A vision for the new Consolidated Branch
Your Library
In spring 2024, the Library sent a survey to the Lucas County community to learn what you love about your Library and how we could improve our buildings to better meet your needs. This is what 364 Heatherdowns and Toledo Heights neighbors said they wanted in a new space:
| Rank |
Services and amenities |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Access to drive-through, pick-up, and drop-off services |
40.29% |
| 2 |
Expanded children’s areas |
29.36% |
| 3 |
More technology |
26.51% |
| 4 |
Expanded teen areas |
26.21% |
| 5 |
Expanded adult areas |
23.37% |
| 6 |
More study spaces |
16.31% |
| 7 |
More Maker Spaces |
16.11% |
| 8 |
Larger and/or additional meeting room spaces |
13.36% |
| 9 |
Greater access to audio/visual equipment |
11.00% |
| 10 |
Additional programming space |
9.43% |
The needs and wants indicated in this survey surpass what we can accomplish at the current Heatherdowns and Toledo Heights locations in terms of physical branch space, acreage, and overall construction costs. At Heatherdowns, design and construction estimators have told us the most efficient use of tax dollars would be to source and build a new property in the area. Toledo Heights faces the same situation: wants and needs exceeding the current space, with extremely high costs to redevelop the branch, even from an accessibility standpoint. The high renovation costs, combined with recent state legislature cuts to the Public Library Fund in June 2025, pushed us to decide on building a new branch that will replace the existing Toledo Heights and Heatherdowns Branches.
This new consolidated branch will offer flexible spaces, improved access, and an environment designed around our customers’ needs as outlined in the survey results. The new branch will be at 0 Detroit Avenue (next to WGTE) and will be designed to make the building feel like a natural part of the large acreage, with a thoughtful approach that respects the adjacent neighborhoods. The property is about 1.5 miles from the previous two locations and is served by TARTA.
Our expected timeline
Community feedback and engagement: Q2 through Q4 2026
Design phase: Q1 through Q4 2026
Construction: Q1 2027 through Q1 2028
Opening: Q2 2028
Heatherdowns to close: Q2 2028
Dates are approximate and subject to change.
Your support
We are committed to keeping your Library as strong as possible in this time of reduced funding for community services. Part of that work will be to responsibly invest your tax dollars from the $153 million bond Lucas County voters approved in 2024. These tax dollars are fully restricted and can be used only for the building and construction projects we asked voters to support, including the new consolidated branch.
This community investment will help us preserve a strong library presence in Lucas County. We know how much the community loves the Library, and we will do our best to build a sustainable organization in the face of uncertain funding.
