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The old Wilmington-Stroop building closed in December of 2017 and was demolished. The new building was paid for by voters who passed a bond issue in 2012.
The new building will feature a community room accessible before and after hours, a reflections-themed children’s area and dedicated teenEDGE space, a quiet reading room, a fireplace, outdoor patio, numerous public computers, Wi-Fi, laptop lending, a vending area and four art installations.
The project, one of 16 facilities that are in the library’s upgrade plan, and is part of a Wilmington Pike corridor that is growing with new business development as the city has invested millions of dollars to infrastructure improvements in this area.
The bond issue passed in November 2012 helped the library move along with the facilities plan. The 26-year bond issue will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $48 annually.
“This branch has something new and exciting for everyone to enjoy, but one of the highlights that I think people will notice right from the start is the wonderful natural light filtering in through all directions,” said Branch Manager Mike Hensel. “It truly is a welcoming beacon to the area.”
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Hensel said all of the renovation is part of the Libraries for a Smarter Future Facilities Plan. The plan involves rebuilding and expanding the Main Library in downtown Dayton, building 11 new branches in Brookville, East Dayton/Riverside, Huber Heights, Miamisburg, New Lebanon, Northmont, Northwest Dayton, Southeast Dayton, Trotwood, Vandalia, and West Dayton.
The plan also was devised to expand and renovate five branches: Electra C. Doren, Kettering-Moraine, Miami Twp., West Carrollton, and Wilmington-Stroop. The plan calls to move backroom functions in the branches to an operations center in a renovated historic building.
After being closed for nearly a year and a half and working elsewhere in the Dayton Metro Library system, the Wilmington-Stroop Branch staff are eager to get back to their community.
“Staff look forward to being together under one roof and reconnecting with our patrons,” Hensel said. “Even though we are just opening, we want everyone to know that the Summer Challenge is alive and well, so stop in to the new Wilmington-Stroop Branch Library to register, and join us for a variety of fun programs this summer.”
Children Services Librarian Melissa Sokol said that a special Quiet Tour of the new Library will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5, an hour before the library opens to the public.
“We’ve set aside this time to give our patrons with sensory needs the opportunity to explore and experience all the new features of their Library without the crowds and noise we anticipate during our first few weeks back in business,” Sokol said.
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Library to open
Some renovation highlights include:
Improved access and egress on Wilmington-Pike
Larger meeting room accessible to the community outside of library operating hours
Dedicated teen space
Larger children’s area
Enclosed quiet reading room with a fireplace
More computers
Outdoor reading terrace
Four group study rooms
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