NASHVILLE, Tenn – It is almost cliché at this point to say that any NHL city gets behind its team. But it is really true in Nashville and there is evidence.
Harriet Hudson, Librarian in the Children’s Room at NPL shows her Preds spirit Photo: PHN staff
As any good reporter would do, I went to the library on Monday in Nashville to do some research. I visited the Main Library on Church Street in Downtown Nashville, just blocks from the Bridgestone Arena.
The Nashville Public Library (NPL), a City department, has had displays up since March/April on hockey and support of the Predators. This was of course, before they were even a wild card team for the playoffs.
Miss Harriet, Librarian in the Children’s Room, has the Dewey classification number (you remember this from your grade school days, right?) for hockey prominently displayed as you walk into the Children’s area. She said “we can’t keep books on the subject of hockey in our display, they are so popular.”
As I strolled on the second floor of the Library, I found a small historic display of Predators memorabilia. There are tickets, magazine articles and a fan’s handmade sign. There were many NPL staff members showing the love for their team in Preds gear for the Monday night game.
The support for the Predators comes from the top too. NPL Library Director Kent Oliver said “Part of what makes our library so strong is that our employees, volunteers, and patrons are so invested in things that bring our city together including the Preds.
“Everyone here is rooting for our team. In fact, when – not if, but when the Predators bring the Stanley Cup home, we have the perfect place to show it off: the lobby of our Main Library.”
Nashville Mayor, Megan Berry has also been a big supporter of the team.
On Monday, June 5 she wrote and posted to Twitter an excuse for City workers who might be late on Tuesday morning as a result of watching Monday night’s Game 4 Stanley Cup Final win, 4-1 over the Penguins.
Wednesday June 7 the Mayor said, “Nashville is not only going to make history on the ice by bringing home the Stanley Cup, but we are making history by setting the gold standard for fan participation both inside and outside of Bridgestone Arena. I want to thank all of those in Metro Government, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp and the Nashville Predators who are working to create amazing fan experiences and memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.”
Update – One more thing for the City of Nashville to be proud of, today the publication, Library Journal named the Nashville Public Library, their “Library of the Year”. I’d have to agree with their choice, as I truly enjoyed my time at NPL earlier this week.
Kudos NPL.
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