The spectacular new Avon branch of the Lorain Public Library System promises the latest technology wrapped around a slew of fun things to do
By Laura Briedis
A quick snip of the ribbon made it official earlier this month. The highly anticipated, newly expanded Avon branch of the Lorain Public Library System is now open.
Following a collaborative journey that included a year-long study process gathering input from the community, the end game is a remarkable facility (27,000 square feet) that’s three times the size of the original, expanded into its own adjacent footprint on land the system already owned. Ground was broken in summer of 2021 and, making good on a promise from library officials, they stayed open to serve the community throughout construction.
I spent the afternoon with Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, who is director of the Lorain Public Library System and Donna Kelly-Sprinkle, Avon branch manager, to get a behind-the-scenes tour and insider’s perspective of the impressive new facility.
A Special Place for Family Time
A large portion of the library is devoted to families. Colorful, modern, inviting and open, it houses intentional dedicated areas, such as the Kathy Petersen Story Time Room named in memory of the longtime Friends of the Library president, as well as the Round Room, which caters to younger children with picture books and quiet play nooks for youngsters and their caregivers.
A fully magnetized, semi-enclosed play zone sits adjacent to a stage and play area, with an interactive toy kitchen. Every thoughtful amenity is found here, including a private lounge for moms who might need a place to nurse or for caregivers with children who could benefit from a “time-out.”
The Most Requested Item
“Everything we’ve done is the result of engaging in conversation with the community,” says Anastasia. “They served us a wish list and we listened.”
During the planning, members of the community were asked to list their priorities for the new facility in terms of importance. Donna reports the highest-rated feature was a drive-up window to pick up library holds and serve as a book drop.
“It’s perfect for busy people who don’t have time to run in or others who might not want to leave their cars in the bitterly cold winter,” says Donna.
There is an endless myriad of other features that will impress even the most diehard library lover. Here are just a few:
• Surrounded by stained glass windows preserved from the original library is the outdoor Reading Garden, with designated sections for younger and older readers, fenced off from the road for quiet and seclusion.
• A teen area with ample study spaces, including a sound-proof studio for those who want to practice an instrument, record a podcast or listen to a webinar.
• The Norton Family Foundation Demonstration Kitchen, which includes state-of-the-art culinary equipment with large overhead monitors to display all the action for an audience. (Look for a host of cooking classes, such as Kitchen Knife Skills, coming early this spring.)
• A quiet reading room in the adult section, which includes a cozy fireplace, racks of all the latest magazines from every genre, a collection from local authors and a place to conduct genealogy research.
• There are plenty of rooms for meeting and tutoring, including smaller ones that seat two people, some for five to seven people to the large room that seats up to 150. A welcoming communal table is situated near the main entrance alongside vending machines to make grabbing a quick snack ultra-convenient.
• Dedicated passport studio—officially the only place in Avon where you can get both your photo and application handled to get a passport.
Pushing the Envelope
Want to perform a body scan and insert yourself into a video game? View and manipulate three-dimensional virtual reality imaging from a laptop, without goggles? Craft a prototype of a game piece with a 3D printer? How about embroider your own clothing, laser engrave wood and machine mill engineering parts?
Explore the wow factor and push the envelope of the latest tech for VR, imaging and creating at the Lorain Public Library System’s Avon Branch.
The Create Space boasts a Laser Engraver/Cutter, Embroidery Machine, Large Format Printer/Vinyl Cutter, Sublimation Printer, Heat Press, Cricut®, Sewing Machine, CNC Machine, 3D Printer and 3D Scanner.
It is available at no cost to ages 13 and older. A series of 101 programs are scheduled to teach patrons how to use the individual machines.
To register for a 101 program, or any of the other many program offerings at the renovated branch, visit LorainPublicLibrary.org/events.
There is a sneak peek tour of the south end of the building available on the library system’s website, but why watch it when you can experience it live and in person?
The Avon Branch Library is located at 37485 Harvest Drive in Avon. Other branches in the Lorain Public Library System include Columbia, Domonkas, North Ridgeville, the Main Lorain Branch and South Lorain. Call 440-934-4743 or visit LorainPublicLibrary.org for more information.