Cuyahoga County Public Library breaks ground on two library projects in Parma

PARMA, Ohio - Cuyahoga County Public Library held not one, but two groundbreaking ceremonies in Parma on Tuesday.

Officials donned hard hats as ground was broken at the site of the new Parma Branch location near Parma City Hall. The 42,000 square foot, state-of-the-art branch will replace the existing Parma-South and Parma-Ridge branches.

After a short trolley ride across town, officials turned dirt at the Parma-Snow Branch, where an approximately 30,000-square foot renovation and addition will take place. The branch will be connected to the library's administration building. The addition will include a 400-seat auditorium and accessible green roof.

"Both of these projects are going to be outstanding, not only for the city of Parma, for Cuyahoga County, but really be visionary projects for libraries in the nation," said Cuyahoga County Public Library Executive Director Sari Feldman.

The two Parma projects, expected to both be completed in fall 2013, are part of the library's facilities master plan, the largest capital investment program in the library's 90-year history.

"Parma residents are heavy users of our library system and we just think it's a wonderful opportunity, for not just our community, but adjacent communities as well to share in those resources," said Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter.