Area libraries say the need for their books, magazines, job centers and storytimes is greater than ever following the chaos and uncertainty of a pandemic year.
But a recently revealed plan by lawmakers to reduce the state s portion of the Public Library Fund that delivers nearly half of operating funding for Ohio s 251 library systems would be a hardship for some and catastrophic for many, library officials say. I would ask them to support the services that their constituents support, said George Needham, director of the Delaware County District Library system. I can t think of anything other than maybe roads that the state does that is used by a larger percentage of the public than libraries.
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Jim Fischer
ThisWeek
With the cost of construction now set, work can begin in earnest on the Delaware County District Library’s new Liberty Branch Library.
DCDL officials in late February voted to accept a price projected by Columbus-based Marker Inc., not to exceed $12.22 million, for the building planned at the northwest corner of Home and Steitz roads.
DCDL board president Michael P. Butler said he was elated by the decision.
“We’re going to be the showcase in Ohio,” Butler said.
The price keeps the overall cost for the project, including land acquisition, at or slightly under budget, library spokesperson Nicole Fowles said.
The Delaware County District Library on Monday announced plans to reopen all library locations to walkthrough browsing and computer access as early as Mond
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ThisWeek Staff
ThisWeek
The Delaware County District Library has announced plans to reopen all library locations to walkthrough browsing and computer access as early as Feb. 22.
Delaware Main Library in downtown Delaware will open to the public Feb. 22, followed by the Orange and Powell branch libraries March 1 and the Ostrander branch March 2, according to a Feb. 8 news release from the library system.
“The numbers of new COVID-19 cases, emergency-department visits and outpatient visits in Delaware County are all declining and have been for several weeks,” library director George Needham said in the release.
When the library last closed its buildings for public browsing, conditions for reopening were dependent upon consistent declines in active cases, emergency-room visits and other COVID-19-dependent criteria, the release said.
At the regular meeting of the Delaware County District Library (DCDL) Board of Trustees on Tuesday, trustees swore in the slate of officers for 2021 and re