The John McIntire Library Remodel

Library News You Can Use: Remodel Updates

10/1/2025

Fall is here! It’s one of my favorite times of year, with crisp air in the mornings and evenings spent around a fire with friends, family, or a good book.

Everywhere I go, people stop and ask how the remodel is going and when we will be fully reopened at John McIntire. So, I’d like to provide an update on the John McIntire Library remodel.

Major milestones in the last few months include:

  Receiving the steel beams to open up the lobby

  Framing new spaces, including meeting rooms, a teen area, and the   new children’s space, to better serve visitors of all ages

  Demolition of the lobby staircase, making the entrance brighter and   more welcoming

We are currently on track to be fully reopened by June 1, 2026.                          Paul Construction Company, Inc. and APG Architects have been great partners for the library on this project.

Part of the challenge has been working with two connected buildings, one from 1908 and the other from 1989. Our team has been great at identifying issues and addressing them as the project has progressed. Thank you to our generous local foundations and community members for coming together to support the project and helping us to create an even more vibrant library for the community.

I hope you enjoy these photos of the transformation thus far.

9/23/2024

We are thrilled to announce a major transformation coming to MCLS! Over the last year, we have worked with our Board of Trustees and APG Architects to reimagine the John McIntire Library. It has been thirty-three years since the library has had a remodel of this magnitude. 

Thanks to your valuable input during our community conversations in 2022, we heard about what you want to see in your library and community in the future. These meetings made it clear we need to update our infrastructure to provide the library our community deserves. Here is an overview of a few updates coming to the John McIntire Library.

The Lower Level will have our reimagined children’s space where kids can experience the library in a fun area filled with wonderful books for all levels of readers. The Storytime Room and the Auditorium will be next door for enhanced programming opportunities. It will be bright and colorful,           featuring engaging STEAM activities that will encourage our young community members to play and grow essential skills.

The Main Level will feature a comfortable, quiet reading room, fresh adult and teen collections, a versatile makerspace, and a vibrant teen space.

The Second Level Mezzanines will offer many new meeting spaces with teleconferencing technology, an expanded Family History Center, and a new space for the Friends of the Library Bookstore.

We plan to add more family restrooms to each floor, increase technology to meet new demands, and organize our collections to make them more accessible to the entire community. 

The MCLS Board and staff have long been excellent stewards of our buildings and capital funds. To further this vision, we are launching a campaign to raise $500,000 for the John McIntire Library remodel. This campaign is different from our operating levy, which covers daily expenses such as library materials, utility bills, and routine maintenance. Campaign funds will be dedicated to major renovations and infrastructure upgrades.

We are excited about this new chapter and believe the remodel will greatly benefit our community. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey.  Your contributions, ideas, and enthusiasm are what will make this project a success. Your support is crucial in making this transformation possible. Together, we can create a vibrant and welcoming library that honors our past and moves toward a bright future. 

Stacey Russell, Executive Director

FAQs

Is the John McIntire Closing Completely?

No, a new temporary location called “Mini Mac” will be opened on the ground floor of the Carnegie Wing of the John McIntire Library. Many community members may recall this as the former “Junior Library” before the 1990s wing was added.

How do I get into the temporary location?

The temporary John McIntire Library (Mini Mac) will be accessible from the north parking lot between the library and I-70 using the ramp and door closest to Fifth Street.

What can I do in the temporary John McIntire Library (Mini Mac)?

Mini Mac will operate much like our branch libraries. You can place and pick up holds, use a computer or the wifi, print or scan documents, get technology help, and browse and discover new items to checkout. Most of our programming will be at our branch libraries or with community partners.

What is going to happen to all of the display space?

The John McIntire Library will not have display space during the remodel. Many of our branches have display space that can be coordinated with each individual branch. After the remodel is complete, we will have more display space than we currently have.

When will construction begin, and how long will it last?
Construction began in October 2024 and will be completed in late Spring 2026. Construction is estimated to take approximately 14-16 months.

What is the cost, and where did the money come from?
The current estimated project cost is approximately $9.8 million. The MCLS Board of Trustees set aside $5.5 million from the library’s Building and Maintenance Fund and an additional $500,000 from our Legacy Fund, which is accumulated by unrestricted large donations made to the library. The remaining funds have come from grants and donations.

Are you adding square footage to the building?
No additions will be made to the library’s physical footprint. However, we will gain more square footage for public spaces by better utilizing the space we currently use for storage.

What will happen to the John McIntire Staff?
Our intention is to retain all staff. They will be utilized in various ways, including increased outreach and at branch library locations.

What will happen to the collection?
Staff will continue adding items at their regular schedule throughout the renovation process. More collections will be available at all branch library locations, and outreach stops throughout the county will increase. Some items (extra copies, history titles, etc.) from the John McIntire Library will be stored for safekeeping and returned to the shelves upon reopening. Our partnership with the SearchOhio and OhioLINK consortiums will continue, ensuring that patrons have access to 60 million+ physical items. An increase in digital collections budgeting has started, which makes it a great time to try Libby, hoopla, or Comics Plus.

What can we expect when the library reopens in 2026?

• 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 security.
• The Lower Level will feature a new children’s space adjacent to our storytime 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.
• The Main Level will feature an inviting lobby, a quiet reading room, a designated teen area, a business center, a versatile makerspace, and an additional restroom.
• The Second Level will create a new space for the Friends of the Library Bookstore, expand the Genealogy Library, add ten (10) new meeting spaces, and add two (2) additional restrooms.

How do I stay updated about the remodel?
Follow us on social media, visit our website, or sign up for our digital newsletter. We will provide many updates and communications about the remodel as it happens through our digital presence.

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