The mission of the Columbiana Public Library is to be the primary resource in the community for lifelong learning and recreation through excellence in materials, services, and access. Over the past year, our offerings to the community in outreach, technology, and educational services for all ages has expanded and improved.
The Columbiana Public Library Board of Trustees has concluded that there is a need for a new building addition based on the following:
- Statistical comparisons and analysis of library and material usage
- Observation of the current building design and layout
- Internal review of current and future needs to increase the Library’s ability to serve the community
Statistical Data
The last substantial development to the structure of the library was completed in 2003. This development included the expansion of the Children’s Department and Salchow room. This expansion was adequate for that time, but the community has grown and needs for service have increased.
Population in 2002: 5,603
Population in 2022: 6,559
The community has grown approximately 15%. The city of Columbiana is in a state of steady expansion with 179 new residential buildings constructed or in the process of construction since 2020.
In 2020 the Columbiana Public Library partnered with the Salem Public Library, East Palestine Memorial Public Library, Lepper Library, and Wellsville Carnegie Public Library to create PLUS (Public Libraries Uniting in Service). The goal of PLUS was to join together to provide improved services for our communities at a better cost. PLUS allows for greater and more efficient resource sharing, primarily through interlibrary loan.
Average Circulation of Library Materials
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 (YTD) | |
| Monthly Average Circulation of Physical and Digital Materials | 13,615 | 14,813 | 15,218 |
| Monthly Average Interlibrary Loan Items Received | 449 | 446 | 620 |
| Monthly Average Interlibrary Loan Items Sent | 714 | 738 | 819 |
The above chart shows an increase of approximately 16% in the monthly average circulation of physical and digital materials. Interlibrary loans increased approximately 28% for items received and increased 13% in items sent to other libraries in Ohio.
In 2020, COVID-19 brought a decrease in patrons visiting the library due to access restrictions in place for a portion of the year. However, there has been a steady increase in the amount of patrons visiting the library, attending programs, and taking part in other library offerings in the years following.
Monthly Visitors to the Library
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 (YTD) | |
| Monthly Average Visitors | 3,927 | 4,443 | 5,963 | 6,738 |
The above chart shows an increase of approximately 42% in the average number of visitors per month. Part of this increase can be allotted to the development of additional programming for the public.
Library Programming Attendance
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 (YTD) | |
| Children’s Programming | 653 attendees 68 programs | 1,451 attendees 124 programs | 1,784 attendees 107 programs |
| Young Adult Programming | 33 attendees 8 programs | 202 attendees 28 programs | 297 attendees 32 programs |
| Adult Programming | 153 attendees 14 programs | 667 attendees 45 programs | 770 attendees 67 programs |
| Computer Classes (Provided by CPL Staff) | 74 attendees 16 programs | 147 attendees 48 programs | 51 attendees 18 programs |
| Computer Classes (Provided by Guiding Ohio Online) | N/A | 9 attendees 4 programs | 148 attendees 24 programs |
| Computer Classes (Combined Total) | 74 attendees 16 programs | 156 attendees 52 programs | 199 attendees 42 programs |
| STEM Programming (Provided by Libraries Accelerated Learning Grant) | N/A | N/A | 234 attendees 26 programs |
| After-School Tutoring (Provided by Libraries Accelerated Learning Grant) | N/A | N/A | 641 students |
Audience Distribution
Children: 46.2%
Young Adults: 9.7%
Adults: 40.0%
All Ages: 4.1%
Recently the Library began working on extending its services beyond the building by offering technology assistance and additional special programming to assisted living centers, day cares, and schools. The Library also provided community services by hosting a community paper shred event where over 2,000 pounds of paper was shredded. In addition, an eCycle event was held where 2,500 pounds of electronics (including 55 TVs) were recycled. During September of 2023, the Library celebrated 90 years of service with a community scavenger hunt that incorporated 38 local businesses and had 1,043 entries submitted for prizes.
Outreach Programming Attendance
| | 2022 | 2023 (YTD) |
| Adult Outreach | 21 attendees 5 programs | 97 attendees 12 programs |
| Children’s Outreach | 915 attendees 21 programs | 866 attendees 21 programs |
| Guiding Ohio Online Outreach | 10 people assisted | 30 people assisted |
| Crestview School Digital Library Card Initiative | 86 cards created | 84 cards created |
The Library submitted and received a grant through Guiding Ohio Online, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the State Library of Ohio in August 2022. This allowed the Library to contract with a Technology Trainer to provide additional technology classes as well as one-on-one technology assistance at the library and through outreach at Harmony Village.
Guiding Ohio Online Computer Class and Outreach Attendance
| | 2022 | 2023 (YTD) |
| Yearly Computer Classes | 9 attendees 4 programs | 148 attendees 24 programs |
| Yearly One-on-One Technology Assistance Appointments | 154 appointments | 492 appointments |
| Yearly Number of Outreach Programs | 10 people assisted | 30 people assisted |
Age of Attendees for Technology Assistance
18-25 Years: 1.1%
26-49 Years: 6.9%
50-60 Years: 9.4%
61-70 Years: 35.1%
70+ Years: 38.6%
All Ages: 2.0%
Technology Assistance Type
Staff Training: 2.0%
General Technology: 3.1%
Technology Class: 5.1%
Other: 7.4%
Library Technology: 11.1%
Computer Help: 33.4%
Device Help: 37.7%
The Library’s meeting rooms have also been in frequent use. In 2022, the meeting rooms were booked an average of 82 times a month. That number increased in 2023 to 120 times a month.
Monthly Community Room Bookings
| | 2022 | 2023 (YTD) |
| Average Monthly Community Room Bookings | 82 | 120 |
Determination of Needs
As the city of Columbiana and surrounding community continues to grow, so does the Library’s service population. The Library’s new services, programs, and technology are bringing in new patrons from other areas as well. While growth is the ultimate goal of the Library, it has led to a number of challenges within our current building.
Our community rooms are in very high demand. Throughout 2022 and 2023, it is common to have all three rooms in use and still have additional patrons requesting access. Not only has the high demand affected the public, but the staff, who are charged with reserving the rooms find it difficult to meet the needs of the programs provided. The Columbiana Public Library Board of Trustees determined that additional small study rooms were needed, as well as a large programming room dedicated to children and young adult programs.
To expand the study rooms, the Library Board of Trustees chose to add a space adjacent to the Adult Department. This room will have two six-person study rooms and four two-person study rooms placed around its perimeter. In this area, there will be a desk with a reference assistant and small study tables.
With the creation of the children and young adult programming room adjacent to the Children’s Department, there was a need for the children and teens participating in the programs to have restroom availability. Currently, there are plans to create an additional restroom inside the Children’s Department. The restroom will be closer to the programming room than the existing restrooms and will also function as a lactation room for nursing mothers.
Seniors make up a large portion of our service population and they frequently visit the library to socialize, find new titles to read, and attend programs. Therefore, next to the new programming room, there are plans to create a senior room. This room will have comfortable seating for seniors to relax, read, and lounge. The senior room will also be used as a location to host the adult book club meetings and programming.
The Library has been expanding it’s collection of technology services available for patrons to use. The creation of a makerspace will create a permanent home for the collection and allow for it to be easily accessible to patrons. The makerspace will serve as collaborative workspace to use hands-on materials to invent, learn and create. The makerspace will connect to the current computer lab and patrons will be able to walk in and use the technology. Computer classes will be held inside the makerspace when possible.
The Plan For New Space
The following summarizes the plan for the Columbiana Public Library’s new addition.
The plan contains the following features:
- A large room dedicated for the children’s and young adult’s programming
- A senior room
- A makerspace attached to the current computer lab providing a new space for hands-on work with our expanding collection of equipment and a space to host computer classes
- A block of six study rooms (4 two-person rooms and 2 six-person rooms)
- A lactation room and children’s restroom in the Children’s Department
- Additional storage space
You can click the links below to view the images of the current plan.
Overall Plan Interior
Overall Plan Exterior
Side Lot
updated November 6, 2023