The Mariemont Branch Library is hosting its first full summer of programming in a renovated space after a $2 million overhaul completed earlier this year.

The branch at 3810 Pocahontas Ave. reopened Saturday, January 3, 2026, following a renovation that replaced mechanical and electrical systems more than 50 years old. The library said hundreds of visitors attended the unveiling celebration. Since then, the refreshed building has returned to full service with new spaces residents hadn't seen before the closure.

» Watch the ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks on YouTube

Designed by architecture firm SHP and built by contractor Turner, the project added a meeting room, a dedicated teen area, a cozy reading nook with a fireplace, an updated children's section, and a quiet collaboration space. New carpet, paint, ceiling tiles, furniture, and LED lighting run throughout the building. Staff areas were also refreshed.

The Mariemont Branch first opened in 1926 in a corner of a building on Chestnut Street with 750 books serving 33 families. The current building, on a one-acre site near Mariemont High School, was dedicated in September 1972 in memory of Library Director Ernest I. Miller, a Mariemont resident who died in 1971. Exterior updates were completed in 2021 before the interior work began.

The renovation is part of a system-wide reinvestment effort by the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. The nearby Madeira Branch has also been renovated under the same initiative, according to CHPL's project page.

The branch is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed Sunday. CHPL's Summer Reading program runs through Thursday, July 31, at all 41 locations including Mariemont, with free books and prizes for kids and teens who complete reading challenges.

Upcoming programs at the branch include a National Treasure Escape Room series and weekly storytimes for babies and toddlers. Details are available at chpl.org or by calling (513) 369-4467.

Upcoming at the Mariemont Branch

  • Summer Reading "Camp Read" — through Thursday, July 31. Free book at sign-up; prizes for completed challenges.
  • National Treasure Escape Room — dates and registration at chpl.org.
  • Library Babies Storytime and Toddler Storytime — recurring weekly. Call (513) 369-4467 for schedule.