Capital improvements coming to several Lorain Public Library branches

LORAIN — Improvements are coming to several local libraries. New roofs for the South and Main branches, pavement projects at the southside branch and a new elevator for the Lorain Public Library's Main Branch are just a few projects coming later this year and into 2026. A portion of local library levies is put aside for each branch's capital improvements. The Lorain Library System's Board of Trustees approved contracts for renovation projects not to exceed about $2 million. Jennifer Black, director of marketing and public relations, said the goal is to keep branches open during improvements unless there are unforeseen circumstances. Main Branch Work at the Main Branch on West Sixth Street includes redesigning its first floor to combine its circulation and information desks and place its security guard station at the center of the space. The Main Branch includes its original building, built in 1957, and an addition put on in 1985. The roof on the original structure is about 43 years old, while the roof on the addition is about 28 years old. Both will be replaced for about $1 million. A retention wall between the driveway and parking lot, as well as the fence separating the two, will be replaced as well. The retention wall will be the first of the big projects at the branch and will impact patron's parking in the first row where handicap spots are currently located, Black said. Handicap parking will be moved one row back to accommodate construction, and the alley will be cordoned off. The alleyway's closure will impact delivery services, but not patrons. Elevator work will have the biggest impact to library patrons, Black said. The branch's second floor will remain operational during that work, and if a visitor needs something from the second floor's collection and cannot take the stairs, staff will retrieve it for them. "We had hoped to begin the elevator project by now, but it is taking longer than expected to get the necessary parts," Black said. "Because that project in particular will affect patrons, we will not begin work until all necessary parts and equipment are on-site so as to not delay the down time." The Main Branch's technical services staff have temporarily moved to the first floor until the elevator work is complete. The technical services department catalogues items moving through the library system, and the sheer volume necessitates access to the elevator, Black said. That department's temporary move to the first floor has temporarily displaced the library's Spanish collection, which moved to another part of the branch, and the branch manager's office, which relocated to a room on the second floor. South Branch The south side library will receive a new roof, replacing the current one that is original to the 25-year-old building. Pavement projects at the South Branch include new concrete around the catch basins and repairing a 6-inch sinkhole along the driveway. It will also replace its entryway and parking lot ramps and repave and restripe the parking lot. Domonkas Branch The Sheffield Lake branch will see new HVAC controls so the system can be set on timers and controlled off-site. That work has started, Black said, and will not impact library patrons. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.