Library Transformation in Middleburg Heights

As Middleburg Heights residents begin to enjoy what promises to be an eventful summer, I expect many of you will be making regular visits to our local library. Whether it’s signing up for Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Get in the Game summer reading program, attending a program or simply browsing the shelves for your next great read, our library plays a central role in enhancing and advancing our community.

I am very pleased to update Middleburg Heights residents on plans for the new Middleburg Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library. As a central component of the city’s Middleburg Commons Master Plan, the new library will be constructed on the Middleburg Heights commons area on Bagley Road near Craigmere Road. The library project will serve as an anchor to the commons site, which includes 34 acres of land that will be preserved for public use and green space. Ultimately, our goal is for this site to be a community hub, connecting the library and our residents to other key assets like city hall, walking trails and the Metroparks.

The current library site, which is less than a mile from the new location, is owned by the City of Middleburg Heights. Once the new library is built, the future of the property will be determined through an ongoing process of community planning and resourcing. The new library will be funded through approximately $6 million in the Library’s capital savings. It will not require any additional taxpayer investment.

Middleburg Heights residents deserve a library branch that fosters individual opportunity and community progress. Because the library is such an important shared community asset, both the city and Cuyahoga County Public Library system hope residents will participate in the planning process by attending one of two upcoming community dialogue sessions at the Middleburg Heights Community Center:

· Wednesday, July 6 from 6 – 7:30 pm

· Monday, July 11 from 6 – 7:30 pm

These sessions will be an opportunity for residents to share input about the features of the new library, including, but not limited to, the children’s area, technology, teen space and community meeting space. The library will be designed to reflect our unique community needs.

Libraries transform lives, and we have an opportunity to be a part of our own library transformation. I hope you share my enthusiasm for this development and look forward to the many possibilities that a new library creates for Middleburg Heights.

Mayor Gary Starr

City of Middleburg Heights

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