Dozens of residents from Poland and surrounding areas told the Mahoning County commissioners on Oct. 9 that they want the Poland Public Library to remain in its present location and be repaired rather than moved.

The appeals came during the public-comment period at the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners meeting as residents described the 2001 building as a community landmark, cited fundraising and grants that paid for it, and presented a petition with more than 2,000 signatures asking the library board to keep the branch in Poland.

Supporters said the branch is a local landmark and an anchor for walkability, children’s access to schools and community identity. "Our one and only goal is to keep the Poland library at its present location," said Dave Smith, trustee of the Poland Historical Society and a member of the Save Your Library Citizens Group. Joan Smith, a member of Poland’s architectural review board, told commissioners, "The issues ... are not just a building. It has character. It has heart." Several speakers noted private donations and a county recycling grant that helped construct the branch.

Speakers cited a 2024 technical evaluation conducted for the library system. Local contractor Ted Downey reviewed the consultants’ reports in public comment and said the architectural and engineering teams produced a repair plan with budget estimates, adding, "The architects and engineers believe that the structure can be repaired." Tom Frost, a trustee who represents the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, said the library board has voted only to explore options and that "there has been no decision to vacate." He emphasized that the board's process is exploratory and that any changes could take years.

Commissioners voted to approve a resolution "in support of preserving the Poland Public Library to remain a vital part of the community for the current and future generations" as part of a package of resolutions approved on Oct. 9. The roll-call approval recorded three affirmative votes. No ordinance or binding mandate to the library board was made by the commissioners at the meeting; the resolution expresses the commission’s position.

Clarifying details raised by speakers: the Poland branch opened in December 2001; petition organizers said they had collected more than 2,000 signatures and were working toward 3,000; speakers said the county recycling division contributed a $400,000 grant toward construction and that private donors contributed six-figure sums (one cited $100,000) toward features such as the cupola. Library officials and speakers referenced professional reports prepared in 2024 by an architectural firm (BSHM named in public comment) with structural and MEP evaluations and cost estimates.

Library leadership said it will arrange tours and briefings for elected officials to view the building and the consultants’ findings; the library board representative said the process is public and no final decision has been made. Residents and former trustees urged the library board and county leaders to follow the consultants’ repair recommendations and to seek philanthropic contributions and public support if repairs are required.

The county commissioners did not set deadlines or direct specific repairs at the meeting. The library board has indicated it will continue its exploratory work and public outreach; residents said they will continue petitioning and fundraising.

For now, the question of whether the Poland branch will be repaired in place or moved remains with the Youngstown–Mahoning County Library board, which the speakers and the commissioners said will consider the consultants’ reports before making a formal decision.