YOUNGSTOWN—The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) will reopen its Brownlee Woods library on Monday, February 6. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brownlee Woods became home to PLYMC’s Information Systems (IS) department while Main Library was under renovation. However, a broken furnace closed the branch in January 2022, and it was then determined that the building needed repairs and refurbishing before reopening to the public, including new flooring, lights, computers, as well as a fresh coat of paint—just to name a few of the upgrades.
“As we reimagined what the branch could look like, PLYMC talked to the local community and neighbors about what they wanted to see from their local library and used their input as we determined plans,” said Maggie Henderson, PLYMC Strategic Communications Officer.
Patrons can expect to see a collection and seating area on one side of the building as well as an 8-person computer lab, a children’s computer, and a projector. There is also a small meeting room available for community use. Patrons can also expect to see services like genealogy programs, computer assistance classes, story time, and children’s programs, as well as Medicare information sessions. These programs were designed based on the feedback we received from the community.
“This is an exciting time for the Brownlee Woods community, and we look forward to seeing patrons back in the branch and reestablishing our bonds with the community,” said Henderson.
Follow PLYMC on social media (Facebook, opens a new window, Twitter, opens a new window, Instagram, opens a new window, and TikTok, opens a new window) and check www.libraryvisit.org, opens a new window for updates. The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) has served the Mahoning Valley since 1880 when the Youngstown Library Association was officially created. With 15 branches across Mahoning County, including our Main Library in downtown Youngstown, the PLYMC is well known for signature services and programs like Summer Discovery and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. The mission and values of PLYMC to “connect, inspire, and enrich” position the Library to serve our communities by preparing children for kindergarten, promoting early literacy, assisting job seekers, connecting Valley residents to technology, and providing resources for small businesses.
