Asbestos halts plans at library

Transformation of the library’s central branch on hold

Plans to transform the Elyria Public Library System’s Central Branch have been put a side after results of an asbestos test.

“We had retained an architect, done extensive planning and design work, begun a naming opportunities campaign and started to raise funds from generous community donors,” said Director Lyn Crouse. “Then we suffered a major setback due to pre-construction asbestos testing. Put simply, Central is full of it.”

Asbestos is fibrous material known to cause cancer when continuously exposed to high-levels of it. It can cause damage to the lining of the lungs and includes symptoms of shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, persistent dry cough and chest pains.

Although asbestos has been found, if left undisturbed, the building is completely safe for

patrons and staff, Crouse said.

“We had extensive testing done to the highest standards required for school buildings, and the material was found to be intact,” she said. “Our air quality came back as completely clean.”

Any renovations would require special abatement procedures and the price for that work skyrocketed to seven figures, Crouse said.

Renovations would have included relocating Elyria Library’s local history and genealogy room to the second

floor of the West

River branch, moving the Youth Services Department to the back of the building, adding a preschool area, adding a baby play-and-grow area and a new gender-neutral family restroom, and a teen tech center.

Shortly after, the Library received news it would have to relocate its South Branch after the passage of the Elyria City School District bond issue to reconstruct new elementary and middle schools, according to Crouse.

“Even though it has had limited hours, South is one of our busiest branches,” she said. “Its neighborhood setting works for those who have limited transportation.

Its proximity to the Franklin School and Elyria High School makes it the ‘go to’ place for kids, with resources and programs after school and during the summer.”

Crouse currently is working toward finding another location for the South Branch.

“I’m working to find temporary quarters for that branch in the next several months so that we will have no interruption of service to our patrons in South Elyria, while we examine possibilities for the long range,” she said.

Crouse said she welcomes any input to help shape the future of the library system. Residents may email her at lcrouse@elyrialibrary.org.

Elyria Public Library System’s Central Branch is seen in this image from Google Earth.