Library System plans a $9M upgrade to McIntire Library with work to begin in October

ZANESVILLE − The Muskingum County Library System is set to start construction in October for a $9M upgrade to the downtown John McIntire Library at 220 N 5th St., which will feature renovations it says are necessary to keep pace with the changing technological and social needs of its patrons.

“It has been 33 years since the addition was added and opened in 1991. During those 33 years, the library refreshed its spaces and made small structural improvements,” said Executive Director Stacey Russell. “As you can imagine, libraries and library services have changed immensely.”

Russell said the remodel honors the legacy of library service while also “providing the resources needed by our community to thrive in our fast-paced and ever-changing world.”

In 2023, John McIntire Library had 241,862 library visits, a 12% increase from 2022.

“Once the Construction Manager at Risk is fully on board, we will begin to solidify the schedule,” Russell said. The expected completion date is the spring of 2026.

Russell said no physical additions are being made, but the building will gain square footage for public spaces by better utilizing current storage space.

“We will also build new meeting spaces on the east mezzanine on the Sixth Street side of the building and add new restrooms on every floor of the east side of the building,” she said.

Additionally, Russell said, the lower level will feature a new children’s space adjacent to the story time room and the auditorium, a flexible meeting space, and an additional family restroom. The children’s space will provide library materials and STEAM and STEM activities, she added.

“The main level will feature a quiet reading room, a designated teen area, a business center, and a versatile maker space as well as an additional restroom. The second level will create a new space for the Friends of the Library Bookstore, an expansion of the Family History Center (genealogy library), 10 new meeting spaces, and two additional restrooms.”

Russell said all floors will feature enhanced technology infrastructure, including technology in all meeting spaces for collaboration with others and virtual or hybrid meetings.

“All areas will receive new paint, flooring, updated lighting, and upgraded lighting and security,” she added.

The addition to the Carnegie Wing of the library will be closed for the entire remodel, said Russell, but the first floor of the Carnegie Wing will be reopened to the public as a temporary location during the renovation.

“This is where our children’s area was before the addition was added in the early 1990s,” she said. “Our decision to open a small temporary location…will allow our patrons to continue to visit and use the (library) while the remodel is underway.”

Funding the project

Half of the $9M to complete the project has been secured. According to Russell, the MCLS Board of Trustees set aside $4 million from the library’s Building and Maintenance Fund with an additional $500,000 from the Legacy Fund for the project.

“The Legacy Fund is accumulated by unrestricted donations made to the library,” she said.

The remaining $4.5M has yet to be covered, Russell said.

“The library has applied for various funds available through the State of Ohio,” she said. “Those include the Appalachian Community Grant through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund through the Ohio Senate and Senator Al Landis, and the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Grant through the Ohio Facilities Commission.”

She said the library will also conduct a community engagement and awareness campaign later this year to assist in securing the remaining funds.

Russell said the remodel will transform the McIntire library into a dynamic hub for the community, offering resources and services to address low literacy, food insecurity, and digital literacy gaps.

“Specifically, new children's, teen, and maker spaces will be designed to inspire learning and creativity,” said Russell. “This remodel is a cornerstone of the Downtown Gateway project and aligns with the library's mission to connect people with information, ideas, and each other.” The Gateway project was announced in April 2023. The initial plan sought to turn the area around the Zanesville-Muskingum County Welcome Center and Secrest Auditorium into new entertainment district, with improvements made to the auditorium and a new open-air market and restaurant on the grounds of the Welcome Center. At the time, officials said the plans are fluid and changing. City officials are currently working to secure grants and funding for the project which will exceed $10 million.

Once the remodel of the main library is complete, the MCLS will address its other branches. It currently has six locations to maintain.

“The board has adopted a facilities plan that will ensure all facilities are maintained in a manner that is safe and enjoyable for members of the communities we serve,” she said. “Once the John McIntire remodel is complete, we will begin to work on branch locations.”

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: McIntire Library to receive $9M upgrade