Jun 25, 2025 By Jon Andreassi 2 min read

The Peters Township Public Library may have a multimillion-dollar renovation in its future.

Lacey Love, the library’s directors, and representatives of HBM Architects appeared before Peters council Monday night to present a recently completed study on how the 30,000-square-foot building could be used more efficiently.

Last year, council approved a $45,550 contract for the Cleveland, Ohio-based HBM to conduct a “library space assessment” project.

Renee Downing of HBM told council that more than 240 responded to a survey and an in-person work session as part of the project.

“There was a need to continue to be community-centered, respond to growing population size and diversity of need,” Downing said.

The study provided by HBM recommends that the library expand children’s services by creating a “tween” space, a designated youth program room, and relocating the area for teenagers on the first floor. The first floor would also receive a renovated multipurpose room, according to the plans.

Renovations to the first floor would be “phase one” of the project, while “phase two” would encompass changes to the library’s second floor. HBM estimates that phase one would cost more than $2.03 million.

Phase two would involve adding study rooms, and creating a defined work area for library staff. HBM also recommends expanding the local history room and creating space to digitize materials. These changes to the second floor are estimated to cost about $3.6 million.

When Love spoke at Monday’s meeting, she urged council members, “nobody panic.”

“So what we’re focusing on right now, really, would be the phase one. That would encompass new services space and the multipurpose room, which are two of our most heavily used spaces in the library,” Love said.

According to Love, from last year to this year the library has seen a 40% increase in attendance to children’s programs.

“That kind of growth just really isn’t sustainable in our current space,” Love said. “We would ideally love to parcel this out over like four or five years.”

Love added that funding would be “heavily supplemented” by grants.

Township Manager Paul Lauer said these potential library renovations will be part of the discussion for Peters’ 2026 budget.

“To the extent the design is more developed, the chances of receiving those grants is greater,” Lauer said.