ELYRIA — Housed in a new three-story building on the campus of Lorain County Community College, the Mike and Barbara Bass Library/Community Resource Center is unique in Ohio.
Because of the innovative collaboration of a college library with a public library, representatives from the college and the Elyria Public Library System were honored Monday with the 2009 Library Innovation Award from the Ohio Library Council.
Held on the first floor of the library, the ceremony honored the library and the college for its partnership.
The result is a hybrid library/classroom building for the college and a full-service working branch for the library. The library opened in August 2008 and provides access to information and technology to students, educators, children, senior citizens, working adults and families.
Library Director Janet Stoffer said the decision to team with the college to open the North Branch was not about breaking new ground. Instead, both entities wanted to further their missions in a way that benefited the community.
“We are talking about two institutions, entities that could add one and one and come up with three,” she said. “We knew going in this was going to be a great fit for us.”
It was LCCC President Roy Church who first approached the library system about the partnership a few years back. The college was already planning to build a new library to replace its 40-year-old facility but wanted it to also include a public library option.
“LCCC is in the business of providing opportunities to stimulate innovation —– innovation in education, economic, community and cultural growth — for people, organizations, businesses and communities,” Church said. “This partnership between LCCC and the Elyria Public Library System was an innovative way to meet the expanding needs of our community for learning, access to technology and personal growth.”
The Library Innovator Award was established to recognize creative and successful initiatives started at libraries across the state.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
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