Toledo Lucas County Public Library Main Library Renovation Report May/June 2018

Accommodating customers during the renovation

Main Library is an important resource to the city, and we understand that closing the Library temporarily during the renovation will have an impact on both Library customers and staff. The Library team would like to hear your thoughts on our draft plans to accommodate customers during the renovation:

• Hours will be expanded at other Library branches to support customers during the temporary closure of Main.

• The general collection at Main Library will be accessible throughout the temporary closure. Materials can be requested online, and staff will be at Main Library daily to retrieve materials and distribute them to branches. Customers will be able to return materials to Main Library during renovation (but not pick up materials.)

• Databases and other resources only available at Main Library will be temporarily relocated where possible, to a local branch or a community partner. We’re also exploring how best to ensure continued access to expert librarians.

• Computers and printers from Main Library will move to other branches throughout the community.

• Librarians will be working to digitize the Local History collection, and going out into the community to digitize additional resources. Access to Local History at Main Library will be provided on a scheduled basis.

*JOIN US* Join us to learn more about Main Library renovations, how services will continue during the temporary closure of Main Library, and to share your ideas on how best to program and activate the new community spaces that will be available after the renovation.

All meetings will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. at Main Library in the Huntington Room.

Meeting 1: Wed., May 2, 6 – 8 p.m. Purpose: To provide an overview of the renovation plans, to share and seek feedback on the Library’s draft plan for accommodating customers during the temporary closure, and to begin thinking about opportunities to activate new Library spaces.

Meeting 2: Wed., May 30, 6 – 8 p.m. Purpose: To review the final plan for accommodating customers during the temporary closure, and build on previous discussions about how to program and activate the new spaces that will be created with the renovation.

Meeting 3: Thurs., June 28, 6 – 8 p.m. Purpose: To review and refine ideas on how to program and activate the new spaces that will be created with the renovation, and talk about next steps.

Each meeting will include the presentation of new materials, as well as facilitated discussion. Each meeting will review and build on the feedback received at the previous meeting(s), so join us for any or all of the meetings.

Renovating to Better Serve our Customers

Toledo Lucas County Public Library is proud to report that we will be renovating and modernizing Main Library to better serve our customers and community. Beginning in September 2018, the renovations will maintain the integrity of the original building while responding to customer and Library staff feedback about improvements that will better support their needs. The renovations also strengthen the Library’s ability to deliver on our 2016-2020 Strategic Plan. Improvements to Main Library will include: • Modernizing and upgrading the infrastructure. Main Library opened in its

current location in 1940 and was last renovated almost 20 years ago. To serve more customers and provide more services, updates are needed to support changing needs for power and data; technology and materials; removing barriers and increasing access; and fire and security enhancements.

• The creation of five new spaces to support more and different community uses of Main Library. The creation of new, community-dedicated spaces responds to the need for rooms where local organizations can meet, hold gatherings and events; where entrepreneurs can learn and share ideas; and where workforce development is better supported.

• The re-orientation of a number of existing services to enable better

access. More people would enjoy the Library Café and Friends of the Library Gift Shop if they were on the main level. The renovation will move these services up from the parking garage level and also bring back the gallery that was displaced when the Creativity Lab was built.

Can’t make a meeting? Provide your feedback online at:

toledolibrary.org/construction/mainrenovation

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Library branches with extended operation hours during Main Library renovation

For more information: Meg Delaney, Main Library Manager meg.delaney@toledolibrary.org or 419.259.5333 toledolibrary.org/construction/mainrenovation

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Programming new spaces after the renovation With new spaces, there will be new opportunities for programming and community engagement. Do you have ideas on how we could activate these spaces? Come to the meetings to share your ideas, or fill out and return the feedback form enclosed. You can also comment online at: toledolibrary.org/construction/mainrenovation

Principles guiding the renovation There are several key factors which have guided our decisions about this project:

Respect and celebrate the history and architecture of Main Library.

Respond to the community’s needs and priorities regarding Main Library.

Be fiscally responsible with all renovation-related costs.

Ensure the safety of Library users, staff and contractors.

Use the opportunity to expand new partnerships and approaches to support program delivery during the temporary closure of Main Library.

Be informed by trends in library service across the state and country.

“Main Street” Meeting Room Rendering

Renovation overview Parking garage level New spaces that will be created to make this a community space include: • A Community Board Room that could hold about 12-20 people for meetings.

• An “opportunity space” that could host entrepreneurs, organizations, training, etc.

• The Library is considering how best to provide access to these rooms outside of normal Main Library hours to support early morning and later evening meetings.

First floor Existing features and services that will be updated on the first floor include: • Move the Customer Service Desk to the opposite wall, so people see it when walking into the Library.

• Relocate the Teen Area to the current AV space, and move the AV space to be adjacent with computer area.

• Expand the computer lab area to bridge digital literacy and access gaps.

• Transform the existing Huntington Room into two new spaces, one for the Café (with a connection to the courtyard), and one for the Community Art Gallery that was previously on the second floor.

• Move the Friends of the Library Shop from the garage level to the first floor.

New spaces that will be created on the first floor include: • A “Main Street” that connects people directly from the front door to the rest of the Library.

• A new maker space/idea lab. Possible technology for this space includes: a recording and editing studio, green screen, space to support teaching, and potentially virtual reality.

• A new space to host “Partners and Pop-Ups” that provides flexibility in supporting organizations and programming.

• A new community meeting space, roughly the size of the current Huntington Room, will be created to host many different types of organizations and meetings.

Second floor All changes to the second floor are dependent on fundraising through the Library’s Capital Campaign. If the funds are raised, the existing Toddler Room would be transformed into a Getting Ready for Kindergarten area. The Play-and Learn area would also be expanded. Third floor The third floor of Main Library is home to Local History and Genealogy, the Blade Rare Book Room, and the Rogowski-Kaptur Labor History Room. There will not be any renovations to these spaces.

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Gallery and Café Rendering

Key reasons why Main Library will close during the renovation

• Significantly lower cost

• Takes less time (instead of 16-18 months the project will take 10-12 months)

• Increased likelihood of bidders in a very active and competitive construction market

• Less complex phasing of work

• Eliminates the risk of poor customer service and potential safety concerns

• Timing of closing (just after Labor Day) coincides with the opening of Sylvania Branch

Tech Space and Teaching Lab Rendering

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