Cherry Lane

 In 1995, the Meridian Library Board of Trustees determined it was time for a bigger library building. The repurposed Interurban Stage station that had been the library's base since 1930 was no longer adequate for the growing community. 

The Board researched population projections and worked with the Idaho State Library. In order to fund a new building, the District needed to pass a bond with a 2/3 majority vote. Residents Betsy Buckley and Pam Wood started a Friends of the Library group to lead this effort. The Friends hosted a carnival to pay for advertising. They printed fliers and organized door-to-door outreach. On November 7, 1995, voters overwhelmingly approved the $3.4 million bond to construct a new library location. 

At the time, the property at 1326 W. Cherry Lane was exactly in the middle of the Meridian Library District, making it an ideal location. Though the property initially wasn’t for sale, owner Anna Koskella agreed to sell because it would be for the library. 

Construction began in May 1996 and took one year to complete. The Cherry Lane library opened to the public in May 1997.

The Cherry Lane location is set to undergo a renovation in 2024. The project will include renovation of both the 27,600-square-foot main library and 1,840-square-foot annex building, along with a parking lot redesign. The project will be supported by a plant facility levy passed by voters in 2019.