Residents needed to aim library a new way

The Elyria Library asks for public input as designs on new programs and spaces begin to take shape. PAGE A3

The Elyria Public Library System is re-branding itself within the production of new branches and renovating current ones, while inviting the community to be a part of it.

An Elyria Library System team is working to improve four of the five locations and creating a new garage and building for staff, operations and their bookmobile.

After voters passed the $16 million bond issue in 2017 for library improvements, staff have worked hard to provide a better experience for the community, said Lyn Crouse, director of the Elyria Public Library System.

The Library System is in the process of planning for a new Central Branch which will no longer be located on Washington Avenue but on Broad Street in downtown.

Plans also call for a new South Branch on 15th Street, the renovation of the West River Branch and expansion and new branch of the Keystone-LaGrange branch.

The Library System is asking residents, families and organizations to participate in its new growth by helping to raise funds for the library, Crouse said.

Within the four new buildings, patrons can donate to the Library System in exchange for a sponsorship or naming rights through its programming, departments, centers, play areas and rooms.

So far, there are about 15 suggested donations taken out of about 30, totaling $214,000 in donations from patrons.

Crouse said donation amounts are suggestions and may be dependent on the size and actual cost of requested space and items.

Final amounts are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, she said.

Donors can restrict donations to specific sites and not all opportunities are available at all locations, Crouse said.

Each suggested donation can range from $500 to $50,000.

“It’s is a great opportunity for the community to be philanthropic,” Crouse said.

The donations also help pay toward additional costs needed in the high-priced projects, she said.

The project is paid for in full through the bond issue, but she said they are quickly finding out they can never have enough for five new buildings.

Each building is coming in at a price of about $400 per-square-foot, Crouse said.

“This is also an opportunity to be part of something,” she said. “You know people like to see their name on things and be generous and philanthropic.

“It’s also a great marketing opportunity. We have over 300,000 people per year that come through our doors.”

Further opportunities for children to become involved are by lending a helping hand for the library.

In this project, children can create a ceramic hand print tile that will be decorated on the walls of each new branch’s children rooms.

The library will partner with Maggie & Ellie’s Pottery and Art Studio in Strongsville to create the hand print tiles where participants can make their masterpiece or attend scheduled sessions at the Elyria branches.

Each hand print tile is a donation of $50 per one hand or $100 for two.

These tiles can be chosen by which new branch they’ll be placed at during their development process.

Lastly, there will be memorial opportunities for children who have passed away by creating silhouette walls.

This originally was an idea from the Central Branch to honor a staff member’s son who died at 20 months old.

With the development project, the area called Joseph’s Corner will be located at the new Central Branch, Crouse said.

Patrons will have the option to choose a silhouette that best represents their memory of a loved one and add their personal information.

Crouse found similar silhouettes at another library and learned it was a memorial and a great way to remember a child.

She said she hopes to incorporate things for adults down the road.

“We’re planning a 30year building, so these things will be there for the next generation,” Crouse said. “That was one thing that’s fun with the hand prints.

“Twenty years for now, people will be sharing the hand prints they made as children.”