Library celebrating grand reopening

FREMONT — Many changes have happened at a local library this summer. And those in charge of the Birchard Public Library are confident that new building additions and other amenities will benefit the community and patrons it serves. The Fremont-based library, located at 423 Croghan St., is celebrating its grand opening at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2. Activities are planned for all ages, including tours of the new building, maker space demonstrations, photo ops, a scavenger hunt, music, history displays and refreshments. The library renovations commenced in November of 2021 and were completed in June of this year. A survey of library patrons in 2016 was used to compile a list of features and services that would be included in the new library. "The $6.5 million project was paid for without raising local taxes, over $400,000 was donated by local citizens in support of the new library," said Pam Hoesman, director of the Birchard Library. "This has been a huge community project, with support from the schools and Terra State Community College, USDA Rural Development, library donors and local construction workers and designers, and now it's time to celebrate." New renovations A new wing was added onto the west end of the building along with a new parking lot and front entrance facing Croghan Street, Hoesman said. The first floor of the new wing has a new lobby and checkout desk, new restrooms, workspaces for processing new library materials and a display area featuring the Battle of Fort Stephenson, she said. On the second floor, the new wing houses a room for teens, the new children's room, which includes a treehouse feature, a storytime nook, a STEM — short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — activity area and a sensory room for children. The renovated area of the older building includes a new local history room, additional meeting rooms, a wifi cafe, four rooms for tutors to meet with students and the technology wing, according to Hoesman. The technology wing includes a maker space with a 3-D printer and office productivity software and equipment, a technology training room and a recording studio for use by the public by appointment. These services are all free to the public except for a charge to cover the supplies used, such as the material used to create objects in the 3-D printer. History lesson In addition to the grand reopening of the library, Aug. 2 is a significant date for the Birchard Library. On that day in 1813, the Battle of Fort Stephenson, which occurred during the War of 1812, took place on the site where the library stands today. George Croghan, who led American forces to victory against the British during the battle, is buried at the library at the foot of Soldier's Monument. Old Betsy, the cannon used in the battle is also on the library grounds. The battle is commemorated every year on Aug. 2 by the library and the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. Sixty years after the battle, in 1873, Sardis Birchard, the uncle of President Rutherford B. Hayes, left this land and $50,000 to build a free public library for the community. Hayes formed the first library board on July 4, 1873, 150 years ago this summer. This celebration is also a kick-off of the 150th year of public library service in Sandusky County.