September, October, November 2026
The Library Live is a quarterly newsletter featuring news, services, and events at Medina County District Library. Pick up a print copy at any of our seven library locations. View MCDL's hours, locations, and closings.
Executive Director's Notes
The Medina County District Library Strategic Plan 2023–2025 provided a roadmap for advancing library services, strengthening community engagement, fostering innovation, enhancing communication, and cultivating an exceptional workplace. Patron Satisfaction Surveys were used to plan, implement, and evaluate progress and success with the Strategic Plan.
Thank you to the 2,663 residents who participated in Medina County District Library’s 2026 patron satisfaction survey. Your feedback provides valuable insight into how we are serving our community and helps guide future planning and investment in library services.
The survey results show the Library enjoys strong community support and trust. We are especially encouraged that 96% of respondents said they would recommend MCDL to friends and family, an increase of more than eight percentage points since our 2023 survey. Similarly, 94% of respondents agreed their interests are represented and their needs are met through Library services, also reflecting significant growth from 2023.
Participants identified several factors that contribute strongly to their satisfaction with the Library, including our commitment to current technology, responsive customer service, personalized assistance, reliable equipment, and staff who go above and beyond to help patrons. We are proud that our employees continue to be recognized for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication to serving the public.
Respondents also expressed exceptionally high satisfaction with our collections, technology assistance, community programs, quiet and welcoming spaces, and overall service experience. Nearly all respondents reported satisfaction with the physical and digital collections, reaffirming the importance of providing access to information, learning, and entertainment resources for all ages.
The survey also highlighted opportunities for continued improvement. Areas such as facility cleanliness, parking availability, meeting space capacity, accessibility, equipment maintenance, and response times for certain services remain important priorities. We appreciate this feedback and will use it to inform future decisions and improvements.
One encouraging finding was the increased awareness of our Family History & Learning Center (FHLC). More than half of respondents reported familiarity with or use of the FHLC’s genealogy, digital lab, and Makerspace resources, representing a substantial increase since 2023. While there is still work to do in promoting these unique services, the results suggest our outreach efforts are making a positive difference.
The survey also reaffirmed the values that define our Library. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the Library is welcoming and inclusive, supports intellectual freedom, and plays an important role in the quality of life in Medina County.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Library staff, thank you for your participation, support, and partnership. We remain committed to listening to our community, responding to changing needs, and ensuring that Medina County District Library continues to be a trusted and valued resource for generations to come.
Sincerely,
-Julianne Bedel, Executive Director
Events
Browse and register for a wide variety of events for Kids, Tweens (grades 3-5), Teens (grades 6-12), and Adults. Buckeye Library and Bookmobile will host the annual Keep on Truckin' event. Medina Library will again host Medina Book Fest. Seville Library will be a stop on the Medina County Fall Foliage Tour. Enjoy the creativity of others at an Art Show. Visit the Bookmobile at a special event or scheduled stop.
Books & Authors
Patrick Ryan, author of the instant New York Times bestseller, Buckeye, will visit Brunswick Library in September. Douglas Westerbeke, author of A Short Walk Through a Wide World, will visit Medina Library in October. View lists and be among the first to place holds on upcoming Fiction, Nonfiction, and Teen books. Plus, find out what Lodi Library's Manager, Dan, has been recently reading! Visit the Books & Authors page for details.
Featured Services
Library Card Sign-up Month is September 1-30
Cards are free to new patrons! Lose your card? No worries, replacement cards are free in September. Explore card options on the Library Card page.
MCDL is fine free! Most MCDL materials don’t accrue late fines, plus, they automatically renew up to five times. Details and exceptions on the FAQ page.
Reminder: Register to Vote
You can always register to vote and submit an absentee ballot request form at your library! Learn more on the Voting page.
Accessibility & Memory Care Services
MCDL offers a variety of accessibility services to help with audio-visual, memory care, and special needs. Visit the Accessibility page for details.
From home delivery to senior activities, Outreach Services provides library materials and services to patrons with limited access to libraries. Visit the Outreach Services page for details.
Meeting Rooms
Meeting rooms can accommodate a variety of activities, from large events to small meetings. Select Medina Library rooms are Hearing Loop enabled. Learn more and reserve a room on the Meeting Room page.
Makerspace & Digital Lab
Begin holiday gift making now with simple, ready-to-create projects using equipment in the Makerspace: Cricut, sublimation printer, laser engraver, and more. Look for featured projects and tutorials online to help you get started with personalized and one-of-a-kind gifts. Convert old photos and home movies into digital files in the Digital Lab. Sharing with family makes a meaningful and memory-filled gift. Visit the Makerspace & Digital Lab page for details.
World Language Services
MCDL offers services for non-native English speakers as they seek ways to improve language and cultural knowledge. Browse or request materials in more than 40 languages, check out bilingual children's books, or join an English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) class or discussion group. Borrow a citizenship study kit and get matched with a volunteer who will support you through preparing for the Citizenship test. Availability varies by library location. Explore the collection and services on the World Language page.
Giving is Always in Season
Support literacy efforts with an annual gift, planned giving, or a bequest. Honor a loved one on our donor walls. Sponsorships from businesses, service groups, and individuals help fund the Summer Reading Game and special events. Grants from local and national foundations recently funded a Mamava nursing pod, Hearing Loop technology and historical document scanner at Medina Library. Grant funding makes innovative ideas a reality at no cost to the community. Thank you for considering MCDL in your giving and learn more on the Donate page.
News & Notes
MCDL's Leadership U Graduates
Four full-time MCDL staff members graduated from MCDL’s own leadership program, Leadership U, in June. This is the first group since 2020, with the program being revamped this year. The group attended nine monthly training sessions to build their communication, organizational, and management skills to create the next generation of leaders at MCDL. Graduates include:
- Jason Shankland, Facilities Maintenance Technician
- Larissa Rudd, Medina Reference Librarian
- Madison Thomas, FHLC Librarian
- Natalie Keller, Brunswick Reference Librarian
Roof Project Begins at Medina Library
Beginning Mon., Aug. 24, 2026, and extending through approximately the third week of November, Medina Library will undergo
a roof replacement that will result in limited parking lot access. Both parking lots on the east side of the building will be closed. The parking lot nearest the main entrance will remain open. Handicapped accessible parking will be available throughout the project. Please plan accordingly when attending library events and advise meeting room guests of this change.
Traffic will be exclusively one-way through the library lot with entry only from Broadway to S. Jefferson Street, exiting past Dominic’s Italian Restaurant. Please do not park in the restaurant parking lot.
Get timely information, including parking maps and the new traffic pattern, on the Library Parking Information page.
Use Shop the Collection, Anytime Lockers, and Curbside Service for pick-ups during this time. Call the library to make arrangements. Learn more on the Pick Up Options page.
Anglophiles United 15th Anniversary
In late 2010, Brunswick Library staff member Carmen Croghan discovered a mutual love of British entertainment while chatting with a co-worker. From there the idea of a British enthusiast club was born. “We pitched the idea to our supervisor and started planning. Our first decision was to call the program Anglophiles United - to sound like an English football club.”
The group met monthly and celebrated all people and cultures of the UK and Ireland. It was a hit from the beginning with at least 20 people attending each meeting. British expats, including a half dozen Scots, a couple of Northern Irish and a lone Welshman became regulars. Sometimes the expats outnumbered the Americans.
Currently, Anglophiles United attracts about a dozen patrons per meeting and features a good mix of backgrounds and ages. “This group works so well because the people have stayed curious about the world, love knowledge, and are some of the most fun-loving people I know. They seem to really enjoy our methods of communicating information through trivia and other games”, says Croghan.
Anyone who is passionate about a topic can take a turn as a presenter. From Shakespeare aficionados, to a presentation on The Plague, topics have covered famous cemeteries, witch trials, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Hammer Horror Films. The highlights of the year are the annual holiday potluck and Great Anglophile Bake-Off. This year, they had a dozen participants with pastries and scones stealing the show.
“We really have formed a tight social circle in this group while always welcoming newcomers. I feel those who become regulars find something with us beyond a common interest in British culture,” says Croghan.
View Anglophiles United events.
New Trailhead at Lodi Library
Medina County Park District and Medina County District Library are partnering to bring the new Lodi Woods Nature Preserve trailhead to the community this November. The 67-acre preserve will feature a north-to-south hiking trail that climbs more than 50 feet in elevation from the starting point at Lodi Library. Residents on neighboring Hawthorne and Oakwood Drives will have walk-in access. A shorter loop trail will be located close to the trailhead with access from the library parking lot. Restrooms will be available inside
the library during regular hours.
Tools & Tech Collection Expands Across MCDL
For years, the Tools & Tech collection has allowed patrons to borrow an item they may only need once or would like to try before they buy. The items range from technology and health related (stud finders and blood pressure monitors) to fun and entertaining (pickleball sets and ukuleles).
Originally only available at Medina Library, the full collection has expanded to Brunswick Library. Additionally, limited collections that supplied Chromebooks and Wi-fi Hotspots at other MCDL locations have been expanded to include:
- Car Engine Fault Code Readers
- Radon Detectors
- Thermal Leak Detectors
- Metal Detectors (except Seville)
- HDMI Projectors (except Seville)
Items check out for two weeks, limit one per library card, no holds, no renewals. View the complete list and check availability
Warm Up Medina County
Final donation day is Sat., Nov. 7, all day Bring finished knitted and crocheted items to service desks at any MCDL location. We accept handmade items preferred by local charities: hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, blankets (adult, child, baby, and lap sizes). Past recipients include: Birthcare, Catholic Charities, Feeding Medina County, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center, Hospice, Job & Family Services, and WIC. Since 2004, Warm Up has generated more than 18,000 blankets, scarves, mittens, and hats for county residents.
College & Scholarships
The college application process is underway for the class of 2027 and MCDL has resources to help find your dream school and fund your education.
mcdl.info/College is a curated site to research schools based on admissions, qualifications, and financial aid. Find rankings on schools, majors, and other quality of life indicators you may be looking for in higher education.
Our Scholarships page provides a list of local and regional scholarship opportunities that high school seniors planning on attending college, non-traditional students, and graduates going directly into the workforce can all benefit from. Application deadlines are often in February, March, and April so that recipients can be selected and scholarships awarded before the end of the school year. Scholarships’ amounts and deadlines will be updated as information becomes available.
Fall StoryWalk®
StoryWalk promotes literacy, physical activity, and spending time together as a family. Each season brings a new story. Watch for Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson on September 1. Take a walk and enjoy a story at these MCDL and partnership locations:
- Brunswick & Highland Libraries
- Medina County Park District, Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park, 4985 Windfall Rd., Medina
- Medina City Schools, Northrop Elementary, 950 E. Reagan Pkwy., Medina
Board of Trustees
The Library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees. Board members are appointed for four-year terms by either Medina County Commissioners or the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. Board members serve without remuneration.
Friends of MCDL
Friends book sales and fundraisers support youth literacy in Medina County. View book sales and more at friendsofmcdl.info.