COLUMBUS—Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) has cut the ribbon on its new Hilltop Branch.
The new Hilltop Branch has:
- 32,500 square feet of space (up from 20,000)
- 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
- Six meeting rooms and six study rooms
- Spacious Quiet Room
- Public computers for customers to reserve
- Commissioned works of public art
Ribbon cutters participating in today’s dedication include:
Zerqa Abid, Founder & Executive Director, My Project USA
Jennifer Baumann, Public Services Director, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Lisa Boggs, Organizer, Hilltop Night Out
Dave Brown, Project Executive, Turner Construction
The Honorable Elizabeth Brown, President Pro Tempore, Columbus City Council
Janelle Coleman, President, AEP Foundation & VP, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement, AEP
Lisa Courtice, CEO, United Way of Central Ohio
The Honorable Hearcel Craig, Ohio Senate, District 15
The Honorable Erica Crawley, Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Fran DeWine, First Lady of Ohio
The Honorable Rob Dorans, Member, Columbus City Council
Dr. Elena Foulis, Senior Lecturer, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, The Ohio State University
Timothy Frommeyer*, EVP & CFO, Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Jenifer Garey, Director, Workforce Development and Learning, Goodwill Columbus
Randy Gibson, Chief Strategy Officer and President of International Practice, Gresham Smith
Lauren Hagan, Chief Financial Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Charlie Hansen, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Bruce Harris, President & CEO, Harris Architects
Katie Hegarty, Office of Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted
Tom Katzenmeyer*, President & CEO, Greater Columbus Arts Council
Jane Leach, CEO, Future Ready Columbus
Patrick Losinski, Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Honorable Tina Maharath, Ohio Senate, District 3
Katie Matney, Executive Director, Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation
The Honorable Adam Miller, Ohio House of Representatives, District 17
Brian Mooney, VP and General Manager, Turner Construction
Karen Mozenter, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Family Services
The Honorable Emmanuel Remy, Member, Columbus City Council
Ramona Reyes, Director, Our Lady of Guadalupe Center
Kristen Rost, Senior Director, Office of Corporate Citizenship, Nationwide Foundation
Teague Schoessow, Product Manager, CoverMyMeds
Melissa Wolf Starr, Chief Program Officer, Jewish Family Services
The Honorable Michael Stinziano, Franklin County Auditor
Catherine Strauss*, Managing Partner, Ice Miller
John Tetzloff, Manager, Hilltop Branch, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Wendy Tressler, Director of Capital Planning and Project Management, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Beth Urban, Chair, Hilltop Shalom Zone
Rachel Wenning, Chair, Greater Hilltop Area Commission
David White*, Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Battelle
Theresa Whittington, Executive Director, Hilltop YWCA
Carla Williams-Scott*, Director, City of Columbus, Department of Neighborhoods
Donna Zuiderweg, Chief Community Engagement Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
*Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees Member
**Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation Board Member
The Hilltop Branch was built in 1996 with 20,000 square feet. After a significant renovation and expansion that kicked off in early 2020, the transformed branch will have approximately 32,500 square feet. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Gresham Smith is the architect. Click here for a time-lapse video of construction.
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 Hilltop Branch project is part of Phase II, which is renovating or rebuilding an additional four locations:
- The new Karl Road Branch opened Sept. 9, 2021
- The transformed Hilltop Branch opened earlier today
- 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.
