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Lodi library closed for structural reasons, 6 years after it opened

Regina Garcia Cano, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Regina Garcia Cano, Northeast Ohio Media Group cleveland.com
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on December 04, 2011 at 9:43 PM, updated December 05, 2011 at 7:34 AM

books-shelf.JPGLodi library patrons are being forced to use a bookmobile because their branch of the Medina County Library system, built with $4.2 million from a tax increase approved by voters in 2003, is closed because of structural problems.

LODI, Ohio -- A Medina County library building, built with $4.2 million from a tax increase approved by voters in 2003, is closed because of structural problems. The building is about 6 years old.

Patrons of the Lodi branch of the county library district will be kept out of the building until at least early January. Administrators said structural issues were the reason for the closing, but declined to detail the problems on advice of the county prosecutor's office, which advises the district.

The building has been shut since Nov. 21. A bookmobile, stationed in the building's parking lot, is servicing patrons three days a week.

Library construction was completed in December 2005. Ohio-based Ruhlin Co. managed the project, and Michigan-based David Milling and Associates designed it.

The building's main interior spaces are of heavy timber construction. Architect David Milling said the structural issues may be caused by timber beams that weren't completely dry and could have separated. He said administrators from the library system contacted him regarding these problems "months ago."

"I don't think this is a major structural problem," Milling said. "This is the kind of stuff where I think they were worried that a ceiling tile would hit somebody, but their words made it sound alarmist."

Brian Richter, an assistant county prosecutor said, "All I can really say is the library determined there were some structural concerns, and they are trying to determine what needs to be done. There were some safety concerns out there."

The 14,805-square-foot library was built as part of a $42 million bond issue passed by voters. The measure costs owners of a $100,000 home $24.50 a year. Construction or renovations were slated for various district branches.

The building was last inspected by the county's Building Inspection Department in 2009. Charles Huber, the county's chief building official, said the reason for the library's closure "piqued my curiosity," but he declined to say whether an inspector will be sent to the building.

The Lodi branch attracts more than 330 visitors per day, said Jessica Giurbino, community relations associate of the district library system. It has a 50,000-item collection. The library's staff has been reassigned to other branches.

The bookmobile will be in Lodi from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It will handle returns, checkouts and reserved materials.

Library items can be returned to any branch. The closest library to Lodi is in Seville.

The Lodi Library's Winter Wonderland event, scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, will take place in vacant space at Lodi Station Outlets in Harrisville Township.
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