Work to begin on new library

By D.A. Wilkinson

The library will have more space and materials.

LEETONIA — Charlene Hall, the president of the Leetonia Community Public Library, said she is always being asked, “When is it coming? When is it coming?”

“It” is the new library, and the answer is that it should be finished in 12 to 14 months.

There will be a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at 181 Walnut St. That’s part of the site of the former village high school, and a short distance to Leetonia’s school complex.

“Everyone has been patient enough, and we want to get going,” said Andy Smith, the library’s director/clerk-treasurer.

Smith expects that the new library will be open in time for the start of the 2009-10 school year.

The library tried to get a levy passed in May 2006. It failed, but was approved later that year. Since then, library officials have been planning the new facility and arranging financing.

The expected price will be about $3.5 million composed of levy revenue, library savings and funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The existing building at 24 Walnut St. is really cramped. There is one restroom. In Smith’s small office, Christmas videos that no one is watching now are stored on top of cabinets. There is also a computer terminal for the public to use at an angle to his desk.

The new facility will more than double the available space to about 14,000 square feet.

Use of the library continues to climb, topping 87,000 last year. Hall said that figure is only going to go up.

The new library will provide more materials and programs, including more computers and wireless capabilities. The collection of about 36,000 volumes is expected to increase to 45,000 items.

Smith said the new library will offer classes for people who have yet to get on the Internet.

“Patrons have been asking for it quite a bit,” he said.

There will also be more programming for very young children, which is being promoted by the State Library of Ohio.

People can also use the computers to search and apply for jobs online. Smith said some employers now take applications only over the Internet.

People can request books, CDs or other materials and pick them up after-hours through a locker arrangement. People will also be able to drop off items at a drive-through window.

The new facility will be on one level. It will have a meeting room for 150 people.

“We were able to get everything we wanted,” Smith said.

Leetonia’s heavy use of the library is not uncommon, especially in Northeast Ohio, Smith said.

In terms of usage, “Ohio is always at the top. Citizens enjoy and love their library. We’re the envy of the nation, if not the world,” Smith said.

wilkinson@vindy.com