The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County released a new long-term plan to guide the future of its buildings and services. The ten-year roadmap covers the main library, 13 branches, and the community engagement department.

The plan is the result of a study conducted by the design firm Bialosky and the consulting group Library Strategies. To create these recommendations, the team reviewed local data and gathered feedback from more than 1,200 residents and 120 library employees.

The report introduces a new way to organize libraries based on the needs of each area. The Main Library in downtown Youngstown serves as the primary hub for the entire system. Larger regional locations called Resource Hubs will offer expanded meeting rooms and specialized technology. Mid-sized Community Branches will focus on the daily needs of their specific neighborhoods. Smaller Express Branches will provide essential services and focused programs in a more compact space.

Several major construction and renovation projects are highlighted as high priorities. The library in Austintown is scheduled for a major renovation to modernize the interior and create better spaces for teenagers. In Poland, the plan recommends building a new 15,000-square-foot library at a different location. The current building has serious structural problems and moisture issues that are too expensive to fix, according to the study. The report specifically highlights that the Poland branch faces unique environmental challenges due to its proximity to a creek.

The Poland facility alone is estimated to cost more than $6 million to maintain if the system keeps the current building. Maintenance costs for other branches are estimated to range from roughly $250,000 to nearly $2.6 million each. Potential renovations, relocation, and new build costs could approach $50 million in total.

The report also calls for a new building in Sebring to better serve that rural community. In another move, the plan suggests merging the Struthers and Brownlee Woods branches into a single new facility because those two locations serve many of the same people. Additionally, the department that manages mobile services and outreach will receive a permanent home.

The library intends to pay for the improvements using its existing budget. This means the system does not plan to ask for new taxes or take on debt to complete the work.

"PLYMC's strength is our ability to adapt as the county changes while remaining fiscally responsible," Trustee Ron Strollo stated. "This plan takes a countywide view and gives us clear, realistic recommendations to guide future decisions."

Despite changes in the local population, the number of people with library cards has grown by more than five percent since 2017. Residents who want to read the full document can find it on the library website.

The PLYMC 10-Year Facilities Masterplan can be found on the library's website along with a full list of branches.