City celebrates larger library
There’s a bold new building at the intersection of Wilmington Pike and Stroop Road in Kettering.
The Wilmington-Stroop Branch of the Dayton Metro Library celebrated its grand opening on June 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting and sneak preview for the public.
Regular hours resumed Monday, June 3, at the library located at 3980 Wilmington Pike.
The old Wilmington-Stroop building closed in December 2017, and was subsequently demolished. The new facility, made possible by a bond issue passed by Montgomery County voters in 2012, is 50% larger than the previous building.
It features state-of-the-art amenities in library service, including a community room accessible before and after hours, a reflections-themed children’s area and dedicated TeenEDGE space, a quiet reading room, a fireplace, outdoor patio, numerous public computers, industrial grade WiFi, laptop lending, a vending area, and four original art installations.
“This branch has something new and exciting for everyone to enjoy, but one of the highlights that I think people will notice right from the start is the wonderful natural light filtering in through all directions,” said Branch Manager Mike Hensel. “It truly is a welcoming beacon to the area.”
After being closed for nearly a year and a half and working elsewhere in the Dayton Metro Library system, the Wilmington-Stroop Branch staff were eager to get back to their community.
“Staff is happy to be together under one roof and reconnecting with our patrons,” said Hensel.
For more information, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call 937-463-2665.