Bergholz library branch to open in summer 2026
Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County partners with Bergholz Community Foundation on $1.6 million revitalization project
The Bergholz library branch, planned for 270 Second St., is set to open in summer 2026 on the site of a former restaurant that was destroyed by fire.
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The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County will expand its services, programs and collection with the opening of a new branch in the Village of Bergholz.
The Bergholz branch is expected to open in summer 2026 at 270 Second St., near the Bergholz Museum, the Bergholz Community Foundation office and the police garage. The building, once a restaurant that burned down, sat unfinished for years. The Bergholz Community Foundation is funding interior reconstruction to make way for the library and transform it into a place for reading and lifelong learning.
Amy Richards of the Bergholz Community Foundation said the idea for a library grew out of a bequest the foundation received two years ago from a lifelong village resident.
“The trustees agreed that the income from this gift would be used strictly to fund projects that would directly impact the Village of Bergholz,” Richards said. “We were looking for a project that would make a difference in the lives of the residents and improve the village. Beth Ruppert Warren from the Jefferson County Resource Network introduced the foundation to library director Mike Gray, and the wheels began turning.”
Gray said trustees of the library board are excited to serve Bergholz residents and nearby communities.
“The new library addition allows us to further provide the people of Jefferson County with books, story times and a connection to digital resources,” Gray said. “The library plans to include shelving to showcase local history information that community members can contribute to.”
The $1.6 million revitalization project is supported by the foundation and the Village of Bergholz, which are working together to secure grant funding. In addition to the library, other planned improvements include a health and resource center, outdoor courtyard, green space in neighboring lots, and a community hotspot center.
The foundation will host a community celebration to kick off the new library and its projects Sept. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Second Street. The event will feature food trucks, music, inflatables for kids and the library’s bookmobile, which will offer library card registration. All are welcome.
