University Heights Library Director Nancy Levin makes a point to residents who attended a visioning session to discuss ideas for the library’s upcoming renovation project.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – University
Heights Library patrons met with library officials Thursday night to share
renovation ideas.
Thirteen people attended the
event – dubbed as a visioning session by library officials – in which they talked
about what changes they would like to see in an upcoming renovation project.
Following are the top five
issues brought up at the meeting.
1. Residents want the building to have a back door
accessible from the parking lot.
Access to the library’s
parking lot is off Fenwick Drive and parking spaces are located at the rear of
the building. The library’s entrance is at the front of the
building off Cedar Road. Patrons who park their cars in the lot must walk
around the building to enter the library and do the same when returning to
their cars. Those at the meeting said they would like to have a second entrance
at the rear of the library, directly off the parking lot.
2. Residents want restrooms on the first floor.
The library has two levels. The only two restrooms – one for men and one for
women – are located on the lower level.
Patrons must go down a set of
stairs or use a lift to access the restrooms. There is no elevator.
3. Residents want a bigger parking lot.
The library lot has 37
parking spaces and on-street parking is available along Fenwick Road. When those
spaces are filled, patrons must park across the street from the library in a
shopping center lot on Cedar Road.
4. Residents want to see nicer landscaping.
One resident said the
library’s landscaping needs to be better maintained. Library Director Nancy
Levin said some of the flowerbeds will be replaced with grass that will be mowed and is easier to maintain.
5. Residents want the library to maintain its cozy,
intimate feel.
Some said the library is
small and intimate compared to libraries in other communities. While they welcome
renovations, they don’t want the library to become too large and cold.
“Our customers had great
ideas about how to improve the branch, and it was clear from their enthusiasm
how much they care about their library,” library spokeswoman Sheryl
Banks said.
The library was built in 1952. The last renovation project
was in 1997 and included updates to the heating system, the addition of air
conditioning on the lower level and display areas, as well as rewiring of the entire
building.
Library officials say goals
for the next remodel include better access for library visitors of all ages,
more efficient and sustainable energy updates and a comfortable environment
with enduring aesthetics.
This was the first of five
visioning sessions set at various locations in University Heights. The
remaining sessions will be at:
• 7 p.m. Tuesday at Gearity
Professional Development School, 2323 Wrenford Road;
• 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at Whole
Foods Market at Cedar Center, 13998 Cedar Road;
• 7 p.m. Feb. 4 in Donahue
Auditorium at the Dolan Center for Science and Technology at John Carroll
University, 1 John Carroll Blvd.; and
• 2 p.m. Feb. 13 during
Senior Happenings at the University Heights library.
All sessions are open to the
public, and registration is not required. There also will be online and paper
surveys for those who cannot attend the sessions.
“We can’t wait to hear what other residents
and customers have to say at our next four sessions and hope we’ll get some big
turnouts,” Banks said.
Call the library at
216-932-3600 for more information.
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