New Children's Area Opens at Main Library

YOUNGSTOWN (December 20, 2005) – What better gift for our community's children than an area filled with wonder and books? A gift of knowledge. A gift rich with history. A gift that can take a child around the world and back through the pages of a book. At a reception today, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County presented such a gift -- a new children's area in Main Library, 305 Wick Ave., launched just in time for the holidays.

The new section, designed by Architect Ronald Cornell Faniro, features historic icons representing significant events , locations and items of interest as seen through the eyes of a child.

It has been said that every picture tells a story. This new section is steeped in history and every icon does indeed have a story to tell. Each represents pieces of the past, woven together to form the fabric of the Mahoning Valley.

As children move through the new section, they will see the icons on end panels of the shelving which holds books to delight and inform children through grade 6. Icons such as Idora Park and its famous Wild Cat roller coaster, the Isaly Dairy Plant and its popular Skyscraper cone, Lanterman's Mill & Falls in Mill Creek Park, the Warner Theat er , the Jeanette Blast Furnace, and much more. A centrally located trolley provides an inviting place for a child to sit and browse a favorite book or travel through the Mahoning Valley without ever leaving the Library.

These landmark icons are explained in a permanent exhibit in the children's area, A Youngstown Picture Book, created by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and sponsored by the architect.
A Youngstown Picture Book brochure which gives an overview of each item is also available at the Library.

This project furthers the goals of Library 2011, the Library's strategic plan.  Some 23,000 books from the North Library were brought to Main Library to triple the children's collection here.  North Library, which closed  May 14, housed much of the library system's children's materials.  Bringing the children's collection back to Main Library was a Library 2011 goal.

This holiday gift is a gift that will last and will serve children of all ages for years to come. A grant from Youngstown CityScape and donations in memory of Emanuel N. Catsoules helped provide funds for this new children's area.

Working on the project was: Ronald Cornell Faniro, Architect AIA, NCARB; Crowe's Cabinets, Inc., millwork; Joe Dickey Electric; and Angelo Lamarca and Michael Marks, painting.