The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
90 years and counting!
Avon Lake Public Library celebrates milestone with activities, displays, giveaways
The Avon Lake Public Library opened its doors to the public on a quiet winter day back in February 1931.
After 90 years of serving the public, the library is celebrating with a variety of activities, displays and giveaways to run mainly from February through April 2021, according to a news release from Shea Alltmont, communications manager.
Historical Avon Lake Public Library inspired displays – such as original library ledgers, library cards through the decades, an A-1 Steak Sauce Mystery display, an antique card catalog complete with vintage checkout cards and due date slips, and stamps giving a view to our first days of checking out books, will be throughout the library, the release said.
Librarians will create a celebratory cake made entirely of books and give away birthday cake scented bookmarks.
Over the course of three months, 90 patrons will be chosen at random by the Library catalog system to win a 90th Celebration gift bag, consisting of a canvas Avon Lake Public Library book tote and miscellaneous Library goodies, the release said.
This will happen at check out stations inside the library.
“We’re also bringing back a special guest from our past and Avon Lake icon — Whitey the Piebald deer,” the release said. “Online, we’ll be sharing (Avon Lake Public Library) trivia online via our Facebook page, with a chance to win random ALPL goodies. This really is a celebration too big for one day.”
Avon Lake Public Library had its humble beginnings in the fall of 1930 with support from the local village council who wished to establish a free public library for its approximately 1,600 residents, according to the release.
It was then in January 1931, housed in the small home on Center Road surrounded by vineyards, orchards and other tiny cottages, that the Avon Lake Public Library opened its doors with a small collection of 505 donated books.
Mrs. Leo Heider served as the first librarian, bringing in a salary of $50 per month, working 18 hours a week and managing a $1,000 annual library budget, the release said.
“We’re so incredibly proud to be a part of a community that has supported us for the last 90 years by enjoying our various events, attending programs, and of course, checking out literally thousands of items, the release said. “We hope the public will celebrate along with us, not just as we look back on our history, but as we look forward to the future as well.
“The public can check out a variety of articles, ALPL fun facts, and a timeline of historical significance to ALPL in our current Winter Program Guide now available online at alpl. org or copies can be picked up at the Library as well.
“We’re so incredibly proud to be a part of a community that has supported us...” —Shea Alltmont, Avon Public Library communications manager. via news release