Columbus Metropolitan Library: Celebrating 150 Years

OUR PURPOSE:

Design

Message to the Community CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF SERVICE

One hundred fifty years ago, shortly after the cruel crucible of the Civil War, a group of dedicated citizens formed the first library in our capital city. The Public Library and Reading Room opened on March 4, 1873, as a single room inside the original Columbus City Hall. Those modest origins were born out of a simple idea – to provide all people access to the resources they need to enrich their minds and transform their lives, their communities and our greater society.

From our humble beginnings in one room to the profound gift from Andrew Carnegie to build Main Library, from civic support that formed our first branches to community support that builds 21stcentury libraries, we owe much of our present to the work of so many in our past.

Today, we stand on the shoulders of dedicated staff and community members who have come before us – trailblazers who have forged pathways for us to become the library we are today, and the library we aspire to be in the future.

Our 2023 sesquicentennial celebration marks 15 decades of commitment to inspire reading, share resources and connect people

We have served our customers through two pandemics and two world wars. Card catalogs held the key to our treasures within for many years, replaced by computers as the internet age took hold and we rode the wave of digital change, innovating and evolving to meet our customers’ needs. Through it all, Columbus Metropolitan Library, now 23 locations strong, remains a constant presence, providing access for all.

We are grateful to the residents of Franklin County, our elected leaders, donors and community leaders who have contributed to the vitality of our library system.

Columbus Metropolitan Library was founded on the tenets of opportunity, accessibility and community. It was shaped by the millions of customers, community supporters and staff who believed in the power of access and information for all.

Just imagine what we can achieve together in our next 150 years.

Patrick Losinski Chief Executive Officer Columbus Metropolitan Library

Catherine Strauss President Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees

EARLY LIBRARIES IN COLUMBUS

Columbus has a storied history of supporting libraries. Calls for a public library in Columbus grew with the population of the city. Library advocates met in the old City Hall in 1871 to plan an appeal to the City Council for funds for a public library that would be free and open to everyone. The ordinance for the establishment of a library space in City Hall passed, and the library opened on March 4, 1873.

John W. Andrews, the first president of the library Board of Trustees, emphasized that the library would be “open to all” at the dedication ceremony. He said, “I congratulate you … our City Council, backed by

the unanimous vote of the citizens, has established and liberally endowed a free library and reading room, free to the whole population of the city.”

The City Hall Library

Rev. James Grover, pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, was named the first librarian. Until 1891, the original City Hall library included the Columbus City Schools’

library. Even after the school library moved in 1891, the original library room on the first floor of City Hall was overcrowded with books and customers. In 1896, the city appropriated funds to expand the space using vacant land to the east of the building. Visits continued to grow to nearly 100,000, with 13,000 cardholders. By 1900, the library was running out of space again.

The first library opened with over 1,500 books and 54 magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

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The expanded space was used as a newspaper and magazine reading room.

▲ The first Columbus library was one room in the old City Hall.

A NEW CARNEGIE LIBRARY

As library use continued to grow, it was clear that Columbus needed a new library building. The Board tapped chief librarian John Pugh to meet with industrialist Andrew Carnegie to ask for funds to build a standalone library. Carnegie typically funded rural or branch libraries. However, when Pugh met with Carnegie in New York, they bonded over their shared experiences as sons of immigrants. On Dec. 31, 1901, Carnegie wrote to offer $150,000 for building a new library, with the condition that the library Board find a suitable site and the city appropriate at least $20,000 per year for maintenance. City Council quickly passed a resolution for the maintenance fee and the Board set out to find a location. Although the original plan for the library included a brick façade, the Board asked Carnegie to fund another $50,000 for marble to make the building “an ornament to the city.” The Columbus Public Library building was dedicated on April 4, 1907, and regular library service began on April 8.

Andrew Carnegie funded

103 public libraries and eight academic libraries in Ohio. He once said, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.”

Groundbreaking for the new library was held on Oct. 12, 1903.

The new library included a children’s space.

Books were positioned behind a reference desk, on five floors of stacks.

 A 200-seat auditorium in the basement offered a gathering space.

BUILDING COMMUNITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS

Soon after Main Library opened in 1907, it became clear that there was a need for library branches in Columbus neighborhoods. Andrew Carnegie was no longer funding libraries and City Council did not have funds available, so the Board of Trustees decided to create library “deposit” locations in fire stations, settlement houses and schools. Deposit locations had about 100–500 books for visitors to read. The Godman Guild was the first established in 1910. After World War I, there were repeated calls for neighborhood branches. Fred J. Heer, president of the library Board, appealed to the Federation of Women’s Clubs for help. On Jan. 17, 1928, the women marched to City Hall to demand funds for branches. Two weeks later, City Council appropriated $40,000 to build four: Clintonville, Linden, Parsons and Hilltop branches.

What’s in a Name?

As the library grew, its name changed to keep up with the times.

1873

Public Library and Reading Room

• The ordinance for the establishment of a library space in City Hall passed, and the library opened on March 4, 1873.

• John W. Andrews, the first president of the library Board of Trustees, emphasized that the library would be “open to all” at the dedication ceremony.

1903

Columbus Public Library

• Groundbreaking for a new, standalone library was held on Oct. 12, 1903.

• The library Board of Trustees approved naming the new library Columbus Public Library.

Children at Godman Guild. Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection.

Margaret Bausch, Parsons Ave. Branch librarian, and Marie Zapp, assistant.

▲ The second Clintonville Branch at 14 W. Lakeview Ave.

EXPANDING SERVICES

Public response to the new branches was widespread. Rose G. Beresford was tapped to lead the Department of Extension Services in 1928. Under her leadership, the Milo Branch opened in 1930.

The Great Depression took a toll on libraries, and State Senator Robert A. Taft drafted a bill that allowed library boards to request funds from the County Commissioners if they offered services county-wide. The law passed in 1933, and in July 1934 Columbus Public Library became a county-wide library. New facilities called “county stations” were established. They were typically a room in a school and were often staffed by teachers. Canal Winchester was the first county library station in 1937 and was followed by Briggsdale, Dublin, Fornof, Gahanna, Galloway, Harrisburg, Hilliard, Lockbourne, New Albany and Reynoldsburg.

1907

A New Carnegie Library: Columbus Public Library

• Columbus Public Library, funded in part by a $200,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie, was dedicated on April 4, 1907.

• Regular library service began on April 8, 1907, at what later became known as Main Library, with 20 locations established between 1928 and 1954.

1976

Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County

• The library Board of Trustees changed the name to Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County to reflect the inclusion of county libraries.

1989

Columbus Metropolitan Library

• The library Board of Trustees approved changing the name to Columbus Metropolitan Library, as it remains today, with 23 locations serving Franklin County.

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The Milo Branch at 768 Leona Ave. was dedicated on January 18, 1930, as the system’s fifth branch.

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Canal Winchester’s county station was in the old school.

LIBRARY LEADERSHIP

Columbus Metropolitan Library has had several long-serving directors. In the early days, the title “chief librarian” was used. As the number of staff increased, it was changed to director and finally Chief Executive Officer. The first three directors were from the City Hall era. James Grover (namesake of author James Thurber) was the first director in 1872 and was succeeded by John Pugh, who served until his death in 1946. Blanche Roberts, the first woman hired at the library and the assistant director for 40 years, became the library’s first woman director in 1946.

Through the Years

James Grover: 1872–1896

John Pugh: 1896–1946

Blanche Roberts: 1946–1947

Will Collins: 1947–1956

Margaret E. Carroll: 1956–1962

Edward B. Daniels: 1962–1974

James E. Ahlstrom: 1974–1975

Donald J. Sager: 1975–1978

Hoyt Rees Galvin: 1978–1979

Richard Sweeney: 1979–1984

Larry Black: 1984–2002

Patrick Losinski: 2002–present

John J. Pugh (center); Blanche Roberts (second from left, front row)

James Grover

Margaret E. Carroll

Richard T. Sweeney (right), with assistant director Charles Brown

DID YOU KNOW?

• James Thurber was a library cardholder who received his juvenile card on April 10, 1907, and upgraded to an adult card on March 3, 1916. He was also named after Columbus Metropolitan Library’s first library director, James Grover.

• After the catastrophic 1913 flood, the library helped reunite families through The Ohio Flood Relief Committee, appointed by Gov. James Cox (second from right). James Kilbourne (second from left) served as president of the library’s board of trustees for four terms. 

• An exhibit organized by artist George Wesley Bellows in 1911 included nudes, which were placed in a separate room deemed the “chamber of immorality” by some.

• In 1928, philanthropist Charles E. Munson donated funds for the Peter Pan fountain at Main Library in honor of his son, Georgie, who died of scarlet fever at age 7. 

• The South High Branch offered disco lessons in the 1970s.

• The adult book and coffee club started at the Linden Branch in 1970 and continued into the 2000s.

• In the 1980s and 1990s, Franklinton Branch was home to a cat named Smoke that was featured in a documentary about library cats.

• In 1990, Gahanna Branch offered a coin-operated computer and a coin-operated typewriter. The computer’s software included word processing, graphics and spreadsheet capabilities.

• In the 1990s, renowned Columbus artist Aminah Robinson was commissioned to create the staircase mural at Main Library titled “Sellsville & The Blackberry Patch.”

The adult book and coffee club started at the Linden Branch in 1970 and continued into the 2000s.

 CEO Patrick Losinski (right) with Aminah Robinson (left) in 2007.

SUMMER READING THROUGH THE YEARS

The library’s signature program for its youngest customers has always been popular, with the value of reading and importance of literacy always at the forefront.

1930s – 1940s

The first “summer reading contest” took place at Columbus Public Library’s Main Library, May 15 –July 15, 1937. After a successful first year, the library decided to make Summer Reading Club an annual event.

1950s – 1960s

The 1950s saw a surge of participants as themes changed and programs became a regular part of promotion. In 1953 the library began to bring in guests to promote the program. Among them was “Aunt” Fran Norris, a children’s TV show host on WBNS-TV.

1970s

In the 1970s, Summer Reading Club continued to grow. Expanded programs included more Storytimes, adventure and nature movies at Main Library, and the Bookworm Club for students. In 1976, coupons for fast food were given out for the first time.

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Winners of the first Summer Reading Club in 1937.

▲ Librarian Gail Milner and children during a Summer Reading Club activity at the Martin Luther King Branch in 1977.

Left to right: Dino Pappas, age 8; Jeanne F. Chavous, age 10; Bobby Weisberg, age 11.

▲ Parsons Branch librarian Margaret Bausch with a rocket display for “Space Exploration,” 1958’s Summer Reading Club theme.

▲ 1961’s Summer Reading Club theme was the Civil War, to mark the 100th year of the beginning of the war. Pictured here are the Eastside Branch winners.

1980s – 1990s

Summer Reading Club entered the 1980s with a roar with the theme “Bring a Dinosaur Up to Date.” Other themes included “Join the Space Reading Crew”, “Reading is Cool”, and in 1988 the entire summer was dedicated to a Maurice Sendak celebration.

2000s

In 2018, the program’s name changed to Summer Reading Challenge, featuring the Reading League, a team of pro-literacy caped crusaders. Superheroes like Captain Read and Wonder Words encourage kids and teens to make reading a habit to prevent summer learning loss.

 A VolunTeen helps a child sign up for Summer Reading Club.

 Summer Reading Club, 1996.

Left, above and below, photos from the Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff, 2022.

Celebrating Years

CELEBRATE WITH US!

We’re celebrating our sesquicentennial with a variety of special events, promotions and partnerships to give our customers more opportunities to visit our locations, for the first or the 150th time. Visit our website for more information on programs and events.

Feb. 16 – March 14

Feb. 1 – 28

March 4

March 4

March 9 – April 11

April 19

April 22 – 23

April 23 – 29

May 1 – 30

May 20 – Aug. 5

June 1 – 30

June 1 – July 31

June 2 – Sept. 16

June 3

July 15 – 16

Aug. 7 – Oct. 30

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

Sept. 30 – Oct. 1

Oct. 14

Nov. 1 – 30

Nov. 3

Nov. 20 – Jan. 7

Nov. 29

Dec. 1 – Jan. 31

columbuslibrary.org

YWCA Columbus, Ohio Undesign the Redline Exhibit at Main Library

Black History Month

Birthday Bashes at all locations (except Marion-Franklin)

New Gahanna Branch Grand Opening

World on the Move Traveling Exhibit at Main Library

Martin Luther King Branch Historical Marker Unveiling

Ohioana Book Festival

National Library Week

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

LEGO® Exhibit at Main Library

Pride Heritage Month

Summer Reading Challenge

Carnegie Gallery Exhibit: Sesquicentennial Celebration Invitational

Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff

Columbus Book Festival

Dinosaurs Exhibit at Main Library

Hispanic Heritage Month

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus

Family History Day at Main Library

Native American Heritage Month

Celebration of Learning

Huntington Holiday Train at Main Library

Holiday Open House and Official Kickoff of the Huntington Holiday Train

Winter Reading Challenge

Sesquicentennial Author Series

Come celebrate with us at these free author talks at Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.

Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. Leonard S. Marcus

March 5 at 2 p.m. Julia Quinn

April 26 at 7 p.m. Friends and Fiction

Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. Donte Woods Spikes

Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. Saeed Jones

Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. Jason Mott

Egg Prize

Watch for this interactive piece of public art coming to Columbus this summer to celebrate 150 years of reading.

eggprize.com

Sesquicentennial Passport

Join us for the first ever Columbus Book Festival! The two-day event featuring national and local authors, exhibitors and entertainment will showcase Columbus Metropolitan Library’s historic Main Library at 96 S. Grant Ave., the adjacent Kaufman Plaza and Topiary Garden Park. See the back page of this section for more details.

Columbus Metropolitan Library is launching the Sesquicentennial Passport to celebrate its 150th birthday! Available March – December, the Passport is full of events and activities for all ages, inside our libraries and out and about in our community. Stop in any Columbus Metropolitan Library location to pick up a passport starting March 4.

Celebrating Years

Open to All Since 1873

A COMMUNITY OF PARTNERSHIPS

Celebrate Columbus Metropolitan Library all year long thanks to our community partners. Your library card gives you extra savings throughout our 150th birthday year. Check out these free or discounted opportunities just by showing your library card. It’s the Best. Deal. Ever.

PARTNER DAYS

Columbus Symphony Storytime

April 16 at 3 p.m.

Ohio Theatre

Dress up as your favorite storybook character and enjoy the greatest hits from Tchaikovsky and storybook heroes. Pre-concert activities begin at 2 p.m. and include create your own crown, magic wand and storytime bookmarks. Families will also be treated to three floors of activities, games, and can even have a picture taken with our lovable mascot, Bee-thoven! Free with your library card; one ticket per library card.

National Veterans Memorial and Museum

Free Library Card Days

April 28–30; June 22–24; Aug. 4–6

Visit the only place in America dedicated to telling the stories of veterans from all military service branches and all eras during war and peace. Free with your library card.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Discounted Tickets All Summer

June 1–Aug. 30

Enjoy $3 off full-price tickets with your library card for day or evening admission to see world-class horticulture, art and nature-based exhibitions, plus educational programs for all ages. This excludes member discounts on special engagement nights and Museums for All tickets.

CAPA

Free Cartoon Capers at the Summer Movie Series

June 24 at 10 a.m.

Ohio Theatre

Show your library card and get free admission to Cartoon Capers at the CAPA Summer Movie Series. Enjoy an amalgamation of animated antics featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck!

Gateway Film Center

From Book to Film Movie Series

Every Saturday and Sunday throughout June and July

See a new movie each week based on your favorite stories. Admission is free with your library card.

Library Card Day: A grown-up edition of From Book to Film

Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. Free screening of the 1935 classic, Frankenstein Reception: 5:30–7 p.m.; film: 7 p.m.

Columbus Recreation and Parks

Free Library Card Days at City of Columbus Pools

Summer 2023

City of Columbus Outdoor Pools

Get free admission to any Columbus Recreation and Parks outdoor pool with your library card and Recreation and Parks Leisure Card. Watch for more information this summer.

Columbus Museum of Art Free Library Card Days

Aug. 5 and 6

Enjoy the Columbus Museum of Art and its collection that spans work from Columbus-born artists like Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, George Bellows and Elijah Pierce to the luminaries of 19th- and 20thcentury art. Free with your library card.

Ohio History Connection

Free Library Card Days at the Ohio History Center and Ohio Village

Every Friday in September (Sept. 22: Ohio History Center admission only)

Show your library card and get free admission to the Ohio History Center and the Ohio Village featuring interactive exhibits exploring everything from life in the 1950s to extinct and endangered Ohio species to our collection of restored Civil War battle flags.

PARTNER EVENTS AT MAIN LIBRARY

96 S. Grant Ave.

Jazz Arts Group

Free Concert at Main Library

May 7 at 2 p.m.

Main Library Reading Room

Jazz Arts Group’s nationally renowned Columbus Youth Jazz (CYJ) program wraps up the 2022–23 season with a performance featuring all four big bands. Come see the CYJ Workshop, Ensemble, Studio and Orchestra showcase the repertoire they have been developing this semester, as well as their skills in improvisation and jazz style. This two-hour performance is free and open to the public.

CATCO

Five Tools of The Actor Workshop

May 20 at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Main Library

Learn from a professional Artist Educator how to apply the tools when reading a script as an actor. This workshop is suitable for ages 5 to adult.

Opera Columbus

Free Concerts

June 2 at 12 p.m.

Main Library Reading Room

Join Opera Columbus for a series of free concerts with refreshments provided. Our singers, musicians and Queens perform jazz, musical theatre, classical, American Songbook and of course, OPERA.

Additional Dates and Locations:

April 14 at 12 p.m., Hilliard Branch

May 12 at 12 p.m., Karl Road Branch

The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Visits Main Library

August 15, 1–2 p.m.

Main Library Kaufman Plaza

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium invites you to Main Library to get up close and personal with their Animal Ambassadors and care team. Enjoy this unique opportunity to learn more about some amazing animals and discover where they’re from, what they eat and what makes them so special. You might even meet some of the Zoo’s character ambassadors.

Central Ohio Plein Air

Plein Air Day at Main Library

September 9, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Grant and Kaufman Plazas

Join the members of Central Ohio Plein Air as they converge on the grounds of Main Library for a day of painting of our historic Carnegie Library. Interact with local artists as they demonstrate their painting techniques. Then enjoy their works that will be on display at Main Library as we celebrate 150 years of history. Free and open to all.

BalletMet at Main Library

Nov. 1, 7–8 p.m.

Main Library Reading Room

Join us for a special program of dance from BalletMet’s second company, BalletMet2. BalletMet is one of Columbus’ premiere performing arts organizations internationally recognized for bringing world class dance to our stages, classrooms and studios. This performance is free and open to all.

ProMusica

Free Family Concert

Nov. 11 at 3 p.m.

Main Library Reading Room

Join ProMusica musicians for a free, family-friendly concert that links classical music and children’s literature. This engaging concert will focus on specific musical themes and offer a display of books for everyone to enjoy.

BOGO Tickets

March–December

Southern Theatre

Cardholders can get buy one, get one free tickets to regular season ProMusica performances at the Southern Theatre. To purchase, call the box office at 614-464-0066 ext. 101 or bring your library card to purchase tickets at the door the night of a performance. Offer excludes $18 second balcony seats and must be purchased in pairs to a single performance.

It’s the Best. Deal. Ever. Stop in any Columbus Metropolitan Library location to sign up for a free library card. Scan the QR code to sign up for a free digital card number.

TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARY SERVICES

Long before computers, the library helped citizens gain access to new technology. The Microfilm Reading Room opened in 1948 with one reader and several cabinets of microfilm. The record and film collections began in the 1950s, and the library purchased its first Xerox copier in 1966. Reference services in the 1970s and 1980s saw many advancements, from new electronic resources to innovative access tools. The library’s first public computer was installed in 1977. Staff in the Business & Technology, Magazines & Newspapers and Fine Arts divisions responded to thousands of customer questions each year. The expanded Columbus and Ohio room was dedicated in 1975 to answer local history and genealogy questions. Library services continued to expand in the 1990s. Many new services incorporated digital databases and internet connectivity. The first online library services began at Main Library, including the creation of an online catalog. Eventually the library launched its first website in March 1998 so library customers could access services at home.

WLWC-TV (now WCMH-TV) donated a film collection to the library in 1970. Head Librarian Edward Daniels

Director Larry Black with the first Discovery Place public computer terminal in 1989. The new terminals allowed library customers to search the electronic card catalog for the first time.

Business & Technology was the first library division to receive computerized databases. John Davidson of Society National Bank reviews financial statistics on Compact Disclosure, a CD-ROM database.

(left) and Martin Luther King Branch librarian Verdi Fitz (to his right) accepted the donation.

Left, Healthline, a service where customers could call the library and listen to tapes about various health topics and get help from a librarian, debuted in October 1977. Right, Judge Thomas Moyer (left) presents Assistant Director Charles Brown (right) with tapes for the Law Line service.

Through the Years:

LIBRARY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES

1892: The library purchased its first typewriter.

1909: The audiovisual program began at Main Library.

1954: Overall circulation passed the 1 million mark for the first time.

1977: The first public computers were available for customers to use.

1938: Branch book circulation first topped that of Main Library. This indicated the growing popularity of branches in the system.

1963: Paperbacks were added to the collection.

1978:

• Collections were labeled with barcodes and public card catalogs were removed.

• Videos were added to the collection.

1985: CDs were added to the collection.

1996: Self-serve checkout began.

1997: Customers were offered internet access.

2004: The first Homework Help Center opened at the Linden Branch.

2005: The library started offering eBooks and digital music.

2008: The library started offering eAudiobooks.

2012: All locations have Homework Help Centers (now called School Help Centers).

2014:

• Automatic renewals for checked out items made it easier for customers to keep an item longer.

• The library launched delivery of books to select elementary school classrooms to help with reading proficiency.

• Reading Buddies was developed for K–3 students to provide reading practice.

2018:

• The library gained access to SearchOhio, a consortium of public libraries, and OhioLINK, a consortium of Ohio’s college and university libraries.

• Winter Reading Challenge launched as a way to engage K–12 students during breaks from school.

2006: The library started offering eFlicks.

2009: Job Help Centers opened in response to the economic downturn and recession.

2013: The library joined the Central Library Consortium, giving customers access to more than a million additional resources, including books, audiobooks, DVDs and CDs.

2017: The library stopped charging fines for overdue books and other materials to remove barriers to access.

2020: The library launched Curbside Pickup and virtual programs and services in response to closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PROFESSION LEADER

2010

Columbus Metropolitan Library was named Library of the Year by the American Library Association’s Library Journal

2011

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the library the National Medal for Museum and Library Service

OUR STRATEGIES

Columbus Metropolitan Library’s vision is a thriving community where wisdom prevails. The library’s work to attain that vision is driven by a strategic plan with three pillars: Young Minds, My Library and Life Skills. The library invests in each with books, resources, services and programs designed to achieve outcomes that enrich the lives of those it serves.

YOUNG MINDS

It’s the library’s top strategy to encourage learning and growth so its youngest customers build a foundation for a successful life and become lifelong learners. From birth to high school graduation and beyond, the library invests in its young minds’ services and programs to help children and teens envision – and build – a sustainable future.

MY LIBRARY

Libraries evolve to meet customer needs in a rapidly changing world. By creating innovative physical and digital spaces, the library aspires to anticipate those changing needs and provide access to all. The library’s continued investment in new libraries is a testament to its commitment to building spaces where all feel welcome.

LIFE SKILLS

The library is committed to digital equity, workforce development, adult education and providing access to social services resources. This work is accomplished through strong community partnerships. By identifying challenges and providing opportunities to help, the library supports the community in reaching its full potential.

DEDICATED STAFF THROUGH THE YEARS

From its humble beginning with one staff member in 1873 to nearly 900 employees today, Columbus Metropolitan Library has invested heavily in its people. John Pugh, the second chief librarian, was the longest-serving staff member at 65 years. Many Columbus Metropolitan Library staff members have been recognized as leaders in their fields. They have gone on to become library directors across the country as well as hold nonprofit, government and for-profit leadership positions. In addition to their dedicated work for the library, many employees are also musicians, poets, artists and community leaders, giving even more back to their communities.

▲ Staff at the opening of the renovated Main Library, 2016.

 Bertha Campbell (right) and Phyllis J. Buckner (left) at the Eastside Branch. Buckner was one of the first African American librarians hired at the library in 1953. She became head librarian at the Franklinton Branch in 1954. Campbell became head librarian at the Eastside Branch in 1964.

From left, Franklinton Branch Story Hour, 1999. Martin Luther King Branch grand opening, 2016. Storytime with Patty Gibson, 1950s.

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Drivers and sorters keep materials moving across central Ohio.

TODAY’S 21ST CENTURY LIBRARY

Columbus Metropolitan Library serves Franklin County in neighborhoods large and small, urban and suburban, providing programs and services for customers of all ages and from all walks of life. We serve a larger, global community through our website, columbuslibrary.org, and the resources we provide in this ever-changing and evolving digital age. We are open to all, removing barriers to access to information and technology, so our customers can learn, grow and thrive.

On July 30, 2013, we broke ground on our new Driving Park Branch and launched Phase I of our aspirational building program. On June 6, 2019, we opened the doors to our new Dublin Branch and closed the book on Phase I, whose chapters are stunning stories of neighborhood revitalization and transformed libraries in the Driving Park, Whitehall, Parsons, Main Library, Northern Lights, Shepard, Northside, Hilliard, Martin Luther King and Dublin communities.

In Phase II, we’ve continued our work to bring new libraries to the Hilltop, Karl Road, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Linden, Barnett, Canal Winchester and MarionFranklin communities.

New buildings alone don’t make us one of the best libraries in the country, but they provide the updated infrastructure that allows our incredible staff to raise the bar

on the work they do that impacts the lives of our customers in the communities we serve.

We’re always looking to the future but remaining rooted in our vision of a thriving community where wisdom prevails. We’re proud of the work we do. We build libraries that will not only stand the test of time, but evolve with the ever-changing world in which we live.

BOARDS OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

The library’s seven-member Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the library and making financial decisions. This includes everything from capital projects like building new libraries to supporting vital programs and services. The Board is instrumental in guiding library leadership as it looks to the future for viability and sustainability.

Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees

Catherine Strauss, President

Tom Katzenmeyer, Vice President

Carla Williams-Scott, Secretary

Sandy Doyle-Ahern

Timothy Frommeyer

David White

One board position vacant at time of publication.

Columbus Metropolitan Library’s executives manage the strategic guidance of the library. Their individual expertise, combined years of experience and forward-thinking approach to libraries keep Columbus Metropolitan Library a vital, relevant part of the community.

Columbus Metropolitan Executive Leadership Team

Patrick Losinski, Chief Executive Officer

Lauren Hagan, Chief Financial Officer

Charlie Hansen, Chief Customer Experience Officer

Anthony Wilson, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Donna Zuiderweg, Chief Community Engagement Officer

Columbus Metropolitan Library is fortunate to have two affinity organizations supporting its purpose and vision. The Boards of Trustees for both of these entities guide decisions to support the library’s sustainability for generations to come.

Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation Board of Trustees

Charlie Fraas, President

Jennifer Massanova, Vice President

Bill Remias, Treasurer

Renée Shumate, Secretary

Adam Brandt

Tanisha Lyon Brown

Melanie DeAscentis

Barbara Derrow

Tim Faber

Timothy Frommeyer*

DeeDee Glimcher

Chrissy Hand

Patrick Losinski, Ex-Officio Member

Lauren Hilsheimer Meier

Corde Westwater Robinson

Barbara Siemer

Ryan Swincicki

Andrea Thomas**

Janica Pierce Tucker

David White*

*Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees Designated Member

**Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Board of Trustees Designated Member

Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees

Andrea Thomas, President

Meredith Hart, Vice President

Sarah Milks Bethel, Treasurer

Tia Ramey, Secretary

Lois Beckman

Meredith Harper Bonham

David Boylan

Jesse Cantrell

Elizabeth Carroll

Shunda Collins

Elissa Francis

Nedra Hadley

Tracy Hedrick

Elizabeth Helpling

Kyra Jones

Steph Kusta

Janelle Lopez

Penny Martin

Lauren McBride

Rob McCarthy

Carly Miller

Jaela Neal

Julie A. Newhall

Ryan Price

Angela Ramos Fields

Tracy Rawlings

Laura Rosenthal

John Rothschild

Lyn Tolan-Barbin

Gwen Zaczepinski

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

As Ohio’s capital city, Columbus continues to experience incredible growth. Planning studies estimate that the region will gain 1 million new residents by the year 2050. The current U.S. Census Bureau results report that Columbus’ population grew 15.08% from 2010 to 2020, which makes Columbus one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest, and one of only 14 cities nationwide to gain at least 100,000 residents over the past 10 years. Intel’s investment in U.S. chip manufacturing, with a “mega-site” on 1,000 acres in Licking County, also heralds a new age of growth for central Ohio and its workforce.

What does this mean for Columbus Metropolitan Library’s vision of a thriving community where wisdom prevails? It means the library keeps growing and keeps innovating. It has an enduring history of evolving to meet customer needs as the world around it changes, and the world is changing more rapidly than ever before.

Community activism resulted in the library’s expansion from a single reading room to a library with 23 locations. Community support continues to help the library provide access to books, resources, technology – and knowledge – so the library can be the space that meets the promise of the words etched above Main Library’s front doors – Open to All.

JOIN US!

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN’S DISCOVERY DISTRICT

This two-day event featuring national and local authors, exhibitors and entertainment will showcase Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Library at 96 S. Grant Ave., the adjacent Kaufman Plaza and Topiary Garden Park.

Stay cool inside Main Library and hear popular authors talk about their new books. Check out panel discussions about your favorite genres and get your books signed. Head outdoors to Kaufman Plaza and Topiary Garden Park for entertainment, food vendors, exhibitors and new and used book sales. Meet and greet indie authors you love. Hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation, the Columbus Book Festival will be a highlight of the library’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2023.

Watch for more details coming soon!