[Ohiodig] The State Library of Ohio Opens an Exciting New Chapter: Moving to Modern, Central Ohio Locations

[marshams at library.ohio.gov]

The State Library of Ohio is embarking on a new phase of transformation, building on a long legacy of planning and innovation to deliver outstanding library services today and for generations to come.  As part of this initiative, staff offices are relocating to the heart of Columbus at 35 East Chestnut Street, while our priceless collections are moving to a specialized archival facility with state-of-the-art environmental controls at 1831 Deffenbaugh Court in Gahanna.

These moves are part of a strategic modernization effort aimed at enhancing our services, safeguarding our collections, creating improved workspaces for staff, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. By relocating to these two locations, the State Library will free up resources to reinvest in collections, digitization projects, and other initiatives aimed to better serve all Ohioans.

"This move represents an exciting new chapter for the State Library of Ohio," said Mandy Knapp, State Librarian. "By relocating our staff offices and safeguarding our collections in a purpose- built archival facility, we're investing in the future of library service for all Ohioans. These modern spaces will strengthen our ability to preserve Ohio's history, expand access to our resources by increasing our ability to digitize materials, invest further in online research materials, and better support the great state we so proudly serve."

Our new Chestnut Street location is easy walking distance from downtown bus stops and garages. This location will feature a reading room which will serve as a central hub for assistance from our research librarians. There will also be a meeting room for State Library use only.

The State Library's collections include fragile, rare and unique books, manuscripts, and government documents that illustrate and preserve the history of our state and nation. Relocating these items to an environmentally controlled site will help safeguard them for future generations.

In addition to safeguarding our rare and unique items, the State Library plans to increase our digitization efforts to provide greater access for researchers, teachers and students, and the public.  A room at the Chestnut location is being remodeled for our state-of-the-art digitization lab for this purpose.

To facilitate a move of this scale, the State Library is closing its Columbus location at the end of the business day on April 14, 2026. Registering for new accounts and borrowing physical items will temporarily be unavailable for a limited time while the collection is moved.  However, State Library staff will be accessible via phone and email during regular business hours.  Access to digital collections will continue. The Ohio Digital Library is our most heavily used resource, and the State Library remains committed to ensuring continued reliable services and access to its ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines.

The State Library has been planning a move for several years due to the aging condition of the building at 274 East First Avenue and the uncertainty about renewing its lease. Additionally, the property is slated for redevelopment, with a developer planning to demolish the building to make way for new apartments.

Find more information and updates via our State Library Relocation<https://library.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/lib/residents/using-the-library/0move-to-new-location> webpage.
###

[A picture containing text  Description automatically generated]

Marsha McDevitt-Stredney
Director, Marketing & Communications
State Library of Ohio
274 E. 1st Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Tel: 614.644.6875
marshams at library.ohio.gov<mailto:marshams at library.ohio.gov>
library.ohio.gov<https://library.ohio.gov/>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.library.ohio.gov/pipermail/ohiodig/attachments/20260407/2d59a09c/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 18127 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://lists.library.ohio.gov/pipermail/ohiodig/attachments/20260407/2d59a09c/attachment-0001.png>