The new year started on a positive note for residents of Brimfield as the township opened a new library branch at 4286 Kelso Drive after a thirteen-year wait.

In 2011, Brimfield’s old library closed as a result of budget cuts. On Jan. 20, residents welcomed a new library to call the township home.

Jeremy Fridy, a Portage County District Library reference librarian and Kent State alumnus, said it’s long overdue.

“People are very happy about the opening of this new library,” Fridy said. “There was a library here, I think in 2010 or 2011, and it was closed down, and the residents were very sad about it. But now they are very excited.”

Fridy, who was previously employed at the Randolph library, transferred to Brimfield out of enthusiasm and a desire to assist in the start-up of the new library. 

“I think I will be able to help a lot of people find books, help them learn new things, and get things they need,” he said. “I like the challenge of helping people; we have digital collections that people can use, and I can also order or request books from outside our library for those who need them.”

Fridy said the library will host a professor from the Kent State physics department for upcoming programs and events preceding the highly anticipated solar eclipse. It will also welcome the Hometown Bank at the end of February to talk about basic financial literacy skills.

Wayne Griffith, a seventy-year-old resident, is not only thrilled that the library has returned, but even more so that it is located in his backyard this time around.

“I like the convenience; you know, I’m old school, so I like to check out books,” Griffith said. “I am very excited because I’m a self-employed individual and I need faxing and scanning machines to send in some documents to the state, and it’s convenient to have done that at the library because I don’t have the equipment at home.”

Griffith expressed confidence in the library staff and his desire for them to achieve success, adding that the library’s mere presence and patronage could have a significant impact on the community.

“I don’t know what their vision is; I’m just going to support them, and hopefully they can arrive at whatever they decide to do,” he said. “I’m going to make it happen if I can. I did not use the old library much; I was raising kids and family, working and doing other things. I appreciate this new library more now, hence why I’m so excited.”

Ignatius Ogbu is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].