The historic and improved Defiance Public Library

Youth Services: The Youth Services Department of the Defiance Public Library will be relocated to the lower level meaning parents with little ones and strollers will no longer need to squeeze into an elevator or pull their loads up the stairs and cross the building when they visit. Features of the new Youth Services will be a special StoryTime setting for programming, shelving units at the right height for children, a durable craft room, a family restroom, and a parent's nook.

Teen Lounge: Teens and Young Adults will have their own lounge area complete with a flat screen TV, comfortable seating and workspace, space for Young Adult book and media collections, and the ability for gaming.

The Reading Room: The Nellie M. Gary Reading Room will be returned to its original purpose and design. Shelving units which have been incorporated into the room over the years will be relocated, allowing the room to again be used for quiet reflection, study, and reading. The original doors which hung in that room will be restored and the windows will be uncovered to reveal the library's unparalleled view of the mighty Maumee. It will once again become the room it was intended to be.

The Dome Lounge: Our unique stained glass dome will become the focal point of a new lounge area. Comfortable seating will be available so that you can surf the web on our laptops, meet with a group of friends, or browse our magazine and newspaper collections. There will even be a new refreshment nook which will keep you supplied with coffee and snacks while you relax.

Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction: Wider aisles, more display space, and better lighting are all priorities for our renovated Adult collection spaces. Adult Non-Fiction will stay on the Main Level of the West Wing while Adult Fiction will be relocated to the Main Level of the East Wing. These changes will make finding your favorite reads easier and more enjoyable.

The Wing Windows: Our 16 large river-view windows located in both wings of the library are in need of replacement. While they are being replaced with energy efficient double-paned glass, we will also be lowering them to reach the floor, offering a full view of the rivers and fortgrounds which will be unparalleled. Comfortable seating will be set next to them for full enjoyment of the view.

Technology: One of our biggest changes won't be in furniture or shelving, but in computers. The Defiance Public Library will undergo a switch to laptop computers for public use. This frees up bulky computer terminal space while offering you the freedom to complete your work and surfing where you want to. All DPLS locations are already fully equipped with Wi-Fi access and security will be installed on computers to ensure their safety.

Ohioana: Our Local History and Genealogy Department will be relocated to the Main Level where it will be adjacent to Reference Services and the Adult Collections. This move also ensures our historic collections remain out of the flood water ways in case of the rising river. Part of the original stonework of the library will be uncovered to add character and atmosphere to this reflective space.