Seville and Brunswick Libraries are now open
Check out your new and improved Seville Library! Grand Opening day on Saturday, September 22 was a huge success, with over 600 people coming in to see the renovated library and checking out 1,113 items in 6 hours.

In the past five months the library has undergone a transformation and a small expansion. There are also new services to enjoy at the library such as 24-hour pick up lockers and all new public computers. All the great *NEW* items on the shelves that have never been checked out before will be yours for the borrowing! Thanks to the prudent spending of the overall library construction projects, additional funds were provided for the project that allowed for several additions, including more natural light through added windows, a cupola skylight and small expansions to the entry and children’s area. The Seville Library is much improved, and yet kept the familiarity of the original library the community has known and loved since 1965.

The NEW expanded and renovated Brunswick Library drew over 4,600 people on Grand Opening Day, Saturday, September 29 with its 10,000 additional square feet of public library space, nearly 10,000 new items on the shelves, and new convenience services such as 24-hour pick up lockers and self-check out machines, thirty-eight new public computers, wireless Internet and several meeting, tutoring and conference rooms for public use.

The library was completed on time at 15 months, and on budget at $7.5 million. More than $12,000 in private donations paid for the addition of a fireplace reading area, featured artwork by local and Ohio artists and educational toys for children. There is also a sense of familiarity about the library. The departments are in the same locations, but offer much more space and seating. There is also natural light in the building now through the addition of windows and skylights. This, along with the “green” materials used throughout the building, creates an outdoor feel while being economical and environmentally friendly.

Seville Library Renovation Officially Underway
No time was wasted in beginning the expansion and renovation project at the Seville library. After closing its doors Wednesday evening, work officially began bright and early Thursday morning. Packing was first on the agenda, followed by tearing down the ceiling tiles and removing the windows. The Seville Library will reopen in about four months. This is the final library to break ground in Medina County District Library’s county-wide library construction project.

During the closing patrons are encouraged to visit the nearest MCDL locations in Lodi and Medina and also return books to any Buehler's Grocery store, with the two locations in Medina and the Wadsworth store.
The Medina County District Library Bookmobile will serve Seville Library patrons during the closing.
It will be open for service in the parking lot of the Seville United Methodist Church (74 W Main St.), on the following days: Mondays, 10:00-1:00: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, June 4, 11, 18, 25 Saturdays, 10:30-1:30: April 7, 14, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 23, 30
On Saturdays, April 21 and 28, from 11:00 to 12:00, an Outreach Services van will be available, instead of the Bookmobile, for reserve pick-ups and to accept returns.

When the Seville Library reopens in the late summer patrons will welcome a remodeled library with an expanded children’s department and new layout with the same full service library to serve your needs.

Seville Library Groundbreaking March 7
The Seville Library will soon join the ranks of the six other Medina County District Library branches when it too kicks off a construction project, March 7.

The Seville Library Groundbreaking Ceremony is scheduled for March 7 at 12:30 p.m. at the library, which is located in the center of Seville. Library staff, Administration and Board Members will join village and school leaders in the first dig. Then attendees will head inside for a reception sponsored by the Friends of the Seville Library. The Seville Library is the smallest in scale of the library projects, due to the library being landlocked by roads and a small waterway. However, the Children’s Area will be expanded slightly with the addition of a bay window area that will serve as a story time and activity area. The front entry will be widened and the library interior will be remodeled.

The library will close for the renovation March 28 and will remain closed for the duration of the project, which will be about four months. When the library reopens in the late summer patrons will welcome a new look and updated collection with the same full service library and wonderful staff to serve your library needs.

2007 Big Year for Libraries in Medina County
2006 was busy, but 2007 will be an incredible year for Medina County District Library. The Medina and Brunswick Libraries will be completed and open in the fall. Work will begin and be wrapping up on the Highland and Seville Libraries by this time next year.

At the Medina Library, the exterior work is nearly complete, windows are in and drywall is being installed. In Brunswick the library expansion is enclosed, so work may continue, regardless of the weather, all winter long. Both libraries are slated for completion on time and on budget in the fall of 2007.

Site-work began on the Highland Library in mid November.   The 12,000 square foot library will begin construction in the spring and should be completed by late 2007. The Seville Library will host a groundbreaking on its small renovation and expansion in the spring, with work to commence and be completed all within 2007.

The new Lodi and Buckeye Libraries are celebrating first anniversaries, and great success in the new buildings. In the first three quarters of 2006 the libraries checked out more than 400,000 items and issued nearly 2,000 new library cards.

The Medina Library celebrates its 100th anniversary and MCDL celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2007 with open houses at all the libraries January 17. MCDL is also debuting new services such as electronic control of public computers, e-newsletters tailored to patrons’ interests and the debut of our strategic plan that will guide library service into the future. Keep your eyes and ears open for all the excitement to unfold at the Medina County District Libraries in 2007

Medina County Library Construction update 11/28/06
Work on Highland Library Begins
     The site of the new Medina County District Library’s Highland Library is no longer just a plot of land - it’s a construction area. Site preparation work began on the nearly five-acre lot the week before Thanksgiving. Earth moving equipment is clearing the area, getting ready to install the infrastructure for the library, including water and power lines. “We hope to have the site work started and some concrete poured before the weather turns harsh. Come spring, we will have a solid start and begin the construction of the library building when the weather breaks”, says Al Scheimann, MCDL’s Building Project Coordinator.

     MCDL’s new Highland Library will be 12,000 square feet in size and feature a public meeting room, a wonderful Children’s Area, a Teen Area geared toward group study and many convenient services such as Self Check-Out Machines, Wireless Internet, and After-Hours Pick Up Lockers. The Highland Library site is located just south of Highland High School on Ridge Road in Granger Township. The library’s anticipated completion date is in late 2007, with an early 2008 opening. The Highland Library project is the final large-scale library to begin construction as part of MCDL’s county-wide library construction project. A $42 million bond issue, approved by county voters in 2003, funds the six library project. The new Buckeye and Lodi libraries opened in 2005 and early 2006. The Brunswick and Medina Libraries are currently under construction and the Seville Library is slated for a small expansion and renovation in 2007.

MCDL’s Highland Library Breaks Ground
     It was a great day to don hard hats and shiny shovels. The moist fall dirt was just right for turning over on the new Medina County District Library Highland Library. More than fifty people attended the groundbreaking October 5, including Hinckley and Granger Township trustees and Highland Local Schools officials. The six future staff members of the Highland Library, MCDL’s Director, Mike Harris and four of MCDL’s board members proudly kicked off the project with the ceremonial first dig. Site preparation is expected to begin by the end of the year, with building construction starting in the spring. The library is expected to be completed by the end of 2007. It is located just south of the new Highland High School at 4160 Ridge Road .

      After the groundbreaking both Mike Harris and future Highland Library Manager, Diane Dermody climbed in the backhoe, provided by construction management firm, The Ruhlin Company, to do some heavy duty digging! The Friends of the Highland Library sponsored a reception at the Granger Town Hall following the groundbreaking.

     The new Highland Library will be 12,000 square feet in size with a $4.4 million budget. The library will feature a Children’s Activity Room for story times and children’s programming, a Fireplace Reading Room, a dedicated Teen section, Self Check-out Machines, After Hours Pick-up Lockers and Wireless Internet.

      The District-wide library construction project kicked off in 2004 with the Buckeye and Lodi Library projects. Both are now completed and welcoming hundreds of patrons a day. The Brunswick and Medina Libraries are operating in temporary locations now while the permanent libraries are expanded and remodeled. The Seville Library will undergo a small expansion and renovation. The Medina , Brunswick , Highland and Seville Libraries are all on schedule to open in mid to late 2007.

August 7, 2006 Update - The Medina County District Library county wide building project progressed swiftly over the summer.
     The Medina Library project on Medina’s Square has floors and walls, with masonry work to continue through the fall. Walls are studded and offices are beginning to emerge. Staff members who recently toured the building were able to identify work areas and begin imagining what the new library will be like. The building will be enclosed by winter so inclement weather will not be much of a factor in the remainder of the project. The library is on budget and on schedule to open next fall. Work on the original Franklin Sylvester Library has created opportunities for preservation, returning portions of the building to its original charm. The building also got a modern update to its support structures, ensuring it will last for another 100 years of library service.

     The Highland Library received all major county and state approvals. The interior and exterior plans are set and a Ground Breaking ceremony is planned for October 5, 2006 at 12:30 pm. Site work is expected to get underway by the winter, with construction planned for the spring. The library is expected to open in late 2007.

     The Brunswick Library moved to its temporary location in July and within days work began on the permanent library. The interior was cleared out, down to the studs, to make way for the expansion and renovation. Over the next few months you will see the expansion get underway while a lot of interior work is going inside.

     The Seville Library will undergo a small expansion that will widen the entry, add a bay window combination storytime stage to the Children’s area and create skylights to bring more natural light in to the library. Work is expected to begin in the spring.

      The new Buckeye and Lodi Libraries prove the adage, “Build it and they will come”. Both libraries are issuing new library cards, hosting programs and checking out more items to more patrons than ever before.

Building Project Update 4/7/06 - Brunswick Library Breaks Ground
The Brunswick Library hosted a ceremonial ground breaking Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at noon on the library lawn.The event was the highlight of National Library Week for the Medina County District Library. It is the fourth library to break ground in the District's $42 million library construction and renovation project of seven libraries. The library will gain 10 thousand square feet of public space and be completely renovated. Carole Kowell, branch manager, brought applause and laughter to the crowd with when she declared "Let the Extreme Makeover Brunswick Library Edition Begin!"

   The existing library opened in 1980 with room for a 75 thousand-item collection. The library now houses more than 180 thousand items in its cramped spaces. The library will move to a temporary location in June for the duration of the project. Work is supposed to begin after the move, sometime in July. The library is expected to be complete by late summer or early fall of 2007.

Brunswick Library
The MCDL Board of Trustees approved the interior design of the Brunswick Library in the fall. MCDL is now working with Brunswick city officials to finalize the exterior design of the building’s addition. The renovated and expanded library will add more than 10,000 square feet to the building. The Brunswick Library may move to a temporary location, like the Medina Library, for the duration of the construction.

Brunswick Library Expansion Project
The Brunswick Library Expansion and Renovation project kicks off April 4, 2006 as the highlight of National Library Week in Medina   County   . A Ceremonial Ground Breaking will be held at noon and everyone is welcome! The library is located at 3649 Center Rd. , Brunswick   .

THE PROJECT
More than ten thousand square feet of public library space will be added to the Brunswick Library in the expansion. The library will also be completely remodeled and redecorated. Ceilings will be raised and new skylights will allow natural light to enter the building, while drawing attention to key areas of public service. The Community Room will remain in the same place but will be dividable so two groups may meet at once. The Children’s and Teen areas will really get a boost in size! The Children’s area will also feature a park-like décor that will bring the outside in for year-round fun. New services are also a part of the project. Self Check Out Machines, Self Pick Up of Holds and After Hours Pick Up Lockers will make library patronage easier than ever!
The building will “grow” predominantly on two sides, the north side of the building facing route 303, and the southeast side that you see as you drive onto campus.

COMING UP SOON
The Brunswick Library is expected to move into a temporary location for the duration of the construction project (approx. one year to 18 month). The project is expected to break ground this summer and be completed in the later half of 2007.

The Brunswick Library expansion project is funded by a 42 million dollar bond issue approved by Medina   County   voters in 2003 for the construction and renovation of all the Medina County District Library facilities. The first two libraries, Buckeye and Lodi   are finished and open to the public. The Medina Library is currently under construction, Brunswick   will soon follow, with a renovation of the Seville Library and the construction of a new Highland Library to wrap up the project.

1200 Patrons Visit New Lodi Library on Grand Opening Day
      It was the coldest day of 2006 so far, but that didn’t keep more than 150 people from standing outside the new Lodi Library Saturday, February 18th, for the Grand Opening, just waiting to get in!
The band played, the flag was unfurled and the big red ribbon over the front entry was cut. Then, the patrons rushed through the front doors to get their first glimpse of their new Lodi Library.

     About 1200 people visited the library in a six-hour period for the Grand Opening. Almost 200 used the new self-check out machines and 3,546 library items were checked out of the library! The Grand Opening featured crafts for all ages, face painting and a magician for children, musicians, singers from the Cloverleaf High School Drama group and refreshments. The 14,805 sq. ft. library features new services, including self-check out machines, after hours pick-up lockers, a 930 sq. ft. meeting room and wireless Internet access.   The library also features an almost 400 sq. ft. Children’s Activity Room, a Fireplace Area, a Quiet Study Room and a Teen Area. It’s located at 635 Wooster St. in Lodi and can be contacted at 948-1885.

     The Lodi Library moved from its previous home, a 2200 sq. ft. former funeral parlor near Lodi ’s town center. The project cost $4.2 million dollars and was funded by a 42 million dollar bond issue passed by Medina County voters in 2003 for the construction and renovation of six Medina County District Libraries. The brand new Buckeye Library opened in December 2005, the Medina Library is currently under construction on Medina ’s Square and Seville , Highland and Brunswick Libraries will follow.

Medina Library
The Medina Library expansion project broke ground in November with a ceremonial first dig on the front lawn. Demolition to make way for the expansion is complete. Crews are now removing hazardous materials from the original Franklin Sylvester Library building and removing non-load bearing walls to make way for the renovation process. The back exterior walls of the library will be removed once the construction of the addition begins to allow for the linking of the new and old sections. The project is expected to take eighteen months to complete, with a library grand opening in 2007. Meanwhile the Medina Library temporary location on Stonegate Dr. isn’t missing a beat. Circulation is increasing and is nearing the numbers reached before the move.

Highland Library
In Highland, the design process of the library continues. Architects are exploring exterior building materials to compliment the building. The library will be located on land adjacent to Highland High School . The Hinckley Library is closing in on two years in its storefront location near the corner of Route 94 and 303.

New Buckeye Library Opens
If you haven’t visited the new Buckeye Library you’re missing out!
The Grand Opening celebration December 3, 2005 attracted more than 600 people. The day of family fun featured games and crafts for all ages and mass library card signups. More than 46 new cards were issued at the Grand Opening and 1644 items were checked out in four hours! The Grand Opening featured a flag raising by the VFW post 5563, accompanied by music from the Buckeye High School band. Medina County District Library staff, architects on the project and MCDL board members cut the ribbon across the check-out desk to officially kick-off library business.

Shortly before the official opening Buckeye Local Schools educators got a sneak peek at the library during the Educator’s Breakfast. About thirty-five teachers and administrators went on tours and learned how the library can aid their classroom studies. That same evening a Preview Night was held. The Guest of Honor, Evelyn Steingass Riggs, who donated the land for the library, was presented with a plaque in the fireplace area of the library and a special engraved “gold” library card she can use at any MCDL branch.

The Buckeye Library is the first new library in a new service area to open in Medina County in more than 20 years. The library combines three MCDL departments. Outreach Services is the library department that reaches out to the community, delivering books to the homebound and making stops with the Bookmobile all over the county. The Maintenance and Delivery department maintains the MCDL buildings and moves tons of library materials every week, making sure the books you want get to you. There is also warehouse space for storage and garage and delivery bays for MCDL vehicles.

Finally, the Buckeye Library occupies the front third of the building and offers new services never before seen at MCDL. Self-check out stations allow patrons to get in and out quickly. Exterior pick-up lockers allow patrons to access requested materials after hours by simply punching in a code. The locker pops open, you retrieve your materials and you’re on your way. Of course the staples of MCDL including children’s programming and storytimes, public computers for word processing and Internet and a helpful reference department are all there too!

Medina County District Construction Update 2/27/06 Lodi Library
The new Lodi Library will open in late February.
     The Lodi Library is moving a short distance on state route 83. Square footage will increase almost six times, to over 14,000 square feet. The library will offer a large meeting room for public use. There will be a cozy fireplace area for enjoying the morning paper. A quiet study room will be used for tutoring and study sessions. An almost 400 square foot children’s activity room will host the children and family programs and storytimes. The timber frame building offers an open structure with plenty of natural light and wonderful views. The interior offers earthy tones and the entire library compliments the rural look of the Lodi area. The library was designed to be a community destination…a place you’d want to spend an afternoon while surfing the web, browsing books and joining in a library program.

     A new library means new services. There will be self check out stations for patrons on the go, after hours pick up lockers that allow you to collect materials any time of day, self pick up of holds so you can get your own book and be on your way, walk up book drops that drop right into the building and a materials security system to protect the expanded collection that includes more large print books, children’s materials and DVD’s.

New Lodi   Library - 635 Wooster St., Lodi
14,805 Total Square Feet, Construction Time: 15 months
Total Cost: $4,205,000, Meeting Room: 930 square feet

Buckeye Library
     The computers and telephones have been installed and Bookmobile and Outreach staff have moved in. The lobby floors have been tiled and furniture will arrive soon. The carpet is almost done and shelves are being installed. Soon final inspections will take place and books will be placed on the shelves.
The Grand Opening Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 3, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Lodi Library
     The driveway and parking area have been paved. Tile floors are being laid and ceiling tiles will go in soon. Drywall finishing, painting and installation of trim are continuing throughout the building. The lights are the public service desks are also being installed. If the weather holds out, landscaping will begin before winter.

Medina Library
     The first day of work on the future building was September 19th. Work began with the demolition of the school bus garage, the Library annex and the Library Administration building. Interior deconstruction and hazardous material removal of the remaining buildings is now underway. Concrete and steel work will begin soon.

Brunswick Library
     The Board has approved revised plans for the Brunswick Library. Plans will soon be presented to the Brunswick Planning Commission.

Medina County District Library Construction Update 9-05
Buckeye Library
     The interior of the new Buckeye Library is coming along nicely. The lighting and fire alarms have been installed and the painting is nearly finished. The tile work on the blue wall and the roadside sign are now complete. Landscape work is complete and looks wonderful. High quality, mature trees give a high quality look to the grounds and the new grass is growing. The irrigation system is in and supporting the new plantings.

Lodi   Library
     The fire alarm system is in. Work continues on the HVAC duct work and electrical wiring. The metal roofing is being installed as well as chimney flashing and downspouts. The clearstory is completely framed in and waiting on windows.

Medina   Library
    The library move to the former DIY location on Stonegate was completed on schedule. Thanks to Keith Maynard and our maintenance staff, without their diligence, hard work and long hours this would not have happened.
     The demolition has begun with site work to follow. The administration offices have moved into the front of the Library at 210 S. Broadway.

Brunswick   Library
     Preliminary designs are in line with the budget. Plans will be presented to the Library Board at their September meeting for approval to proceed.

Highland Library
     The wetland boundaries and jurisdictional status of the wetlands have been approved by the Army Corps of Engineers.   A purchase agreement and easement documents have been sent to the Highland Board of Education for their comments and approval.

Medina Library Plans Move to Temporary Location
      Medina County District Library signed a lease agreement March 17, 2005 allowing the library to occupy temporary space in what’s known as the “old DIY” building on Route 42 in Medina Township . The temporary move will be for an estimated eighteen months during the construction and renovation of the existing library located on Medina’s Square.

      The 13,795 square foot space, located at 3800 Stonegate Drive,will house the public library and the Technology and Collection departments. The library will move by late summer. Deconstruction of library buildings not included in the renovation will begin shortly after the move.
“There are three reasons the library must move before deconstruction takes place”, says Al Scheimann, Building Project Coordinator for MCDL.   “Most parking will be eliminated once the area becomes a construction site, heating and cooling will be one of the first comforts to go and there are certain fire codes that will be difficult to meet for a public building once deconstruction begins.”
Moving to temporary locations is not a new concept for library construction projects. Akron-Summit Public Library’s main branch was located in a shopping plaza on Tallmadge Avenue in Akron during the expansion of their downtown location.

2004 Building Project Wrap-Up; Where We’re Going 12-14-04
     2004 was a busy year for Medina County District Library.   We reopened a Hinckley Library in May, which is located just down Route 94 from the original library. We welcomed more than 5300 children to play our Summer Reading Game, and of course, we broke ground on two new library buildings, the future Lodi   and Buckeye branches. As we enter 2005, here’s a progress report on the entire MCDL building project; where we are and where we will go in the upcoming year.

    At the Buckeye Library, which will also house the Bookmobile, Outreach Services and Maintenance departments, the floor is poured, structural steel went up this fall and a crew of masons is laying more than 560 blocks a day. At this rate the structure will be completely walled soon.   Electricity, water, gas and heating units are installed so crews may work through the cold of winter. The 9,000 square foot Buckeye Library is anticipated to open in late summer of 2005.

    The site preparation, grading and elevations are complete at the Lodi Library construction site. Water and sewer lines are installed. The Foundations and retaining wall are poured.   Water and sewer lines are tied in and masonry work recently began. Walls are beginning to rise from the foundations.   The Lodi   library is expected to open in late 2005.

     MCDL is expected to request final approval for the addition and renovation to the Medina Library from the city’s Historic Preservation Board at their January meeting. That will allow the preparation of construction documents to begin and further the timeline toward bidding the project.   Site preparation should begin in spring of 2005.   The existing library will be renovated and continue to be a vital part of the library. The Medina Library may move to a temporary location during construction.   We will keep patrons up-to-date on when and where that may be.   The Medina Library is scheduled for ground breaking this year with an anticipated opening in late 2006 or early 2007.

    The Highland Library will be located on an almost five acre parcel of land just south of Highland   High School   on Route 94. The entrance will branch off of the existing school entry.   The building will overlook wetlands and will provide up to 100 additional shared parking spaces with the school.   Practice fields may be located nearby.   Staff is reviewing preliminary drawings at this time.

     Architects are working on preliminary drawings that will add about 10,000 square feet to the existing Brunswick Library. A dividable community room that can accommodate two groups simultaneously, a larger children’s room and more computers are just a few of the highlights. Like in Highland   , the library staff is reviewing the plans and making recommendations.


Highland School Board Accepts Library Land Bid
     A library is joining the Highland Local Schools campus.   In a unanimous decision Monday September 20th, the Highland school board voted to accept an offer from Medina County District Library to purchase an approximate five acre piece of land to build a new Highland Library.   MCDL offered approximately $52,000 for the land located to the south of the new Highland   High School   on Ridge Road   in Granger Township.

     The school board asked for two conditions to be included in the contract with MCDL: that parking be shared between the school and library and that the school district have first option on buying the property if the library every leaves. Superintendent, Bruce Armstrong, offered a recommendation to the board to accept the offer from MCDL. He said the partnership would be beneficial to the school district and the community.

     Hinckley Library Branch Manager, Diane Dermody, was at the meeting representing MCDL.   She says, “people stopped me in the parking lot to congratulate us on the decision. I am so thrilled this has finally happened, there is a lot of support for this in the community.” Dermody currently manages the Hinckley branch that opened in May 2004 after the old Hinckley Library closed in 2003 due to deteriorating building conditions.

    The next step is to have the land surveyed and decide where on the parcel the library will be located. A contract will be written up between the school district and MCDL before payment is made and architects will soon begin drawings for the proposed library.

Work Begins at Lodi Library
    Monday September 20th, 2004 was day one in the construction of the new Lodi Library, the second project in the Medina County District Library’s county wide library construction and expansion project. Crews are starting with site preparation.   The library will be located on a wooded lot down the street from the existing Lodi Library on Wooster St.   (Rt. 83) just outside the center of town. Right now they are clearing a drive onto the lot to begin excavating the property.
The Library will increase square footage from 2,210 in the current location to 11,264 square feet in the new building.   It will feature a walk-up book drop and pick up lockers, a public meeting room and expanded book, video, audio book and large print collections as well as many more computer terminals.

    Buckeye Library broke ground Thursday, July 15 at its Wolff Rd.   location near the Buckeye Schools. The walls on that building are already going up!

    The library construction and expansion project is funded through a bond issue passed by Medina   County   voters in May, 2003.

Lodi Library Bids Opened and Approved
     The Lodi Library is one step closer to construction now that the Medina County District Library Board of Trustees has awarded ten of the 14 bids on the project, ranging from site preparation to landscaping.   The four outstanding bids, which include windows and general trades, are being evaluated and may be reopened for bidding for more competitive pricing and/or to allow for changes in specifications.   The Board has sixty days to award the bids.   The outstanding jobs will be re-advertised to solicit offers. The bid deadline was Thursday, August 19th. The construction management company on the project, the Ruhlin Company, analyzed the numbers with the architects and MCDL building project manager, Al Scheimann and Library Director, Mike Harris .

     The future Lodi Library is expected to break ground before the end of the year.   It is located down the street from the existing Lodi Library on Wooster St. (Rt. 83) just outside the center of town. It is the second library branch in the MCDL construction process. Buckeye Library broke ground Thursday, July 15 at its Wolff Rd.   location near the Buckeye Schools.
The library construction and expansion project is funded through a bond issue passed by Medina   County   voters in May, 2003.

Library to Bid on Highland School's Land
     Medina County District Library is working on an offer to buy land for a new library from the Highland   School District   , with hopes of having the offer ready for the next school board meeting, September 20th. Highland Schools Superintendent, Bruce Armstrong, discussed the land purchase with the school board at their August meeting, at which the board agreed to officially offer the land for sale and accept a bid from MCDL.

    The MCDL Board of Trustees voted at their August 25th special meeting to allow the library to enter a bid on the approximately five acres of land. The land is adjacent to the new Highland Schools High School Campus and would position the library as a central location in the school district.MCDL Board President, Phil Duke said, “this purchase will position a MCDL branch within walking distance of four of our six county school campuses.”   Duke refers to Brunswick, Medina, Buckeye (which is currently under construction) and Highland   . The Seville and Lodi branches are also very near to their respective elementary schools. MCDL Director, Mike Harris says, “We are ready to move forward with land for the Highland project.   We were waiting to see what would happen with the Medina Library. Now with that project getting conditional approval from the city, we are ready to tell our architects to start drawing a Highland branch.”

    The Highland School District was without a library for about six months from late 2003 to May 2004 after the Hinckley Library closed due to deteriorating building conditions. It reopened at a new location, 1315 Ridge Road, this Spring.
     The library construction and expansion project is funded through a bond issue passed by Medina County voters in May, 2003.

Medina Library Design Approved
     The overall design of the Medina Library renovation and addition project was approved Thursday, August 12, 2004 at a meeting with the Medina City Historic Preservation Board.   The unanimous decision of the four board members present opens the door to future planning and design for the library project. The board approved a “certificate of appropriateness” for the footprint and basic exterior design of the building, as well as the ability to move forward with the demolition of parcels on library property that need to be removed for the expansion.   The administrative offices located on the third floor of the eastern addition will remain on the square.   It was feared they would be moved to another library if the Historic Preservation Board mandated a reduction in the size of the building.

     The library will return to the board for approval on various aesthetics including examples of building and roofing materials, the cladding on the exterior wall near the future book drop and the board asked the library to revisit cladding the third floor administrative offices in a lighter material as shown in the original drawings. Mike Harris, library director says “It’s an exciting day for the library, we may now move forward with this and the other library projects throughout the county.”

     The city board of zoning appeals and planning met after the HPB. They approved variances concerning the construction including height, width, the amount of windows and landscaping.

Board Recommends Medina Library Design 8/04
     The Medina County District Library Board of Trustees agreed on a new design recommendation for the Medina Library expansion at their meeting, July 19, 2004. After a public meeting with the Medina City Historic Preservation Board July 8th, at which several MCDL Board Members were present, the trustees recommended library architects set the proposed third story edition facing Washington Street back an additional 20 feet.

     The Historic Preservation Board released a letter dated July 6, 2004 at the July 8th work session.   In addition to the many comments that night in favor of a larger set back the letter states, “One of our largest concerns is that the proposed 3’ setback is inconsistent with the other properties along East Washington Street   .   We would like to see the building set back within 2 to 3 feet of the average setback along the (street).”

     There are no zoning regulations in the city’s historic district that mandates such a set back. After consulting with library architects it was determined a twenty foot set back was the only financially feasible solution.   Anything else would not follow the column grid of the building and would necessitate a complete redesign, which would delay the project and potentially increase costs. The setback eliminates 11 parking spaces and moves handicap parking further away from the entrance.

        MCDL will seek a vote on the suggested design from the Historic Preservation Board at their next meeting tentatively scheduled for August 12. It is MCDL’s goal to move forward with the project in a timely and fiscally responsible manner while preserving vital library space and services.

July 21, 2004 - Lodi Library Ready for Bids
    Medina County District Library is now accepting construction bids for the new Lodi Library branch. At their meeting July 19, the MCDL Board of Trustees approved construction documents and authorized the district’s Building Project Manager, Al Scheimann, to begin advertising for bid proposals. No date is set for the bid openings, but the earliest possible date is some time during the week of August 16th.   The bids must be advertised four of the same days of the month (for example, four consecutive Saturdays), before the bids may be opened.

    The future Lodi Library will be located down the street from the existing Lodi Library on Wooster St.   (Rt. 83) just outside the center of town. The Library will increase square footage from 2,210 in the current location to 11,264 square feet in the new building.   It will feature a walk-up book drop and pick up lockers, a public meeting room and expanded book, video, audio book and large print collections as well as many more computer terminals. It is the second library branch in the MCDL construction process. Buckeye Library broke ground Thursday, July 15 at its Wolff Rd.   location near the Buckeye Schools.
    The library construction and expansion project is funded through a bond issue passed by Medina   County   voters in May, 2003.

Work Begins at Buckeye Library Site

Work is underway at the future site of the Buckeye Library. After a ceremonial ground breaking during National Library Week in April, the actual first day of work on the future building was Thursday, July 15, 2004. Crews cleared the site allowing one to see past where the tall grass and weeds used to be and actually see the footprint for the library.

The Buckeye Library is located at the corner of Columbia and Wolff Roads near the Buckeye Schools campus.

The library will house a 9,000 square foot public library as well as Outreach Services, which includes the Bookmobile and the system's Maintenance and Delivery department. The Buckeye Library is expected to open in the summer of 2005. It will be the sixth branch building in the Medina County District Library system, (besides the mobile Bookmobile).

Bids Approved for Buckeye Library June 23, 2004

    The Medina   County District Library Board of Trustees approved and accepted construction bids for the new Buckeye Library at their meeting on Monday, June 21, 2004. The bids include everything from site preparation to landscaping.   The bids came in slightly under the projected budget, which pleased Board members. Board Vice President, Micheal Tefs, congratulated the library architects, the construction management company, MCDL Director, Mike Harris and MCDL Building Project Coordinator, Al Scheimann for accurately assessing the project costs and for kicking off the five library building and expansion project with money to spare.

       Crews could be moving on to the future site of the Buckeye Library any time know, says Scheimann. The building will be located at 6625 Wolff Road   near the Buckeye Schools Campus. The Lodi   Library will be next in the building project. Board approval to send the plans out to bid is expected sometime in July.

Bids Opened for New Buckeye Library
   The bids are in for the new Buckeye Library construction.   It’s the first library building slated to break ground as part of the Medina County District Library expansion project. The bid deadline was 12:00 noon on June 3, 2004 . At that time, MCDL Director Mike Harris, Building Project Coordinator Al Scheimann and representatives from the Ruhlin Company, project managers, opened the sealed bids, called out the name of the bidding company and the bid price submitted for each project. Many of the contractors were present for the openings.   The bids came in for everything from landscaping to electrical work. In the next step the bids will be evaluated and recommended to the MCDL Board of Trustees whom will then officially award the bids to the chosen companies.

   The Buckeye Library will serve three functions for MCDL.   It will house a 9,000 square foot public library, the MCDL Outreach Services and Bookmobile and the Delivery and Maintenance services.

The Lodi Library will be next in the bidding process.

The Buckeye Library Groundbreaking
     The Buckeye Library Groundbreaking on April 20, 2004 was the first in Medina County District Library’s construction process. Community members, school and township officials, library board members and architects and future Buckeye Library staff all gathered at the site, located at the corner of Wolfe and Columbia Roads, for the ceremonial groundbreaking at high noon.

     MCDL Director, Mike Harris, thanked everyone in attendance, and made special mention of an honored guest. Evelyn Steingass-Riggs donated the land on which the library will be built. She attended the groundbreaking with her son, granddaughter and two great-grandchildren. Riggs told the crowd of about sixty that she donated the land so that all the children of the Buckeye Schools are will have a library of their own for generations to come. She even picked up a shovel, and with her family by her side, joined the first dig on the Buckeye Library. Riggs referred to library construction as a “dream come true.”

     Several digs took place. First, MCDL Administrators, Board Members and Steingass-Riggs dug in their shovels, then the Outreach and Bookmobile staff dug in, slinging dirt high into the air in celebration.

     Director, Mike Harris, then jumped into the driver’s seat of the backhoe provided by the construction management team, The Ruhlin Company, for the first big dig. He scooped up the soft spring soil like a professional and then had to fill in the hole he’d created!
     The new library will have more than nine thousand square feet of public space. The remaining 14,000 square feet will be offices for the Outreach and Bookmobile staff as well as garage space for the Bookmobile and Maintenance and Delivery vehicles. The library will have an emphasis on families and children due to its proximity to the Buckeye Schools Campus. Work is expected to begin on the library by mid summer of 2004 with a completion date of approximately one year later. Harris ended the ground breaking with the realization. He noted that the next time the group of people present would probably all be together again would be in 2005..at the Grand Opening!

The Lodi Library Groundbreaking
    The Lodi Library groundbreaking took place during National Library Week on April 22nd, 2004. More than seventy people were in attendance at the site, located just down the street from the existing library on Wooster Street. From the Mayor to the Police Chief to dozens of Lodi Library patrons, people from age 4 to 84 came out to celebrate the first dig.

     Branch Manager, Betsy Gilder, thanked everyone for coming. She started to thank individuals in the audience, but stopped, noting that she would have to thank everyone since at some time or another, they all played an important role making the Lodi Library what it is and what it will be.

     The Lodi staff was joined by village officials for the ceremonial first dig. Then Gilder fired up the backhoe, under the supervision of library Director, Mike Harris, and dig the first hole that will be part of the Lodi Library construction.

     Afterwards, the Friends of the Lodi Library invited everyone back to the current branch for lunch and socializing. The Lodi groundbreaking felt like a family reunion. It started out in a tent under a light drizzle, and moved inside to the “homestead” of the current branch.
     The future Lodi Library will be about 12,000 square feet and feature plenty of parking and an expanded computer and large print collection, among other things. It’s expected to break ground in Summer 2004 and be completed in summer of 2005.