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Cincinnati-area libraries to receive millions in upgrades, improvements

Hamilton County voters pass library tax levy
Posted at 5:09 AM, Jan 09, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-09 05:17:06-05

CINCINNATI — If you go to a library in Hamilton County in the next few months, you might see some new upgrades.

On Wednesday, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County announced a 10-year, $300 million plan to renovate and improve their libraries.

Every branch in the county, including the main downtown branch, will receive improvements in one of three categories:

  1. Strategic investment- Small improvements like new laptop kiosks and study pods
  2. Capital maintenance- General repair work on furniture, roofing, carpeting, etc.
  3. Design projects- Major renovations, expansions or the relocation of some property.

While every branch will receive one of these improvements, the first improvements will be seen at the downtown, Elmwood, Price Hill, Reading and Walnut Hills branches.

The Price Hill and Walnut Hills branches will be renovated and expanded upon. The downtown location will get a reimagined entrance on Vine Street and some maintenance work.

The Elmwood branch will get some new paint, carpeting and other items of furniture, and the Reading location will receive some technology upgrades, starting with a new laptop kiosk.

“Now that we have a detailed plan, we can begin the work to bring these changes to life,” Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Library, wrote in a news release. "The second and third parts of the Facility Master Plan detail the vision to take each of these valued community spaces into the future to better serve our community."