around the branch near O’Fallon Park, she added softly, “I’m glad to be home.”
Nearly a year after a tornado tore through North St. Louis, damaging thousands of homes and buildings, two neighborhood library branches are reopening this week — a milestone residents say represents more than repaired buildings.
Julia Davis Library and Cabanne Library will reopen to the public Monday, May 18, nearly a year after a violent tornado tore through St. Louis, damaging or destroying more than 5,000 buildings and causing an estimated $1.6 billion in damage.
A July 2025 recovery assessment found that major tornado damage across parts of North St. Louis remained unresolved weeks after the storm, underscoring the uneven pace of rebuilding in many neighborhoods.
Located in North St. Louis neighborhoods heavily impacted by the tornado, both branches sustained major damage that forced them to close for repairs.
“Every aspect in that building had to be touched in some way,” said Justin Struttman, CEO of the St. Louis Public Library system. Julia Davis Library required a new roof, HVAC repairs and restoration work throughout the building.
“Driving down the road, the library is an outlier,” said Taylor Price, regional youth services supervisor. “There are other communities and businesses where you can still see the impact of the tornado.”
For Struttman, reopening the library is about more than repairing a structure.
“Being able to bring light back to the darkness for the community is really exciting,” he said.
Before the tornado, Struttman said Julia Davis Library was constantly filled with children, teens, families and seniors using the branch’s programs, technology and gathering spaces.
The closure also displaced staff members eager to return to what Struttman described as their “home.”
“I feel like I’m at a family reunion, to see all the familiar faces,” said John Newcomer, regional branch manager for the St. Louis Public Library. “We’re just thrilled to be open.”
He said one of the most rewarding parts of reopening has been seeing residents pick up where they left off before the tornado.
“We’re seeing teenagers come back who were here before the storm and seeing how much they’ve grown over the past year,” he said.
The libraries also are restoring programs residents relied on before the storm, including youth activities, meal distribution and family support services.
For residents like Staci Johnson, the reopening restores an important part of everyday life.
“I’m glad that the library is back open,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who lives nearby, said she had to travel downtown while the branch was closed. She missed seeing familiar faces at Julia Davis and attending movie nights, health and wellness discussions and community pantry events that provided diapers and food.
Community activist Bob Williams said the reopening also honors the legacy of Dr. Julia Davis, the educator and community leader for whom the branch is named.
Williams recalled visiting Davis’ home near historic Sumner High School years ago.
“Her home was like a library,” Williams said.
Reflecting on the reopening, he added, “I was just overwhelmed with joy. The library is a resource for our community.”
Residents Ann King and Tameka Jones also described the library as a critical neighborhood resource for children and families.
“It’s an outlet for them,” Jones said.
King noted that many residents rely on the library’s computers and internet access because they do not have those resources at home.
As neighborhoods across St. Louis continue recovering from the tornado’s destruction, residents say the reopening of Julia Davis and Cabanne libraries marks an important step in restoring community resources in North St. Louis.