Voters in Hamilton County in 2018 agreed to double the amount they pay for libraries.

In 2020, they'll see what they're getting in return.

This year, the oldest libraries in the system will get a new life and a new look will be planned for the Downtown branch, according to the 10-year, $150 million plan unveiled Wednesday for the 41 branches of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The 2018 levy will bring in an extra $19 million a year to help the efforts. The levy raised the annual library taxes paid by the homeowner of a $100,000 home from $28 to $63.

Here are some highlights of what to expect this year:

The return of the Price Hill library

The 111-year-old Price Hill library could re-open this year for the first time since a chunk of ceiling fell onto the main floor in July 2018.

It has sat shuttered on the hilltop on Warsaw Avenue ever since.

Price Hill residents have had to borrow their books from a small space in the Price Hill Community Recreation Center for the past 17 months.

The old library will re-open by the end of 2020 or early 2021 after an estimated $6.5 million to $7.5 million in work is completed. When it does, the library will have a new elevator, ramps and more than double the space.

Walnut Hills gets historic renovation

Not much has changed to the Walnut Hills library since it opened in 1905 with a grant from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. The library's oldest branch will get renovated for the first time in its history. Officials expect the work to start toward the end of the year.

The estimated $11 million to $12 million project will add an elevator and also double the meeting space. The renovations will keep the historic structure intact, but build an addition alongside it. Walnut Hills is one of six Carnegie libraries in the Cincinnati library system.

Downtown library facelift planned

The design will start this year on a revamped plaza outside the Vine Street entrance of the downtown library.

The current entrance is raised atop paved steps. The plan is to take the steps out and create an open, street-level plaza. The fountain there could get relocated.

The rationale is to create a more open atmosphere and better visibility from the street, according to the plan.

The exact budget and timeframe for this haven't been set, library spokesman Chris Rice said.

Elmwood and Reading branches get TLC in 2020

The Elmwood library will get new paint, carpeting and furniture. The Reading branch will get a laptop kiosk.

You can view the library's detailed improvement plans for its 41 branches at cincinnatilibrary.org/nextgenerationlibrary.