Who will decide the fate of Main Library's north building?

Twenty years ago, taxpayers spent nearly $40 million on a new building for the Main Library Downtown. Now it could be sold for less than $8.5 million.

In June, the board of trustees for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County voted to pull public services from the five-story, 132,500-square-foot north building. The library contracted with the Cincinnati Central City Development Corp. (3CDC) to explore whether to sell, lease or repurpose the building.

The decision was met with protests at the board's August meeting. To those demonstrators, a 3CDC deal meant a public resource could land in the hands of private developers.

The board told protesters no decisions had been made about the fate of the building, but stood by their decision to consolidate services.

At a later "town hall" meeting on Aug. 22 at the library organized by the protesters, University of Cincinnati librarian and archivist Eira Tansey said she was disappointed to hear about the plan to consolidate services.

"Which to me misses the point, right? We have this public space. How can we use it more?" Tansey said. "That really bothers me because it's actually a failure of imagination."

She joined others in suggesting dozens of other uses for the space including a Downtown branch of Cincinnati State, a place for social workers to address the needs of library patrons or a space to help combat the opioid epidemic.

Taxpayers spent $7.7 million on the land alone in 1997 and another $31.4 million on the building and the walkway over ninth street connecting the north and south buildings.

CBRE, one of the largest commericial real estate firms in the city, valued that building at $8.48 million in July.

The assessment was performed by the company's senior vice president, Michael Moran, the son of board member William Moran, which prompted demonstrators to cry "conflict of interest."

Who has the final say?

The seven-member board of trustees will ultimately decide what happens to the north building. It is unclear when that decision will be made, but the 3CDC contract expires in December.

Four members of the board are appointed by the Hamilton County Commissioners. The remaining three are appointed by the judges of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. The term of one board member expires each year.

Board president Allen Zaring's term expires this year on Sept. 30. The Hamilton County Commissioners could replace him on the board, but if they disagree with the decisions the board is making they have no legal standing for taking stronger action. In fact, the commissioners can't even control the rate of the Hamilton County property tax levy that partially funds the library. That too is controlled by the board.

The Enquirer surveyed the board members about their vision for the north building and the library in general. The next board meeting is October 10 at the Mount Healthy branch at 7608 Hamilton Avenue.

President Allen G. Zaring IV

Appointed by: Hamilton County Board of Commissioners

When: December 2010

About: Before joining the board, Zaring served as director of the Library Foundation and chairman of its board. He was also on the Library Levy Campaign Committee in 2009.

Zaring is a vice-president at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, one of the bank's investment arms. His father, Allen Zaring III, founded Zaring National Corp., a home building company. His grandfather, Allen Zaring, founded Zaring Homes.

Vision for north building: "The north building could be redeveloped into offices, residential and/or retail uses."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "My children have enjoyed attending summer learning 'Braincamps.'"

Resides: Columbia Tusculum

Vice President Barbara W. Trauth

Appointed by: Hamilton County Board of Commissioners

When: December 2011

About: Trauth is a painter and sculptor. She attended both Xavier University and the Cincinnati Art Academy and later worked as a designer, illustrator and teacher.

She had a failed run for Cincinnati City Council in 2003. She is married to Joseph Trauth, a lawyer specializing in civil litigation, zoning and planning law and real estate law at Keating Muething and Klekamp.

Vision for north building: "Used in the most efficient way."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "The Makerspace service has helped me print copies of my paintings and copy the illustrations to my children books that I have written."

Resides: Hyde Park

Secretary William Moran

Appointed by: Hamilton County Board of Commissioners

When: First in 1996, most recently in December 2013

About: During his two-decade stint on the library board, he chaired the 2009 levy campaign and the 2013 "Keep our Library Strong" levy renewal campaign. He is a former board member of the Ohio Library Council.

Moran retired as a senior vice president at Fifth Third Bank. Prior to that he was the director of real estate for Kroger. Moran's father retired as vice president and general counsel of Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co., where Moran began his career in 1970.

He also serves on the board of Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. and the development and finance committee of 3CDC. He is also a board chair of the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District.

Vision for north building: "Used as its highest and best use. I was on the Board when it was built, which was when the library was a highly used research facility. Times have changed. Research now is mainly done online, so the facility now is outdated. We can provide our patrons the same services in smaller footprints."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "I'm a big reader, two to three books per week. I use it to check out books"

Resides: Mount Adams

Robert G. Hendon

Appointed by: Judges of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas

When: First in 2007, most recently in December 2012

About: A University of Cincinnati and Xavier University graduate, Hendon worked for about 40 years in the fields of engineering and architectural design.

He is the retired president of Hendon-Lurie and Associates, an architecture and design firm.

His wife, Sylvia Sieve Hendon, was a Hamilton County Municipal Court judge and then a Juvenile Court judge. In 2004, she was elected to Ohio First District Court of Appeals. She served there until February.

Vision for north building: "I will seek a disposition that best serves the needs of both the library and the community it serves."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "I personally am intrigued with the MakerSpace. Also, I enjoy the convenience of the drive-thru window for pickup and return of library materials."

Resides: North Bend in Miami Township

Monica Donath Kohnen

Appointed by: Hamilton County Board of Commissioners

When: December 2015

About: Kohnen is a partner at the law firm of Graydon where she practices business, real estate, construction and banking law.

She has was previously on the board of Downtown Cincinnati Inc. and the Hamilton County Board of Building Standards.

Vision for north building: "Put to its highest and best use for the benefit of our community."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "Those focused on introducing very young children to the joys of reading through story times as well as summer reading challenges. Most recently I have been impressed with the coding classes the library offers; the MakerSpace with its 3D printer; and the Library’s Outreach Services."

Resides: Hyde Park

Elizabeth H. LaMacchia

Appointed by: Judges of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas

When: First in 1998, most recently in 2014

About: LaMacchia has been involved with the library for more than 30 years. She began as a book sale volunteer in 1984. She was the director of Friends of the Public Library for a decade.

She moved to Cincinnati in 1983 with her husband John LaMacchia, who as retired president and CEO of Cincinnati Bell after more than 15 years with the company.

Vision for north building: "Options are open – it depends on what the alternatives there are."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "Books and audiobooks."

Resides: Indian Hill

Ross A. Wright

Appointed by: Judges of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas

When: First in 2007, most recently in December 2016

About: Now an attorney for General Electric's aviation section, Wright began his career in the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office. In between, he worked at the law firm of Taft Stettinius and Hollister and then Convergys as a senior attorney.

Vision for north building: "For it to achieve its highest and best use based upon consumer demand, our library patrons."

Library service used or enjoyed most: "Quiet zones and audio books via Hoopla."

Resides: Paddock Hills