The Lorain Public Library System has plans to expand the Avon Branch, and you can help to make it happen
By Patricia Nugent
“The publicness of the public library is an increasingly rare commodity. It becomes harder all the time to think of places that welcome everyone and don’t charge any money for that warm embrace.”
—Susan Orlean, The Library Book
Armed with vision and input from every facet of the community through a year-long study process, the Avon Branch of the Lorain Public Library System has answered the call and put together an expansion plan.
Utilizing land already owned by the library adjacent to the building, the plan will more than double the building’s size, operations and capabilities. If the levy is approved next month, ground will be broken in 2021 and it would be completed in 2022. The branch would remain open and operational during the proposed expansion.
“Over the years it’s become clear we’ve outgrown our space,” says Avon Branch Manager Donna Kelly Sprinkle. “Demand has risen sharply for programming at all levels. Along the way, we’ve adapted and done our best to bring the library to the people, partnering with the city on Every Child’s Playground and Storytime in the Woods. We also partner with local businesses, such as the Avon Brewing Company, through the Books and Brews program, and bring intergenerational programs to nursing homes.”
Donna says they did their due diligence as stewards of the public’s money, and investigated constructing a new building on new land, but it was cost-prohibitive.
So, the library selected the architectural firm of Bialosky Cleveland and gave them the community’s wish list for its library.
Bialosky Cleveland developed a concept design to determine the optimal size and function for the existing site.
What Your New Library Could Look Like
The proposed expansion includes a convenient drive-through book drop, a spacious children’s area with interactive spaces, a maker space lab, a café-like area, a quiet reading room, state-of-the-art technology and additional programming and community meeting spaces. Also in the plan is a dedicated passport services space, as the library is the only place in the city of Avon certified to offer passports.
“Our mission is to identify the needs of the community and meet them,” she says. “There are so many valuable services we offer the community free of charge, such as tech help and assistance for Android or Apple phones. And on deck for this spring is a series of Python coding classes.”
She says they also offer a staggering number of digital books on their eLibrary site, as well as Creativebug online videos.
“You can learn a new language, how to change your oil, nearly anything you could ever dream of,” says Donna. “We offer free movie streaming, too, for kids to adults, everything from cartoons to documentaries.”
Understanding Details of the Levy
Ohio is number two in the country for library usage, so it’s not surprising that in 2019, every library levy except one passed. Locally, last year two other branches of the library system also passed levies.
The 2-mil levy on the ballot for Tuesday, March 17, 2020 will fund both the renovation and expansion of the existing Avon Branch and operating funds will go toward expanding services, materials and hours. The additional cost to homeowners for the levy is an additional $2.77 per month per $100,000 in home value.
It replaces an existing 1.2-mil levy with an additional .8 mil dedicated to the building expansion.
The Avon Branch is located at 37485 Harvest Drive in Avon. Other branches in the Lorain Public Library System include the Main Library and branches in Columbia, Domonkas, North Ridgeville, and South Lorain. Call 440-934-4743 or visit LorainPublicLibrary.org for more information. There is a link to early or absentee voter registration.