Last Week's Meeting
Next time you plan to check out books from the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, check out the newly renovated main branch in downtown Youngstown!
RCY’s weekly meeting of June 15 was at the library, on Wick Avenue, mere days after the ribbon was cut on the $27 million restoration and expansion. The RCY Board of Directors presented a symbolic check for $10,000 to library officials. A meeting room has been named after the club.
RCY was the first to use the Event Space in the new 6,000 square foot library addition. It can be reserved for community meetings, family parties and more, said Rotarian Aimee Fifarek, who is the PLYMC executive director. Adjacent to the event space is a culinary literacy center, complete with a galley kitchen, appliances and plenty of counter space. The library will offer classes in basic cooking and food preservation, and also memorialize and celebrate the community’s ethnic food traditions, Fifarek said while taking Rotarians on a tour.
Members were awed by the beautiful, colorful art glass skylight and Parthenon frieze replica over the Grand Reading Room on the first floor. These were among original features of the main building when it opened in 1910, but were covered up or removed during subsequent renovations.
Additional first-floor amenities include a makerspace area for crafting, digitization, music recording and more; interactive children’s displays (the oversized Lite Brite board is impressive!); computer labs; and additional room for patrons to sit, read and study.
Congratulations to Aimee and the library staff and management on a tremendous project.
