Defiance Public Library held a community information session on January 15, 2024, to discuss plans for a new library annex across from its main location at 320 Fort St. The session aimed to provide updates and address questions from attendees regarding the construction project. The library has engaged Cincinnati-based design firm SHP, which was chosen from a pool of 13 applicants, to oversee the design of the new annex and renovations to the historic Carnegie building.
SHP, a firm with over 124 years of experience, has collaborated with 14 library systems in the past five years. According to a library media release, schematic drawings for the annex are expected to be finalized by the end of December 2023 or early January 2024. The proposed design includes a first floor dedicated to the Children’s Services Department, while the second floor will feature a large community room, a maker space, and office space for an adult literacy coordinator.
Community Needs and Project Goals
The new community room will serve multiple purposes, accommodating library programs as well as events hosted by local government and nonprofit organizations. “A theme that has reappeared to me was lack of community spaces, so this is a way not only to fulfill the library needs, but also to address an issue within the community that has been known to us for a number of years now,” stated Cara Potter, Director of the Defiance Public Library System (DPLS).
The need for additional space has become increasingly clear, particularly noted during a recent event with Santa on December 5, 2023. Chris Korhn, a member of the DPLS board, highlighted the growing attendance at storytime sessions, book groups, and local history clubs, which have outgrown the current facilities. “We’re thinking about sightlines, landscaping, and how to make it all fit together,” Potter explained. “It has to fit into the neighborhood without overwhelming the abutting housing or this building. We want continuity.”
Funding and Future Events
To finance the estimated total project budget of $5.3 million, DPLS plans to raise $2.5 million through fundraising efforts. A campaign is set to launch in January 2024, with a ticketed event scheduled for January 24, 2024, where the schematic drawings will be unveiled to the public. “Our board has been wonderful and supportive throughout this process, and so have many of our community members, which has been appreciated,” said Potter.
For additional information about the annex project or to subscribe for email updates, interested parties can visit defiancelibrary.org/annex. Fact sheets and further details are also available at the Defiance Public Library. This initiative reflects the library’s commitment to enhancing community services and addressing the growing needs of its patrons.
