Toledo-Lucas County Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toledo Lucas County Public Library |
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| Main Library, Michigan Street Entrance | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1838 |
| Location | 325 N Michigan St, Toledo, Ohio 43604 |
| Branches | Main Library and 20 branches |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 5,882,449 |
| Population served | 441,815 |
| Members | 269,997 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $37,856,309 |
| Director | Jason Kucsma |
| Staff | 396 |
| Website | toledolibrary.org |
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is a big public library system in Toledo, Ohio. It helps people in Lucas County find books, learn new things, and connect with their community.
Contents
Discovering the Library's History
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The Toledo Lucas County Public Library started a long time ago in December 1838. It was the very first public library in Ohio that was paid for with tax money! This meant everyone could use it, not just those who paid a fee.
Early Days and Growth
At first, it was a "subscription library." This meant members paid a small yearly fee to borrow books. In 1873, it officially became a free public library for everyone in Toledo. The first librarian was Mrs. Anna B. Carpenter. The library first opened its doors on November 3, 1873, in a commercial building downtown.
In 1890, a new main library building was built. It had a cool design, mixing old European styles. This building cost about $84,000, which was a lot of money back then! An addition was built in 1914 to make it even bigger.
Branching Out: More Libraries for Everyone
The library system began to grow with more locations. The first full-service branch library opened in 1915. In 1916, a famous businessman named Andrew Carnegie offered money to build five more branch libraries. These new branches opened between 1917 and 1918, making it easier for people all over the city to visit a library.
A New Main Library and Mergers
The current main library building opened on September 5, 1940. It was designed to look like famous libraries in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Inside, you can see special glass murals in the children's library and historic court.
Over the years, other library systems in Lucas County joined together. In 1970, the Toledo Public Library, Lucas County Library, and Sylvania Public Library all merged. This created the large Toledo Lucas County Public Library system we know today.
Modern Updates and Renovations
The Main Library has been updated several times to keep up with modern needs. In 2001, a big renovation added a lot of space and restored the historic parts of the building. More recently, in 2018-2019, the Main Library closed for more renovations. When it reopened, it had a new cafe, a bigger children's library, a gift shop, a recording studio, and new spaces for teaching and community events.
Amazing Collections and Resources
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library serves almost 432,000 people in Lucas County. It's a busy place where people use computers, join discussion groups, and attend meetings.
The library has tons of resources! You can find books, DVDs, and CDs. They also have special collections like old photographs, artwork, and information about local history and family trees. They even have old newspapers and court records. The library is also a special place where you can find government documents and information about patents.
Digital Collections: Explore Online
The library offers many cool things you can access online:
- Images in Time: This is a huge collection of about 154,000 photos from the Toledo area. You can see how the city looked in the past!
- Digital Collections: In 2013, the library worked with other big libraries in Ohio to get a grant. This money helped them create special "hubs" to turn old documents and photos into digital files.
- eMedia: You can borrow e-books, audiobooks, and magazines online through services like Overdrive and Flipster.
Special Art and Programs
The library isn't just about books! It also has some amazing art.
Art for Kids and More
The Robert L. and Posy Huebner Collection has over 200 original artworks by artists who illustrate children's books. You might see drawings of famous characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog or Fancy Nancy! There are also other artworks, like a glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly and colorful murals.
Fun Events and Series
The library hosts many special events throughout the year:
- Holiday Concert Series: Enjoy festive music in December.
- Summer Brown Bag Concert Series: Listen to music during your lunch break in the summer.
- Authors! Series: Meet and hear from famous authors from Toledo and around the country.
Library Locations and Departments
The Main Library is located at 325 North Michigan Street in downtown Toledo. It has several different departments:
- Computers & Media: For all your tech needs.
- Children's Library: A special place for younger readers, including a creativity lab called The Susan M. Savage Family Place.
- Fact & Fiction: Where you find most of the books!
- Local History & Genealogy: Learn about Toledo's past and research your family tree.
- Teen Department & Studio Lab: A cool space just for teens with a studio.
The Main Library also has the Rogowski-Kaptur Labor History Room, which has won awards for its collection on workers' history. Plus, there's The Blade Rare Book Room & Vault. Here, you can see very old and valuable items, like a letter from Thomas Jefferson written in 1800 and first editions of the original Nancy Drew books!
Branches Across the County
Besides the Main Library, the system has 20 other branch locations and four Mobile Services vehicles (bookmobiles!) that bring the library to different communities. Some of the branches include:
- Birmingham Branch (opened 1920)
- Heatherdowns Branch (opened 1968)
- Holland Branch (opened 1984)
- Kent Branch (opened 1917), which also has the Art Tatum African-American Resource Center.
- King Road Branch (opened 2016)
- Lagrange Branch (opened 1934)
- Locke Branch (opened 1917)
- Maumee Branch (opened 1937)
- Mott Branch (opened 1918)
- Oregon Branch (opened 1965)
- Point Place Branch (opened 1938)
- Reynolds Corners Branch (opened 1958)
- Sanger Branch (opened 1950)
- South Branch (opened 1918)
- Sylvania Branch (opened 1926)
- Toledo Heights Branch (opened 1935)
- Washington Branch (opened 1928)
- Waterville Branch (opened 1964)
- West Toledo Branch (opened 1923)
