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.
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 was dedicated on April 4, 1907 and regular library service began on April 8.
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 100500 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.
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.