Renovation Updates

Project Phases | Architect/General Contractor | Planned Improvements

UPDATE 10/11/2019:

  • Drive-up book returns and the drive-up window are back open. 
  • The upstairs is closed to the public for renovation.
  • Our new expanded ground floor lobby is set up with selections of the latest movies, music, as well as adult, teen, and children books to browse and check out.
  • Our children’s department and lower hallway is closed for renovation.
  • Genealogy services and Passports services are available by appointment.

UPDATE 9/03/2019:

  • A temporary book & av drop is set up near the new entrance. 
  • Drive-up book returns and drive-up window are temporarily closed due to brick work. 
  • The upstairs is closed to the public for renovation.
  • Our new expanded ground floor lobby is set up with selections of the latest movies, music, as well as adult, teen, and children books to browse and check out.
  • Our children’s department and lower hallway is closed for renovation.
  • Drive-up book returns and drive-up window are temporarily closed.
  • Genealogy services and Passports services are available by appointment.

UPDATE 8/19/2019:

  • The upstairs is closed to the public for renovation.
  • Our new expanded ground floor lobby is set up with selections of the latest movies, music, as well as adult, teen, and children books to browse and check out.
  • Our children’s department and lower hallway is closed for renovation.
  • Drive-up book returns and drive-up window are available.
  • Genealogy services and Passports services are available by appointment.

UPDATE 7/01/19:

  • The upstairs will be closed to the public for renovation.
  • Our new expanded ground floor lobby will be set up with selections of the latest movies, music, as well as adult and teen books to browse and check out.
  • Our children’s department will be open as usual throughout the summer.
  • Drive-up book returns are available.
  • Genealogy services and Passports services are available by appointment.

UPDATE 6/6/19:

County’s Main Library expected to reopen later this month

The County’s Main Library in New Philadelphia has been closed for parking lot upgrades and renovations since May 6th.  Re-opening the library, which had been hoped to occur in early June, will be delayed.

“We are working with our general contractor to re-open as quickly as possible,” said Director Michelle McMorrow Ramsell. “Right now, we anticipate and are hopeful that we will re-open to the public some time the week of June 17th.”

Ramsell said that while the library remains closed to the public that its partnership with Jim’s Place, owned by the First United Methodist Church and located at 228 West High Ave in New Philadelphia, will continue to be a place for the library to provide customers with service.

“We are very grateful that we will be able to continue to have Jim’s Place as an alternate location for customers to pick up their reserved materials,” said Ramsell. “Our staff will be in the front room of Jim’s Place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 11-5 with reserved materials and a small selection of recently returned materials for customers to browse and check out.”

In addition, Ramsell said that Main Library Summer Reading activities and programs, which kicked off this week, will not be impacted. Many programs were already planned to take place at off-site locations. Morning and afternoon storytimes, which had been planned to take place at the Main Library, will be held in the front section of Jim’s Place until the library re-opens.

According to the library, the biggest contributor to the delay has been the weather, which delayed the cement and asphalt work due to rain. If the weather cooperates, the contractor expects that the library’s two parking lots will be completed by mid-June. In addition to the weather, contractor work inside has been delayed some as well.

Ramsell stated that when the library re-opens to the public, customers will have access to the Children’s Department and the newly expanded ground floor lobby, which will be set up with movies, music, and adult and teen books to browse and check out. The upstairs area will be closed as the next phase of the project continues.

The County’s Main Library project is expected to be completed in late 2019. An auction of surplus materials is planned on Friday, June 21st at 10am. For more information about the County Library’s renovation, call 330-364-4474.

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Parking lot work is set to begin on May 6 and will take approximately four weeks to complete. The Library will have no handicap access while the parking lot work is being completed and will remain closed to the public during this time.

The Library's book drops will be set up in the parking lot of Jim's Place, which is located at 228 West High Ave in New Philadelphia. Customers may return materials to these book drops.

While the Main Library is closed, customers will continue to receive their holds and be able to place new holds via the library's website.

As holds arrive, staff will call customers to find out where they would like to pick up their materials. Alternate locations will include:

  • Jim's Place (front entrance) - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11am-5pm - West High Ave in New Philadelphia. 
  • Bolivar Branch Library - 455 Water Street W in Bolivar
  • Strasburg Branch Library - 356 5th Street SW in Strasburg
  • Sugarcreek Branch Library - 120 S Broadway in Sugarcreek
  • Tusky Branch Library - 209 South Main Street in Tuscarawas

Thank you for your patience.