April 20 Summit County Council meeting
Covered by Documenter Jae’la Jetter (see the notes here)
A major renovation project for the Akron-Summit County Public Library is moving ahead, with the first branch closures now underway as part of a $160 million, voter-approved plan to modernize all 19 library buildings.
Summit County Council advanced legislation April 20 allowing bonds to be issued for the project, clearing the way for construction to begin.
Voters approved the 20-year, 1-mill bond issue in May of 2025, dedicating $160 million exclusively to building and infrastructure upgrades across the library system. The work is expected to take six to eight years to complete and will touch every location.
Akron-Summit County Public Library branches begin to close
The first phase of renovations is already affecting library access in several communities. The Tallmadge branch closed March 16 and is expected to remain closed through the summer of 2027. The Ellet branch is scheduled to close Saturday, May 9, followed by Nordonia Hills on Aug. 1. Both are expected to remain closed through the summer of 2027.
Library officials say branches will close during construction, but services will continue through bookmobiles and off-site programming.
In Tallmadge, for example, a bookmobile is already providing limited browsing, returns and hold pickups on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the library parking lot.
Library buildings average age is 24 years old
The renovations are being rolled out in phases, typically three branches at a time, to limit disruptions. The first group of branches was prioritized due to aging infrastructure, including roof conditions.
The system’s buildings average about 24 years old, and many require significant repairs, including roofs, parking lots, flooring and furnishings. Library leaders have said the project is intended to address long-term maintenance needs while updating spaces to better support technology, collaboration and modern library use.
In addition to branch renovations, the Main Library in downtown Akron will undergo a separate, phased renovation designed to keep as much of the building open as possible during construction. A new standalone building is also planned for the Springfield-Lakemore branch.
Additional closures will follow in future phases — timelines for those branches have not yet been finalized.
Library officials say they will continue sharing updates as the project moves forward.
