Geauga County Public Library is pleased to announce that the preliminary plans for its new Chardon Branch and Administrative Center, located at 345 Park Avenue in Chardon, Ohio, received approval from the Chardon City Planning Commission during our most recent meeting on Thursday, April 2. This is a significant step forward for our project.

With this approval secured, Geauga County Public Library’s Administrative Department and its partners can begin to proceed with designing and implementing the early site package. Our current target is to break ground in July.

Geauga County Public Library is excited to share the preliminary plans for its new Chardon Branch and Administrative Center, located at 345 Park Avenue in Chardon, Ohio. These renderings offer a first look at our vision for the future Library facility. While this marks an exciting step forward for Library service in Chardon, the plans and specific details are still in development, and many elements may evolve before the branch opens.

Over the coming weeks, our Administrative Department, Board of Trustees, and Design Team will review the preliminary design with the Chardon Planning Commission, local officials, and library staff. Their feedback will help ensure the project delivers excellent library services while remaining within budget. This process will guide the refinement of the plans as the project moves into its next phase.

Construction planning for the new Chardon Branch continues to progress steadily, and we are pleased to share that the project now has an official address: 345 Park Avenue. Securing the address marks an important milestone, allowing us to fully align site planning, utility coordination, and design documentation. Our teams and partners are working collaboratively to keep the project on schedule as we move through the next phases of development.

As work advances, we remain committed to staying within the approved budget while delivering an up‑to‑date, functional, and welcoming space for the Chardon community. Each design decision is being carefully evaluated to balance financial responsibility with our goal of creating a vibrant library environment that reflects community needs and supports future growth. We look forward to maintaining this momentum and keeping the community informed as the project moves forward.

A Smarter Space, A Stronger Community: Geauga County Public Library’s Administrative Move Explained

As part of our ongoing efforts to operate more efficiently, Geauga County Public Library has begun the process of moving its Administrative Center to a shared space within the soon-to-be constructed Chardon Branch at 367 Park Avenue, Chardon, OH 44024.

Why the Move?

The current Administrative Center, located at 12701 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon, was constructed approximately 30 years ago. Advances in technology and changes in workflows have allowed us to streamline library services and operations in key departments like Fiscal Services, Technical Services, and IT. As a result, we now require less physical space to operate as efficiently as we did 30 years ago.

By consolidating our administrative operations into the Library’s new Chardon Branch, we will eliminate the need for a separate facility and reduce overhead costs for routine maintenance, HVAC system updates, and parking lot repairs. These types of expenses have risen sharply in recent years, and this move is a proactive step toward long-term savings and achieving our goal of fiscal responsibility.

A Win for the Community

While we’re downsizing our footprint, we’re not stepping back from service. In fact, this change allows us to reinvest in what matters most – our community, our collections, our programs, and our patrons. Better yet, the space we’re vacating won’t sit empty. Geauga County plans to repurpose the building to house the Department on Aging, ensuring that the facility remains a valuable resource for the county.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, this move positions Geauga County Public Library for greater fiscal stability and operational efficiency, helping ensure we can continue to grow and innovate in the years ahead. As always, our mission remains the same: to engage our patrons, inspire learning, and strengthen our community through access to information and resources.

Geauga County Commissioners to Purchase Geauga County Public Library Administration Building for New Senior Center

The Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) and the Geauga County Board of Commissioners are proud to announce a strategic partnership that underscores a shared commitment to community well-being, fiscal responsibility, and innovation in public service. The County has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase GCPL’s Administrative Center at 12701 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon for $3.2 million and repurpose it as the new permanent home of the Geauga County Department on Aging’s Chardon Senior Center.

This forward-thinking collaboration is intended to enhance access to programs and services for the county’s senior residents, while enabling the Library to consolidate operations for long-term cost efficiency. This represents a significant milestone for both institutions — one rooted in a vision of sustainability, accessibility, and service excellence.

“For years, we’ve been searching for a permanent home for our Chardon Senior Center,” said Jessica Boalt, Director of the Geauga County Department on Aging. “Now, that vision is closer to becoming a reality.”

As part of the agreement, GCPL will maintain a temporary presence in the building during the planned transition period to ensure uninterrupted services. Once the transition is complete, the Library’s administrative and support staff will relocate to the newly constructed Chardon Branch, which features dedicated office space designed to consolidate central operations under one roof.

“This is a win-win for the Library and the County,” said Kris Carroll, Library Director. “By co-locating our administrative offices with the new Chardon Branch, we’re streamlining operations, reducing overhead, and ensuring that our resources are used in the most efficient and community-focused way possible.” This move supports the Library’s long-term strategic plan. By consolidating facilities, GCPL can lower maintenance costs and reinvest those savings into enhancing patron services.

“This process highlights the power of cooperation in local government,” said James W. Dvorak, President of the Geauga County Board of Commissioners. “The plan is to turn a valuable public asset into a multi-use facility that benefits our senior population and helps meet the evolving needs of our County.”

Next Steps and What to Expect

The transition process will be managed in stages. The County will begin negotiating a purchase and sales agreement and a lease, in addition to preliminary space planning and design for renovations tailored to senior programming in the coming months. Further updates on the project will be shared by the County and GCPL through their official communication channels.

We want to hear from you! Connect with us at our Chardon Branch on March 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM or March 21, 2025, at 1:30 PM and help us shape the future of our new branch with questions and your thoughts.

We have some exciting news about our new Chardon Branch! Geauga County Public Library’s Board of Trustees have officially selected Bostwick Design Partnership as the architect for our new Chardon Branch project. Bostwick Design Partnership is an excellent partner for this project with over 62 years of experience designing innovative library spaces and a strong commitment to community engagement.

Geauga County Public Library’s Board of Trustees are now accepting qualifications from design professionals to provide services for our new Chardon Branch project. The project will include design and construction administration services for a new Chardon Branch building, located on Park Avenue.

Interested firms may request a request for quotation (RFQ) from Lisa Havlin, Fiscal Officer. Qualifications will be accepted until November 22, 2024, 4:45 PM, local time.

We are excited to share an important update about the future of the Chardon Branch. At last night’s Board meeting, the Board approved the purchase of just over 20 acres of vacant land on Park Avenue, commonly known as “Bridle Downs.” This will be the site of our brand-new Chardon Branch.

We know the Chardon Branch has been a beloved part of the town square for many years, and leaving the square is bittersweet for all of us. We explored many possibilities to remain on the square, but ultimately, we were unable to meet the needs of the community in our current location. While this is a change, the new location offers many exciting benefits and will allow us to better serve our community in the long term.

Here are some highlights of what the new location will offer:

Location: The new site will be located close to the square and within walking distance for many Chardon residents. Additionally, it will have more parking, making it easier for everyone to visit.

Improved Meeting Spaces: The current branch has limited meeting space that is always in demand. The new location will provide larger and more flexible spaces to meet the needs of patrons, local organizations, and the community at large.

Accessibility for All: We are designing the new branch with accessibility in mind to ensure that everyone can easily access our resources and services.

Expanded Learning and Quiet Areas: The new branch will offer a balance of spaces-areas for active learning and family engagement, as well as dedicated quiet spaces for study and reflection.

While we cherish our history on the square, this new location provides an exciting opportunity to grow and serve the Chardon community in new ways. Our current branch has served us well, and we’re proud of the programs and services we’ve provided in that space. The new branch, however, will allow us to better accommodate evolving needs while maintaining our commitment to excellent service.

We understand you may have questions, and we’ll continue to share updates as we move forward. Our website will be updated regularly or feel free to reach out to us directly.

Thank you for your continued support of the library!

Geauga County Public Library is pleased to announce that the preliminary plans for its new Chardon Branch and Administrative Center, located at 345 Park Avenue in Chardon, Ohio, received approval from the Chardon City Planning Commission during our most recent meeting on Thursday, April 2. This is a significant step forward for our project.

With this approval secured, Geauga County Public Library’s Administrative Department and its partners can begin to proceed with designing and implementing the early site package. Our current target is to break ground in July.

Geauga County Public Library is excited to share the preliminary plans for its new Chardon Branch and Administrative Center, located at 345 Park Avenue in Chardon, Ohio. These renderings offer a first look at our vision for the future Library facility. While this marks an exciting step forward for Library service in Chardon, the plans and specific details are still in development, and many elements may evolve before the branch opens.

Over the coming weeks, our Administrative Department, Board of Trustees, and Design Team will review the preliminary design with the Chardon Planning Commission, local officials, and library staff. Their feedback will help ensure the project delivers excellent library services while remaining within budget. This process will guide the refinement of the plans as the project moves into its next phase.

Construction planning for the new Chardon Branch continues to progress steadily, and we are pleased to share that the project now has an official address: 345 Park Avenue. Securing the address marks an important milestone, allowing us to fully align site planning, utility coordination, and design documentation. Our teams and partners are working collaboratively to keep the project on schedule as we move through the next phases of development.

As work advances, we remain committed to staying within the approved budget while delivering an up‑to‑date, functional, and welcoming space for the Chardon community. Each design decision is being carefully evaluated to balance financial responsibility with our goal of creating a vibrant library environment that reflects community needs and supports future growth. We look forward to maintaining this momentum and keeping the community informed as the project moves forward.

A Smarter Space, A Stronger Community: Geauga County Public Library’s Administrative Move Explained

As part of our ongoing efforts to operate more efficiently, Geauga County Public Library has begun the process of moving its Administrative Center to a shared space within the soon-to-be constructed Chardon Branch at 367 Park Avenue, Chardon, OH 44024.

Why the Move?

The current Administrative Center, located at 12701 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon, was constructed approximately 30 years ago. Advances in technology and changes in workflows have allowed us to streamline library services and operations in key departments like Fiscal Services, Technical Services, and IT. As a result, we now require less physical space to operate as efficiently as we did 30 years ago.

By consolidating our administrative operations into the Library’s new Chardon Branch, we will eliminate the need for a separate facility and reduce overhead costs for routine maintenance, HVAC system updates, and parking lot repairs. These types of expenses have risen sharply in recent years, and this move is a proactive step toward long-term savings and achieving our goal of fiscal responsibility.

A Win for the Community

While we’re downsizing our footprint, we’re not stepping back from service. In fact, this change allows us to reinvest in what matters most – our community, our collections, our programs, and our patrons. Better yet, the space we’re vacating won’t sit empty. Geauga County plans to repurpose the building to house the Department on Aging, ensuring that the facility remains a valuable resource for the county.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, this move positions Geauga County Public Library for greater fiscal stability and operational efficiency, helping ensure we can continue to grow and innovate in the years ahead. As always, our mission remains the same: to engage our patrons, inspire learning, and strengthen our community through access to information and resources.

Geauga County Commissioners to Purchase Geauga County Public Library Administration Building for New Senior Center

The Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) and the Geauga County Board of Commissioners are proud to announce a strategic partnership that underscores a shared commitment to community well-being, fiscal responsibility, and innovation in public service. The County has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase GCPL’s Administrative Center at 12701 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon for $3.2 million and repurpose it as the new permanent home of the Geauga County Department on Aging’s Chardon Senior Center.

This forward-thinking collaboration is intended to enhance access to programs and services for the county’s senior residents, while enabling the Library to consolidate operations for long-term cost efficiency. This represents a significant milestone for both institutions — one rooted in a vision of sustainability, accessibility, and service excellence.

“For years, we’ve been searching for a permanent home for our Chardon Senior Center,” said Jessica Boalt, Director of the Geauga County Department on Aging. “Now, that vision is closer to becoming a reality.”

As part of the agreement, GCPL will maintain a temporary presence in the building during the planned transition period to ensure uninterrupted services. Once the transition is complete, the Library’s administrative and support staff will relocate to the newly constructed Chardon Branch, which features dedicated office space designed to consolidate central operations under one roof.

“This is a win-win for the Library and the County,” said Kris Carroll, Library Director. “By co-locating our administrative offices with the new Chardon Branch, we’re streamlining operations, reducing overhead, and ensuring that our resources are used in the most efficient and community-focused way possible.” This move supports the Library’s long-term strategic plan. By consolidating facilities, GCPL can lower maintenance costs and reinvest those savings into enhancing patron services.

“This process highlights the power of cooperation in local government,” said James W. Dvorak, President of the Geauga County Board of Commissioners. “The plan is to turn a valuable public asset into a multi-use facility that benefits our senior population and helps meet the evolving needs of our County.”

Next Steps and What to Expect

The transition process will be managed in stages. The County will begin negotiating a purchase and sales agreement and a lease, in addition to preliminary space planning and design for renovations tailored to senior programming in the coming months. Further updates on the project will be shared by the County and GCPL through their official communication channels.

We want to hear from you! Connect with us at our Chardon Branch on March 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM or March 21, 2025, at 1:30 PM and help us shape the future of our new branch with questions and your thoughts.

We have some exciting news about our new Chardon Branch! Geauga County Public Library’s Board of Trustees have officially selected Bostwick Design Partnership as the architect for our new Chardon Branch project. Bostwick Design Partnership is an excellent partner for this project with over 62 years of experience designing innovative library spaces and a strong commitment to community engagement.

Geauga County Public Library’s Board of Trustees are now accepting qualifications from design professionals to provide services for our new Chardon Branch project. The project will include design and construction administration services for a new Chardon Branch building, located on Park Avenue.

Interested firms may request a request for quotation (RFQ) from Lisa Havlin, Fiscal Officer. Qualifications will be accepted until November 22, 2024, 4:45 PM, local time.

We are excited to share an important update about the future of the Chardon Branch. At last night’s Board meeting, the Board approved the purchase of just over 20 acres of vacant land on Park Avenue, commonly known as “Bridle Downs.” This will be the site of our brand-new Chardon Branch.

We know the Chardon Branch has been a beloved part of the town square for many years, and leaving the square is bittersweet for all of us. We explored many possibilities to remain on the square, but ultimately, we were unable to meet the needs of the community in our current location. While this is a change, the new location offers many exciting benefits and will allow us to better serve our community in the long term.

Here are some highlights of what the new location will offer:

Location: The new site will be located close to the square and within walking distance for many Chardon residents. Additionally, it will have more parking, making it easier for everyone to visit.

Improved Meeting Spaces: The current branch has limited meeting space that is always in demand. The new location will provide larger and more flexible spaces to meet the needs of patrons, local organizations, and the community at large.

Accessibility for All: We are designing the new branch with accessibility in mind to ensure that everyone can easily access our resources and services.

Expanded Learning and Quiet Areas: The new branch will offer a balance of spaces-areas for active learning and family engagement, as well as dedicated quiet spaces for study and reflection.

While we cherish our history on the square, this new location provides an exciting opportunity to grow and serve the Chardon community in new ways. Our current branch has served us well, and we’re proud of the programs and services we’ve provided in that space. The new branch, however, will allow us to better accommodate evolving needs while maintaining our commitment to excellent service.

We understand you may have questions, and we’ll continue to share updates as we move forward. Our website will be updated regularly or feel free to reach out to us directly.

Thank you for your continued support of the library!