![]() healthcare services, Mount Carmel Community Outreach and Street Medicine program and the Coalition for Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.īill Cobun, a homeless outreach specialist who works with the improvement districts, sees how meaningful the library is to those living on Downtown's streets. When the library closed for construction last April, its homeless outreach services moved to the Open Shelter on East Mound Street, a few blocks west of the main branch.įor two hours a day Monday through Thursday, outreach services connect the homeless to emergency food, shelter and clothing, employment programs, health care providers, permanent housing and substance-abuse treatment, says Lisa Defendiefer, deputy director of operations and advocacy for the special improvement districts.Ĭommunity partners include Maryhaven, Health Care for the Homeless, Southeast, Inc. So a coordinated effort with the Capital Crossroads and Discovery special improvement districts-which cover 80 square blocks Downtown-sought a temporary location for the outreach resources the Downtown branch had provided. Zenitsky says library officials anticipated the hardships the library's approximate 16-month closure could cause for the homeless. Beyond that, the library offers access to computers and a dedicated space for resources to connect the homeless to emergency assistance, medical care and housing options.Īlthough job-help centers are also available at the library's branches-including its Parsons, Northside, Martin Luther King and Franklinton urban branches-"we realize that getting there is not always an option for people in the homeless community," says library spokesman Ben Zenitsky. The draw? The availability of simple necessities-a warm place, a bathroom, a drinking fountain. Often, they line up at the library's entrance, waiting for it to open. Many of the homeless are regulars at the library on South Grant Avenue, heading there after spending the night on the streets or when Downtown's overnight shelters empty in the early morning. None, perhaps, felt it more than the homeless population. When Columbus Metropolitan Libraryofficials decided to close the main branch Downtown during its $35 million renovation, patrons were sure to be put out. This required our team to respond quickly to accommodate several additions and changes which occurred throughout the project.With the main Columbus library closed until June, the homeless around Downtown have lost a valuable resource. The high profile project had many stakeholders who were actively involved in the process. A detailed fire protection impairment program was established because the building was occupied by Library personnel throughout the duration of the project. The system was installed in conduit throughout the facility. As a high occupancy public building, this project included a significant fire protection system. This required research on and use of special building materials to accomplish the preservation goals. The Carnegie Building is nearly a century old and the new library features the building’s architecture as a major part of the design. ![]() A key challenge on this project was working within a historic building and preserving the original materials. Nearly all of the new electrical systems were installed in conduit. ![]() Work included an all new fire alarm system, (2) new generators with ATSs, new paralleling gear, new interior and exterior LED lighting, lighting controls, building automation, several new electrical panels, new branch, new audio system, new service for fire pump, and support for other mechanical systems. The project included over 250,000 square feet and took place over a 12 month schedule. This project provided major upgrades to the facility, technology systems, and user experience while preserving the historic architecture and character of the building. The Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch has been an iconic building in the city since its original construction in 1907. ![]()
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