POLAND, Ohio - The debate over the future of the Poland Library intensified Thursday as residents, village leaders and longtime supporters packed a board meeting of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

The Poland Save Your Library Citizen’s Group delivered nearly 2,000 petition signatures to trustees, urging them to preserve the library’s South Main Street location. Speaker after speaker called the building a landmark and said relocation would devastate the community.

“Our library is not just a building,” said Joan Smith, a member of the Poland Village Architectural Review Board. “It has character. It has heart. And it has become a source of great pride for our community.”

Library officials emphasized that no vote was taken Thursday. Instead, COO Jordan Shaver is lead

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