Library considering consolidating Struthers, Campbell, Brownlee Woods branches

STRUTHERS

A strategic plan laid out by the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County alludes to a possible merger of several locations for the purpose of investing in fewer, larger branches.

That consolidation could spell the closure of some branches in order to combine the Struthers, Campbell and Brownlee Woods libraries.

In Struthers, the fate of the local library has been a recurring topic of conversation at city council meetings.

At a meeting earlier this year, Auditor Christina Bohl urged council to put forth a strong pitch for Struthers as a new, consolidated branch location.

“I just think a town without a library is sad,” said Bohl, who added she was speaking “more as a concerned citizen” rather than in her official capacity.

Janet Loew, the library system’s communications director, said the merger is not official, but rather under consideration pending further study. There is no hard time line at this point, Loew said.

Read more about the matter in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.