Lee-Whedon opens new space in library addition with some more work to be done

Posted 6 July 2026 at 6:56 pm

Photos by Natalie Baron: The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is a staple of Medina’s community. The library’s has a new entrance with an overhang. Lee-Whedon on Aug. 22, 2025 celebrated the start of the construction project. Today it marked its near completion.

By Natalie Baron, correspondent

MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library today celebrated its grand reopening with the near-completion of a 4,785-square-foot addition on the library.

The library held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for donors and other supporters of the $5.2 million project at noon today. There were speeches by the library’s director, Kristine Mostyn, and the construction manager, Chris Ladas of Christa Construction.

The construction project is renovating the existing library as well as the new addition, providing more rooms and space for the public. There will also be expanded WiFi access and more LED lighting.

From left include Assistant Director Sam Covis, Director Kristine Mostyn, and Construction Manager Chris Ladas. They stand just outside the new kitchen area. There will be more tables for use once the space is complete.

The library’s Director, Kristine Mostyn, expressed in her speech, “We’re very excited, but we absolutely want to make sure that we thank everyone in the community who has supported this project from its inception. We wouldn’t have been able to do this if the community didn’t want this and show their support for it, so we’re very grateful.”

In his speech, Ladas stated, “The library board, the library staff, and the library director deserve a lot of credit because it takes a lot of planning, a lot of initiative, and a lot of donations. They went above and beyond to get this job done for this community. This is my fifth library. I’ve done four already, in the Rochester area. Every library, I believe, serves a purpose to help generations to come. This one here will help all future generations come together, come to learn, and come to grow. You can’t ask for more than that.”

“We’re really grateful to our community for supporting us on this project, and we’re hoping it’s going to be wrapped up by the end of this month,” shared the library’s Assistant Director, Sam Covis. She looks forward to bringing these new expansions and renovations to the community, and community support has always helped to keep the construction in motion.

Electricians work on the new addition today.

The construction is on a good trajectory toward completion by the end of the month. Ladas explained further, “We’ve had a couple of material delays, but other than that, the construction itself is moving according to plan. We have a great team of prime contracts with the library. They are working in tandem and getting it done.”

This sneak peek into the developing kitchen space showcases the new cabinets lining the wall and the open windows letting in plenty of light.

Through this process, the library is gaining a rotating art display. Within the room add-ons to the library, an area will be available for bigger programs, such as the library’s movie nights and concerts. There is a room for crafts and science projects. A kitchen space will consist of a refrigerator, stoves, multiple cabinets and tables, and a TV.

There are both a small meeting room and a small room for Friends of the Library, selling used books. A quiet room will contain newspapers and local history in cabinets. Two small study spaces will be available for tutoring and reservation for an area to have meetings between a couple of individuals. Outside of opening hours, one may enter via the back door to use a big meeting room with a TV, where fold-up tables or chairs can be set up, as well as two bathrooms. Outside, there will be a fenced-in garden, and a new parking lot with 14 spaces is also underway.

A new rotating art display presents its first masterpieces.

A quiet room will be part of the library’s expansion. It enables adults to get away from the busy state of the rest of the building. Newspapers and local history will be available in cabinets there.

File photo: Here is how the entrance of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library looked before the construction project. The original 11,100-square-foot building was constructed in 1966.