Stark Library Announces Finalized Moving Dates for Temporary Relocation of Main Library

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Canton, Ohio – Stark Library announces finalized moving dates for the temporary relocation of Main Library, from 715 Market Ave N to 1020 Market Ave N, in preparation for the next phase in construction of Re|imagine 2.0’s new Main Library Campus. The Main Library will temporarily close to the public starting on Saturday, August 30, 2025, and will remain closed for the month of September as materials, services, and staff transition to the 1020 Market Ave N building. Main Library will reopen, in the temporary space, to the public on Monday, October 6, 2025.

This temporary location will function as Stark Library’s Main Library, including normal hours of operation and all current services, during construction of the New Main Library Campus - which is expected to take three years to complete.

Public service is of the utmost importance to all Stark Library staff during this upcoming transition, and they are working to have as little disruption to patrons as possible. Main Library’s free WIFI (outside of the building) and Book Drop will still be available 24/7 at 715 Market Ave N. during the move, and a Bookmobile will be available for some services including holds pick-up, notary and browsing, in the 715 Market Ave N parking lot, from September 2nd through October 3rd, 2025 with the following schedule: Monday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Wednesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm, Thursday from 9:00am to 1:00pm, and Friday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

All Stark Library’s nine other in-person locations will operate as normal during this time.

“We are energized for this next step in our Re|imagine 2.0 journey and look forward to continuing to serve our patrons at 1020 Market Ave N. while construction begins on our beautiful new Main Library!”

– Mary Ellen Icaza, CEO and Executive Director of Stark Library

OPERATIONS CENTER

Construction is on-schedule and more than halfway completed at Stark Library’s new Operations Center -located at 811 Cleveland Ave NW. As part of the new Main Library Campus, this Operations Center will be a non-public hub that will house Stark Library’s Bookmobiles, Mobile Services Team, Collection Development Department and more. Construction on the Operations Center is scheduled to be completed in late fall of this year.

“We are excited to share that the new Operations Center, designed to support all our locations, is progressing on-schedule and under budget.”

-Chris Butler, Fiscal Officer and Director of Facilities of Stark Library

Check out our NEW frequently asked questions (FAQs) page about our upcoming move HERE

Main Library Campus Re|imagined

We are so excited to share the exterior renderings of both the new Main Library and the Operations Center, and a new site plan for the property.

The decision to “build new” for our Main Library follows several years of research and planning - including analysis of renovating our existing building as well as surveying various buildings in our immediate Downtown Canton area. After all options were considered, we determined building a new Main Library within the boundaries of our existing property was not only the least expensive method but would allow us maximum efficiency and flexibility for providing updated facility, technology, and resources to our patrons.

Updated Renderings of NEW Main Library (As of 11/2024):

Main Library (View from Northeast)

Main Library (View from Southeast)

Main Library (View from Southwest)

Operations Center Re|imagined

In the Summer of 2023, we began work with HBM Architects on the design of both the new Main Library and Operations Center. To start the design process for our new buildings, we gathered feedback from staff, our community, and the Library Board, and asked them what they thought a Main Library and Operations Center should provide to both the Downtown Canton community as well as all Stark County residents. Information gathered from these groups was integral in both the work of HBM, and our internal design committee.

Operations Center (View from Main Library)

Operations Center (View from East)

Operations Center (View from Southeast)

Operations Center (View from Southwest)

Operations Center Construction Site Photos:

Construction is underway on our new Operations Center and is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2025. We will be continually updating this webpage on construction progress - see image galleries below.

NEW! Main Library Virtual Working Model Video:

Our Re|imagine 2.0 lead architectural firm, HBM, has been working hard to refine the building and surrounding campus designs of our NEW Main Library. They created this video for us to share and give viewers a glimpse into what our NEW Main Library building could look and feel like - ENJOY!

Site Plan

Features Will Include:

Interactive Children’s Play and Learning Area
Large Meeting Rooms
Collaborative Workspaces
Rooftop Terrace
Maker Studio
Genealogy Collection
Community Stairway
New Technologies
Flexible Spaces
Community Green Space

As part of our systemwide Re|imagine project, we are transforming your Library into a more inviting space to inspire and empower you to pursue creativity and lifelong learning.

Re|imagine is our plan to live out our mission and vision in Stark County. It is a multi-year plan to renovate our buildings, upgrade our technology, and create more flexible spaces for a wide range of use.

The new Main Library in downtown Canton will be a center for learning and knowledge, and a “third space” where people gather to relax, imaginations soar, and creativity grows.

TomTod Students help Re|imagine new Main Library Campus

As part of the early design process for our new Main Library, Stark Library and TomTod Ideas, a local youth education nonprofit, created an eight week collaborative program that introduced middle schoolers to library operations and our large building project taking place from 2024-2028.

Each week participants were asked to provide feedback or generate ideas based on a guiding question related to library operations or spaces and present ideas for how to make spaces more engaging for youth.

Example guiding questions included:

How can we …
- explore the current library’s services and buildings?
- create a draft design for a new library tech and maker space?
- create a draft design for a teen space that kids want to visit and has resources kids need?
- draft designs for a usable and inviting outdoor space?

At the end of the program, the students presented the library with a student idea book that is being used by library leadership and HBM architects for planning the new Main Library campus.