From AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
“American Libraries,” the flagship magazine of the American Library Association, features 15 new, renovated, and restored libraries in its 2026 Library Design Showcase. The showcase appears in the publication’s Fall 2026 issue, available online today. Now in its 38th year, the annual list recognizes libraries that respond to the evolving needs of their communities.
Jerome Library at Bowling Green State University was one of the 15 projects selected for the 2026 Library Design Showcase. It was recognized for its $1 million restoration of one of BGSU’s most recognizable landmarks – the nine-story relief mural covering the library’s east and west facades, created by Ohio artist Don Drumm in 1966 and visible for miles around campus.
The project went beyond repainting the weather-faded concrete. The restoration included structural repairs, crack stabilization, tuckpointing, and protective sealants designed to preserve the large-scale artwork for future generations while maintaining the distinctive exterior that has helped define BGSU’s campus for 60 yeras.
Completed by NR Lee Restoration Company, the project encompasses the exterior of the 194,920-square-foot Jerome Library and stands out for combining preservation of public art with the structural restoration of a campus landmark.
For more information about the Library Design Showcase or to view this year’s list, past selections, and slideshows, visit bit.ly/Design-Showcase.
