Library branches to open at new locations

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Though library patrons are without both the South Library and East Library, they can expect Youngstown’s two new branches to open within the first two months of this year.

The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County recently closed the South Branch Library, at 1771 Market St., to prepare for the move to the newly constructed Newport Branch at Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard.

The East Branch Library, at 6 N. Jackson St,. closed its doors at the beginning of December for the move to its new location at East High Avenue and Early Road.

Specific opening dates have not been determined for either branch, but East is set to open at the end of January and Newport is scheduled for an early February opening day.

“Everything is on target,” said Janet Loew, library communications and public relations director.

“The new buildings are beautiful, and I think the public will respond well to both branches,” she said.

The new East Branch library is 9,000 square feet and sits on property surrounded by woods with an outside atrium.

Newport is quite larger with a total of 24,000 square feet, 15,000 of which is devoted to library space. Though not surrounded by woods, the Newport Branch will have about 20 maple trees in the parking lot to create a parklike feel for library patrons.

Both branches will be equipped with various-sized meeting rooms, areas targeted specifically to teens and children and for access to the latest technology.

Both new branches focus on library spaces developed for pre-literacy.

“The early-literacy area will be a transforming aspect of these branches,” Loew has said.

“It’s one of the ways the library is addressing the needs of the community,” she said.

Patrons who checked out library materials at the current South or East branches before the closings can either return those materials at any branch in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system or wait until the new locations are open.

There will be no fines accrued on materials checked out at the current South or East branches and due during the period the current library is closed and before the new library opens.