We’re excited to share plans for what we’re calling The Next Century of the North Canton Public Library, a thoughtful renovation that honors our past while preparing for our future.

Our story began nearly 100 years ago. In 1926, the North Canton Public Library Association was formed, and by 1928, a single room in the Community Building on Main Street was dedicated as a library. Since then, this library has grown alongside our community, evolving to meet changing needs while remaining a constant, trusted space.

Today, as we approach our next century, we have a new opportunity: to reimagine our building in a way that reflects how our community uses the library now and how it will in the years to come.

LISTENING FIRST
This process began, as it should, by listening.

Through surveys and conversations, many of you shared your experiences in the building. You told us about the need for more parking (which we were grateful to expand last fall), along with requests for brighter, more welcoming spaces, improved accessibility, and additional room for children’s services and programs.

But we didn’t stop there.

LEARNING FROM OUR COMMUNITY
In January 2025, we partnered with SHP, an Ohio-based architecture firm, to guide the design process. SHP worked alongside Thirdway Space, specialists in user experience, to take a deeper look at how people interact with our building every day.

Together, we conducted observations, walkthroughs, and listening sessions with both patrons and staff. We were intentional in including a wide range of perspectives: people with different mobility needs, families of all kinds, and both first-time visitors and lifelong library users.

What we learned was eye-opening.

These studies revealed not only our strengths, but also our blind spots: areas that are difficult to navigate, services that aren’t as visible as they should be, and spaces that don’t function as well as our community deserves.

Just as importantly, we gained a clearer understanding of how deeply people value the library as a place to borrow materials, yes – but also as a place to gather, learn, and connect.

BUILDING ON WHAT YOU LOVE
One message came through loud and clear: this library is a cornerstone to the North Canton community.

As we move through the design process, our goal is to build on what makes this library special.

That means:

• Maintaining strong, robust collections that our patrons rely on
• Preserving the character and history of the building
• Keeping beloved spaces, including our Little Art Gallery
• Ensuring the library continues to feel familiar and welcoming

We know that sometimes renovations can result in drastically changing collections or losing defining features of a building. That is not our approach. While collections naturally evolve over time, we are committed to maintaining the depth and breadth that our patrons value.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
At the same time, we are planning for the way our community uses the library today and how those needs are growing.

Our studies confirmed what we see every day: program attendance is strong, demand for meeting and study spaces continues to rise, and use of digital resources is increasing rapidly alongside continued love for physical materials.

Our updated spaces will reflect that balance, with goals that include:

• More flexible spaces for programs, meetings, and quiet study
• A dedicated and enhanced area for children and families
• Improved accessibility throughout the building
• Clearer, more intuitive navigation
• Brighter, more comfortable spaces with updated furnishings
• Thoughtful planning that supports both physical and digital collections

A THOUGHTFUL, RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
This project is also the result of years of careful planning.

Over the past six years, the Library has intentionally saved for this renovation, allowing us to move forward without plans to seek additional funding from taxpayers. This long-term approach, combined with generous community support, positions us to make meaningful improvements while remaining fiscally responsible.

To bring this vision to life, we’ve partnered with Beaver Constructors, who joined the project in spring 2026. Their team is also leading construction of the new North Canton Fire Station just down the street, and their local experience will be a valuable asset as we move into the next phase.

LOOKING AHEAD
We are currently in the design development phase, with construction anticipated to begin later this year. As plans are finalized, we’ll continue to share updates and help you know what to expect every step of the way.

We know that change can bring both excitement and uncertainty. Our commitment is to move through this process with transparency, care, and respect for what this library means to North Canton.

There is so much love for this library in our community. This project is our way of honoring that, and making sure this space continues to belong to everyone who walks through our doors.

With kindness,
Andrea Legg