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Dayton Metro Library Awards Contracts In "Better Future" Plan

Library
Jerry Kenney

The Libraries for a Better Future project is a four stage plan to overhaul the Dayton and Montgomery County Library System. Several contracts were awarded Wednesday in phase one of the plan.

The Otis Elevator Company, Champion Bridge, and  M&R, LLC--all local or regional companies--were all approved for a contracts of around $250,000 each. 

Tim Kambitsch is the library’s executive director. He says within the $187 million dollar project, they are working hard to stay on budget and on time.

“We’ve been worried about inflation becoming a problem for us," he said. "That has not been a issue as yet, but as we see the economy starting to heat up, as we see a lot of other construction projects beginning, that we are worried that the competition for labor and the competition for materials and the like may cause troubles for us down the line. So, we have a very aggressive schedule for beginning and completing these projects.”

Dayton Metro Library Executive Director Tim Kambitsch is excited about the new library facilities
Credit Lewis Wallace / WYSO
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WYSO
Dayton Metro Library Executive Director Tim Kambitsch.

Phase two of the library plan will be the construction of 6 new branches. Residents in Brookville, New Lebanon, and Kettering will have a chance to weigh in on the design and function of their new libraries at public sessions scheduled for September and October.

Other projects included in the plan are the renovation of the E C Doren Branch in Old North Dayton. That should be completed by year’s end. Work is currently underway to transform the old Hauer Music building on Patterson Blvd. into the libraries new operations center.  That's expected to be completed by February of next year.

Officials say renovation on the Main Library downtown should start by spring of 2015 and be finished a year later. Construction on the six new library branches are expected to begin by summer 2015.

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.
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