Columbus Metropolitan Library: Library Opens New Karl Road Branch

Press release from Columbus Metropolitan Library:

September 9, 2021

COLUMBUS—Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) has cut the ribbon on its new Karl Road Branch.

The new Karl Road Branch has:

• 40,000 square feet of space on three levels
• A robust collection to meet the community’s needs
• Interactive Children’s area with more space for programs and areas for children to read, study and use computers
• Ready for Kindergarten area to help preschoolers be prepared for school
• Tween and Teen areas with computers, study space and comfortable seating
• School Help Center where students can get free after-school help
• Three Meeting Rooms, 10 Study Rooms and two Conference Rooms 
• Spacious Quiet Room
• Public computers for customers to reserve
• Commissioned works of public art

Ribbon cutters participating in today’s dedication include:Dr. Seleshi Ayakew Asfaw, President & CEO, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social ServicesTeri Baker Umbarger, Associate Principal, Moody NolanLaura Berger Abbas, Chief Operating Officer, Our HelpersDave Brown, Project Manager, Turner ConstructionKatie Chatas, President, Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of TrusteesJanelle Coleman, President, AEP Foundation & VP, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement, AEPDr. Talisa Dixon, Superintendent, Columbus City SchoolsThe Honorable Shayla Favor, Columbus City Council MemberAlice Foeller, President, Northland Area Business AssociationCharles Fraas**, Vice President, Columbus Metropolitan Library FoundationTimothy Frommeyer*, Executive Vice President & CFO, Nationwide Mutual InsuranceEileen Goodman, Executive Vice President, Director of Interior Design, Moody NolanLauren Hagan, Chief Financial Officer, Columbus Metropolitan LibraryCharlie Hansen, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Columbus Metropolitan LibraryKeith Hanson, Manager, Karl Road Branch, Columbus Metropolitan LibraryMarci Hasty, District Executive Director, North YMCAKatie Hegarty, Office of Lt. Governor Jon HustedPatti Jackson, Senior Vice President, PNCMonica Jones, Chief Equity Officer, COTANadia Kasvin, Co-Founder and Director, US TogetherTom Katzenmeyer*, President & CEO, Greater Columbus Arts CouncilThe Honorable Stephanie Kunze, Ohio Senate, District 16Jenny (Lin) Leal, Co-Founder, Elevate NorthlandThe Honorable David Leland, Ohio House of Representatives, District 22Patrick Losinski, Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Metropolitan LibraryKatie Matney, Executive Director, Columbus Blue Jackets FoundationTariq Mohamed, Director Refugee Social Services, Jewish Family ServicesJonathan Moody, CEO, Moody NolanLisa Patt-McDaniel, CEO, Workforce Development Board of Central OhioDavid Paul, Development Committee Chair, Northland Community CouncilSudarshan Pyakurel, Executive Director, Bhutanese Community of Central OhioThe Honorable Emmanuel Remy, Columbus City Council MemberKristen Rost, Sr. Director, Office of Corporate Citizenship, Nationwide & VP, Nationwide FoundationIbrahima Sow, Co-Founder & Facilitator, Baobab Cultural ConsultingThe Honorable Michael Stinziano, Franklin County AuditorCatherine Strauss*, Managing Partner, Ice MillerWendy Tressler, Director of Capital Planning and Project Management, Columbus Metropolitan LibraryDeba Uwadiae, Publisher, New Americans MagazineGuadalupe Velasquez, Managing Director, City of Columbus, Department of NeighborhoodsAlicia Ward, President, Northland Community CouncilDavid White*, VP, Chief Information Officer, BattelleCarla Williams-Scott*, Director, City of Columbus, Department of NeighborhoodsDonna Zuiderweg, Chief Community Engagement Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library

*Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees Member**Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation Board Member

The former Karl Road Branch, built in 1988, was one of the most heavily used branches in CML’s 23-location system. The new Karl Road Branch has doubled its size from roughly 20,000 square feet to approximately 40,000 square feet. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Moody Nolan is the architect.

In 2019, CML completed Phase I of its aspirational building program, which renovated or rebuilt 10 of its 23 locations:

• The new Driving Park Branch opened July 12, 2014
• The new Whitehall Branch opened April 11, 2015
• The new Parsons Branch opened June 4, 2016
• The transformed Main Library opened June 25, 2016
• The new Northern Lights Branch opened Sept. 24, 2016
• The new Shepard Branch opened Oct. 13, 2016
• The new Northside Branch opened June 22, 2017
• The new Hilliard Branch opened June 21, 2018
• The new Martin Luther King Branch opened Oct. 18, 2018
• The new Dublin Branch opened June 6, 2019

The Karl Road Branch project is part of Phase II, which will renovate or rebuild an additional four locations:

• The new Karl Road Branch opened earlier today
• The transformed Hilltop Branch will open Sept. 30, 2021
• The new Gahanna Branch is expected to open in 2023
• Planning for a new Reynoldsburg Branch is underway

CML hopes to have all four Phase II projects completed by 2024.

CML understands that great libraries create stronger communities, and each branch is an essential hub that reflects the unique needs of the neighborhood it serves. Some of CML’s 23 locations are 40 to 50 years old and inadequate to meet the demands of a growing 21st century community. Demands and expectations will continue to grow, along with the population of Franklin County.

CML understands that great libraries create stronger communities, and each branch is an essential hub that reflects the unique needs of the neighborhood it serves. Some of CML’s 23 locations are 30 to 40 years old and inadequate to meet the demands of a growing 21st century community. Demands and expectations will continue to grow, along with the population of Franklin County.

CML’s aspirational building program is the result of a community-wide process that will continue to serve the needs of Franklin County well into the future. The plan is a multi-phased comprehensive blueprint that reinvents and revitalizes the entire 600,000 square feet maintained by the library.

In addition to being a vital community asset, Columbus Metropolitan Library strives to minimize its environmental footprint. With each new building or renovation project, CML plans to use sustainable building materials, incorporate glass for natural light to reduce energy costs and introduce other design and building elements friendly to the natural environment. Visit columbuslibrary.org for more information and to track progress of CML’s ambitious building program.

This press release was produced by the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.