After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the public was invited to tour the three-story facility. On the first floor, children played with robots, climbed inside the interactive Discover wall and read colorful picture books with their parents. Upstairs, patrons browsed the library's extensive collection on the third floor and explored the second floor's technology spaces.

Matsumoto thanked city leaders, city staff, donors and the Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library, who helped raise $7.3 million as part of the Downtown Library's $8 million capital campaign.

"This is really a transformational moment for Arlington. I'm grateful, like I know many of you are, to live in a City that prioritizes education, literacy and technology enough to build us this cutting-edge facility full of resources and opportunities," Matsumoto said. "Libraries change lives, libraries are where dreams become reality for people of all backgrounds, and we are both proud and humbled to offer this building to you."

" Shortly before the doors opened, patrons released butterflies for the Library's new butterfly garden. Other sustainability features, made possible by a grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, include a seed library, a rooftop solar array, a sustainability shop and a bike share station.

The Downtown Library's regular hours of operation will be Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Downtown Library will be open on Sundays all year long.