Akron-Summit County Public Library

The Akron-Summit County Public Library is “recognized locally as an essential community asset, and nationally as one of the finest public libraries in the United States due to its excellent customer service, collaborative community involvement, and high level of customer and employee satisfaction” (ASCPL Vision Statement). The system has over 2,000,000 books and items in its collection. It has evolved into one of the area’s busiest places to gather for programs and meetings, serving over 950,000 visitors in 2011. The library also has 335,000 library cardholders, and over 6,000,000 items borrowed. The Akron-Summit County Public Library includes a Main Library, 17 branch libraries and Mobile Services (located in the lower level of the Main Library).

In 2009, the Akron-Summit County Public Library was named a top ten library in the nation in the newly released Hennen American Public Library Ratings, published by independent researcher Thomas J. Hennen, Jr. The library was awarded the highest possible rating – Five Stars – in the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. (“America’s Star Libraries,” Library Journal, 2/15/09).

The library’s history dates back to 1874, when the City Council passed an ordinance to provide a free public library for the city of Akron. The library started on the second floor of the Masonic Temple that was located on the corner of South Howard Street and Mill Street. The library then moved to second floor of the Everett Building on the corner of East Market Street and North Main Street in 1898. Due to the library’s rapid growth, it was moved in 1904 to a new Carnegie library building funded by Andrew Carnegie on East Market Street. A growing collection necessitated another move to the former Akron Beacon Journal building on the corner of East Market Street and Summit Street in 1942, until construction of a new Main Library began in 1965; it opened in 1969. Changing technology and the need for more services led to an additional expansion and the complete renovation of the existing 1969 library building which necessitated temporarily relocating Main Library in May of 2001 to a former DIY store on East Tallmadge Avenue until the project was completed. On October 10, 2004, the newly expanded and renovated Main Library reopened on South High Street and South Main Street.

Divisions within Main Library include:

• Audio Visual Services
• Business Labor & Government
• Children’s Library
• History & Humanities
• Magazines & Newspapers
• Mobile Services
• Popular Culture
• Science & Technology
• Special Collections
• Teens

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 two 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.

East Branch Library (now Goodyear Branch) was the first branch library, 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. The system’s branches are Ellet, Fairlawn-Bath, Firestone Park, Goodyear, Green, Highland Square, Kenmore, Maple Valley, Mogadore, Nordonia Hills, North Hill, Northwest Akron, Norton, Odom Boulevard, Portage Lakes, Richfield, and Tallmadge. Most of the branch libraries underwent extensive renovation 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.

Serving teens and children is an important aspect of the library’s mission. 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 an exceptional Children’s Library at Main, with a Resources for Early Childhood Educators Center. Caregivers and educators make use of a Lab and its equipment, and materials geared to assist in the education of young children. The Akron-Summit County Public Library is committed to promoting reading readiness in conjunction with local and state funded programs for early childhood education. 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.

A few of the outstanding features of the Akron-Summit County Public Library include:

• A wide variety of computer classes that are free and open to the public
• Access to 535 computers and wireless Internet connections
• Membership in SearchOhio, which provides access to more than 11 million additional items in participating Ohio public libraries
• Summit Memory Project, an online scrapbook of Summit County history
• Designation as a Patent & Trademark Depository Library and a Federal Depository Library
• Nonprofit Resources Center, which offers information and programs on grantseeking and fundraising
• Science Fair Project Index
• Project LEARN (inside Main Library–Lower Level)

The Akron-Summit County Public Library system serves Akron, Ohio and all of Summit County except for Stow & Munroe Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Peninsula, Twinsburg, and Barberton, which have their own libraries.