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April 2013

What’s New · New Clifton Branch Library Project

In the spring of 2010, Michael L. Dever, president of Performance Automotive Network, was asked by Library Trustee Bill Moran to donate the 1895 former home of George Barnesdale “Boss” Cox to the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for a new Clifton Branch Library.

Designed by noted Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford, the 10,000 square feet home is located just blocks from the current branch library on a generous lot that would allow for 16 off-street parking spaces behind the house. The home (nearly four times larger than the current 2,520 square-foot storefront facility) would allow the creation of a dedicated children’s room, teen area, program space, meeting rooms, and a computer lab. A feasibility study shows that the collection size could also be increased and an elevator could be added for complete accessibility to the facility.

On April 12, 2010, Library officials submitted a proposal to the Clifton Town Meeting to relocate the Clifton Branch Library from its present small rental facility located at 351 Ludlow Avenue to the former Cox home located at 3400 Brookline Avenue. The Clifton Town Meeting Board voted to support the continuing evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the relocation. At a subsequent meeting, members of the Clifton Business District also supported this proposal. The Library Board and staff are excited by the opportunity to make this notable building into a much needed larger library facility for Clifton residents while preserving a unique piece of Cincinnati history. Learn more about the history of this building and its architecture.

Need for the Project

Clifton area residents are very heavy users of their branch and growing demand for library services far exceeds the capacity of the current facility. The current 2,520 square-foot storefront rental facility is very cramped with space for only a limited collection, no dedicated teen area, no program or meeting rooms, and room for just eight computers.

To better serve the community, the Library has been searching for a new location for a larger branch in Clifton for more than 30 years but finding an appropriate site has been difficult. Since 1990, more than 20 sites have been considered as possible locations. Learn more about Library service to the Clifton community and the need for this project.

Benefits to the Community of a New Branch

  • Larger collection of materials for all ages
  • More computers and area for computer training
  • A children’s room designed as a dynamic learning environment
  • Homework/study center with workstations and spaces for group study
  • Program room for class visits and programs for children, teens, and adults
  • A teen area specifically designed to meet the developmental, educational, and social needs of teenagers
  • Comfortable reading areas
  • Meeting rooms for community use
  • Convenient location near the business district with easy access for walkers, for those utilizing public transportation, and drivers with 16 free parking spaces behind the branch
  • Inviting, attractive and unique facility of historical significance that would be a Library-owned Clifton Branch Library.
Pictures of Parkview Manor
Storytime in crowded quarters
Storytime in crowded quarters
Clifton Branch storefront
Clifton Branch storefront