Corinth Library Replacement Study
As of July 2026, a final location for the Corinth Library is still being determined. Library staff, at the direction of the Library Board, are exploring opportunities on both the current site and on the City of Prairie Village’s municipal campus.
Once a location is decided, an architect will be selected through a Request for Proposal process. Design work is anticipated to begin in 2027; during the design process, the community will be invited to provide feedback on features and services of the new facility during the design process. Watch this page for updates and ways you can get involved! You can also stay up to date by following @jocolibrary on social media.
Corinth Replacement FAQ
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Corinth Library is the oldest building in the Johnson County Library system, at more than 60 years old. The branch opened in February 1963, was expanded in 1967 and renovated in 1986 and 2002. For decades, it has been a popular and heavily used branch, especially for its kids’ collection.
The Library’s 2015 Comprehensive Library Master Plan (PDF) identified the need for replacement of the Corinth facility. While beloved, the building now faces significant structural issues that limit practical improvements. After a careful comparison of renovation versus replacement costs, in 2024 the Library Board prioritized the replacement of Corinth Library as the Library’s next capital project.
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No. Renovation was considered and updating a building over 60 years old can reveal unpredictable issues that require substantial contingency costs. At Corinth Library, this work would involve correcting uncertain foundation and groundwater issues, retrofitting structural systems, adding a third floor to meet community needs, constructing structured parking and replacing much of the interior and exterior to meet modern energy codes. Many materials are 40-60 years old and not designed for today’s library services, such as reliable access to power and data.
A 2024 joint study with the City of Prairie Village and the YMCA revealed additional wish list items that the community desired from their Library facility, including a drive-thru and additional meeting space. The footprint of the existing building would not accommodate these additions
A new facility can be purpose-built to meet current codes, sustainability goals and operational requirements while providing more study space, meeting rooms and modern amenities. This approach ensures a resilient, efficient and future-ready Library that can reliably serve the community for the next 60-plus years.
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No final decision has been made. The Library Board owns the building and parking lot at 81st and Mission Road and is exploring both keeping the current site and alternative locations, including the site on the City of Prairie Village municipal campus. Recent test fits commissioned by the Library show that an approximately 30,000 square foot building, improved parking, a drive-thru, pedestrian and vehicle access can be accommodated at both locations.
Regardless of final location, it is important to the Library Board and staff that the community continues to have convenient access to Library services. Should the Board choose to build on a new site, the Corinth Library could remain open through construction.
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The project will be fully funded through the existing mill levy that supports the Library’s Comprehensive Library Master Plan, approved in 2015. Funding specifically for the Corinth Replacement Project was approved in Fall 2025 by the Library Board and the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners as part of the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan.
For capital projects such as this one, the Library’s practice is to use existing Library Reserve dollars to pay for about half of the project, and work with the County to bond the remainder. The Corinth replacement does not require any additional commitment of dollars from residents.
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Corinth Library is Johnson County Library’s next capital project, as determined by the Library Board. As of July 2026, Library staff are working with the City of Prairie Village to determine if the municipal campus site is a feasible option. Once the Library Board provides direction on a location, anticipated to occur in the second half of 2026, the Library will hire an architect through a Request for Proposal process and design can begin. There will be opportunities for public input during the design process, which is anticipated to occur in 2027.
The specific construction timeline is still unknown and will be determined by the scope of design, environmental factors, and supply chain considerations.
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You can share your thoughts in several ways:
- Reach out to Library staff via our Contact Form, or call (913) 826-4600.
- Contact the Library Board of Directors via email; your comment will be included in the next meeting’s board packet.
- Make a public comment at the beginning of an upcoming Library Board meeting, which are held at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Central Resource Library in Overland Park.
Once design is underway, we will share additional opportunities for public input via email, our website, on social media and in the Corinth branch.
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You do not need to live in Prairie Village — or even Johnson County — to give input. People from across the Kansas City metro area use our facilities, and we welcome feedback from a wide range of perspectives.
History of Corinth Library
The History of Corinth Library
First Steps
Corinth Library is Johnson County Library’s oldest facility. The branch opened in February 1963, and for more than 60 years, has served the Prairie Village community and beyond as a popular neighborhood resource and gathering spot.
Though beloved, the aging facility lacks modern infrastructure to support 21st-century community needs and has significant structural issues that limit economically justifiable improvements.
The Library Board has prioritized the development of a replacement facility for Corinth Library as our next large-scale capital project, with design expected to begin in 2026. Funding for the Corinth Library replacement has already been allocated through the Comprehensive Library Master Plan, which was approved in 2015 as a framework to guide the Library’s sustainable growth of services, operations and facilities. This means residents will not see a tax increase to pay for a new Library.
The Study
A joint study with the City of Prairie Village and the YMCA to explore a shared campus with a community center and new Library concluded in fall 2024, with the Prairie Village City Council determining that the project was not feasible. At the same time, the Library also conducted a “test fit” study of the current Corinth Library site to determine if the needs of a modern library — including a drive-thru for returns and holds pickup and reconfigured parking — will work on the existing site. At the request of the Library Board, who owns the property at 13 of 14 Library locations including the existing Corinth building, staff are also exploring the availability of other potential alternative sites.
Next Steps
After a final location is determined for the Corinth Library Replacement, staff will work to select an architect and begin design work. For information on upcoming community feedback sessions and updates on this project, keep an eye on this page as well as our social media @jocolibrary.
Your Library. Your Voice.
Johnson County Library is looking toward the future with a new long-term plan. We need your help to create better services and bigger impact. Add your voice to the Library's story!
