Akron-Summit County Public Library

In January 1874, the Akron City Council established an ordinance to provide a free public library for Akron. On February 27, 1874, the Board of Trustees of the newly-formed Akron Public Library met for the first time, with John R. Buchtel serving as the first Board President. On March 1, 1874, the library, known then as the Akron Public Library officially opened to the public on the second floor of the Masonic Temple that was located on the corner of South Howard Street and East Mill Street. In October 1898, the recently established public library moved from the Masonic Temple to the second floor of the Everett Building on East Market Street and North Main Street. The library grew rapidly and in August 1904, it moved to a new building funded by steel baron Andrew Carnegie who, in his retirement, provided funding for the building of nearly 1,800 Carnegie libraries in the United States. The building, at the corner of East Market Street and South High Street, is currently occupied by Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC. The library occupied this building until 1942 when its growing collection necessitated a move to larger quarters in the former Akron Beacon Journal building located at the corner of East Market Street and Summit Street. As early as 1958, Library officials began discussions regarding the need for a new Main Library. Library Director Russell Munn felt strongly that this new building should be located on South Main Street. In 1962, a bond issue was legislated that would provide $3 million for the construction of the new library. Ground was broken on September 15, 1965, and the doors opened on March 24, 1969. In 1990, the name of the library was changed from the Akron Public Library to the Akron-Summit County Public Library. Changing technology and expanding services to a growing population necessitated an expanded Main Library. In 1996, library officials began to plan for a new building to serve our community. Discussions took place about relocating the library, but the final decision was to remain at its present location and expand. Due to the nature of the expansion, all materials and staff were relocated to a temporary location. In May 2001, Main Library closed its doors and began the move to a former DIY store on East Tallmadge Avenue. For more than three years Main Library operated from this facility until October 10, 2004, when the newly renovated and expanded 300,000 square feet (27,870.91 m²) Main Library on South High Street and South Main Street reopened its doors to the community.[8]

Main Library is located at 60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio, 44326. It has several Special Divisions which include Business & Government, Culture & AV (which includes History & Humanities), Magazines & Newspapers, Science & Technology, Special Collections (which includes Local History & Genealogy), Teen, Teen Program Room, and a 12,000 square feet (1,114.84 m²) Children's Library, Activity Room, and Resource lab for Early Childhood Educators (RECE). The Main Library is a selective federal depository library.[2] Special services that are available at Main Library include a Microbusiness Center; a Patent & Trademark Resource Center; the Akron Digital Media Center; a Technology Center (TechZone@Main); a "Library of Things"; a Maker Space; U.S. Passport and Notary services; a video studio; a recording studio; Quiet Study Rooms; regularly scheduled computer training classes and a café, The Stray Dog Café (located at the South Main Street entrance of Main Library on the first floor). Main Library also has 192 public access computers, free Wi-Fi, black and white and color photocopiers/printers, laminating machines, scanners, and fax machines. Specialized spaces at Main Library include a 425-seat auditorium, public meeting rooms, and a used bookstore (The Library Shop at Main) located on the second floor of Main Library. An interior glass block walkway leads to a 600-space parking garage owned by the City of Akron. Main Library also has an outdoor amphitheater and landscaped park outside of the library's South Main Street entrance.

The Akron Art Library is located on the Second Floor of Main Library at 60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio, 44326. The Akron Art Library is a project of the Akron Art Museum in partnership with the Akron-Summit County Public Library.[9][10]

Project LEARN is located on the Lower Floor of Main Library at 60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio 44326. Project LEARN also has a training room on the First Floor of Main Library.

Mobile Services is located on the Lower Floor of Main Library at 60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio, 44326. This area is not open to the general public, and is accessible only to library staff members.

The library’s outreach services began in 1946, with bookmobile service to rural communities. Today, the Mobile Services department continues to extend library services beyond library buildings to children and adults in a number of different settings. Two bookmobiles visit schools, daycare centers, Head Start programs, and neighborhoods during the school year and in the summer. A van serves many senior citizens’ housing facilities and apartments using carts of materials brought inside to residents. Nursing homes and other residential facilities receive monthly deliveries of library materials. Mobile Services supports the men and women's libraries at the Summit County Jail and provides regular service to other correctional facilities for both adults and children. The Library Express Delivery Service (LEDS) provides library materials to the homebound via U.S. Postal Service. Postage is paid both ways by the Library.

The Akron-Summit County Public Library has 18 branch libraries located throughout the city of Akron and Summit County:

East Branch Library (now known as the Goodyear Branch Library), the first branch library to have its own building, was constructed in 1939. Prior to that, branch libraries were in locations as diverse as the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company’s recreational hall, a department store, a church, and a local school. Most of the branch libraries were either replaced or underwent extensive renovations between 1999 and 2008 to accommodate the growing needs of current residents throughout Summit County.

The library has a history of supporting local artists by acquiring and installing their works at Main Library and all branches. As renovations took place, local artists were commissioned to create works of art that were designed and installed specifically at Main Library and each branch.

Teen Services throughout the system offer study resources, educational support and a wide range of activities for youth. Over the years, a wide variety of children’s programming has emerged throughout the system. Special attention has been paid to developing a Children’s Library at Main, with a Resources for Early Childhood Educators Center (RECE) Lab. Caregivers and educators make use of a Lab and its equipment, and materials geared to assist in the education of young children. The library also takes a lead role with This City Reads in addressing literacy issues and providing access to technology, computer programs and electronic services while collaborating with school districts and home schooling associations throughout Summit County.

Special services that are available at the branch libraries include regularly scheduled computer training classes. The branch libraries have 360 public access computers total among all of the 18 branches, free Wi-Fi, black and white and color photocopiers/printers, laminating machines, scanners, and fax machines.

The Akron-Summit County Public Library system serves Akron, Ohio and most of Summit County except for Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Peninsula, Stow-Munroe Falls, and Twinsburg which have their own smaller independent library systems.

• Akron-Summit County Public Library home page
• Library History Digital Exhibit
• Gwathmey Siegel Akron-Summit County Public Library project page