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Library's Renovation Set To Begin On Former Hauer Music Building

Jerry Kenney

The musical instruments recently on display here are gone, and after 75 years, the old Hauer Music Store is mostly empty. But not for long: As early as mid-May, construction crews will begin renovating the building, making it ready for about 50 Dayton Metro Library employees.  

Credit Jerry Kenney
Before: Musical instruments adorn the floors and walls of Hauer Music in March.

On Wednesday, the library opened up the doors of the building on Patterson Blvd. in Downtown Dayton so employees could see where they’ll be working  next year.  As part of a major system-wide reorganization and renovation project for Dayton Metro, the historic building will become the library system’s operations center.

David Slivken, director of the downtown library, says it’ll be a big change for the employees moving here.

“Those who will be here permanently are very excited to be here," he said.  "It’ll be our operations center, it’ll be our technical services, our human resources, out IT department, and training and development.”

The operations center will occupy the second, third and fourth floors of the building, and in 2015, when renovations to the Third Street branch begin, many of the books there will be temporarily relocated to the first floor of the operations center.  Library officials say that space could eventually be leased out.

Credit Jerry Kenney
After: The building's 1st floor will temporarily house Dayton Metro Library books when renovations begin at the 3rd St. branch in 2015

The library's Community Engagement Manager, Jayne Klose, says plans are to keep as much of the building’s historical look as possible. 

“Where there’s exposed brick, just clean it up. Obviously, where it’s already painted, we’ll have to give it a fresh coat of paint. And then we’ll be taking out the current stair tower on the north side, and building a new stair tower to meet current needs for elevators and so forth," she said.

Renovations are expected to be completed in February of 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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