New Union Township Library Opening
Immediate Release
January 13, 2012
Batavia, Ohio. The new Union Township Branch of the Clermont County Public Library will have a grand opening on Sunday, January 29, 2012 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The more than $5 million facility is housed in the former Ryan’s Steakhouse, located at 4450 Glen Este-Withamsville Road. “This will be the largest of the 10 Clermont County Public Libraries, at 20,729 square feet,” said Clermont Public Library Executive Director David Mezack. “I think the community will be excited to see all that we have to offer!”
The first thing a visitor to the new library will probably notice is that the design theme is based on the colors of nature. Carpeting, furnishings, and even shelving is shades of brown, green, and blue; images of creatures of the forest are used to embellish library chairs and paw prints can be spotted on the ceiling in the children’s section. “We worked hard to make this library energy efficient,” said Mezack, pointing to the abundance of natural light streaming in from windows throughout the structure and a variety of energy saving lights visible on the ceiling; the staggered ceiling resembles clouds that seem to float over the numerous shelves of books and DVD’s.
“We have 25 computers that are available to citizens with an additional five computers in the teen area and four more in the early learning center,” said Mezack. “The teen corner of the library has a colorful magnetic bulletin board, tube lighting, and colorful comfy chairs to read or study.”
Mezack said he and his staff have spent years studying what works well in other libraries and working the best designs into the plans for this new library. “We have plug-ins on top of desks to enable visitors to connect their laptop computers, and lots of comfortable seating to do research or leisurely reading,” he said. “We invite the community to reserve our conference room and to watch programming and events airing on flat screen televisions in various parts of the library.” This library will let you do a self check-out, but staff members are available to help, if needed.
To watch an interview with Mezack and see the new library, visit the website www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0KEvIYoTsA.
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For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathy Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@ clermontcountyohio.gov.