The Linden neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, is set to undergo a transformation with the remodeling of the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s (CML) Linden Branch. The project, which will more than double the size of the current library branch, kicked off with a ceremonial "wall breaking" event on April 17, 2024.

Ralph Carter, the founder of We Are Linden, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the community, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “It’s going to be a great thing. We need places like this as a safe haven. That’s one of the biggest things our children need – someplace to go, someplace to be heard and a place where individuals care about them.”

Carter, who grew up in Linden, emphasized the importance of projects like the remodeled library branch in instilling pride in the neighborhood's youth and providing them with opportunities for growth. He highlighted that the new space will help children realize they are “opportunity youth, not at-risk youth.”

The modernized Linden Branch, set to span 27,000 square feet on two floors, will offer updated amenities and technology in flexible spaces designed to evolve with the community's needs. It will serve as a hub for learning, community engagement, and cultural enrichment.

In support of the project, the Nationwide Foundation announced a $1 million gift, recognizing the essential role libraries play in fostering growth, development, and lifelong learning within communities. Chad Jester, President of the Nationwide Foundation, emphasized the importance of libraries, stating, “Libraries are an important community anchor that encourage growth, development and lifelong learning.”

The Linden Branch is expected to reopen in 2025, providing a dynamic and innovative space for the Linden neighborhood to gather, learn, and thrive.