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 2.1 million items in its collection. It has evolved into one of the area’s busiest places to gather for programs and meetings, serving almost 3.4 million visitors in 2008 and more than 309,000 library cardholders.
The Akron-Summit County Public Library includes a Main Library, 17 branch libraries and Mobile Services.
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 2.1 million items in its collection. It has evolved into one of the area’s busiest places to gather for programs and meetings, serving almost 3.4 million visitors in 2008 and more than 309,000 library cardholders.
The Akron-Summit County Public Library includes a Main Library, 17 branch libraries and Mobile Services. 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 City Council passed an ordinance to provide a free public library for the city of Akron.
Due to the library’s rapid growth, it was moved in 1904 to a new building funded by Andrew Carnegie. A growing collection necessitated another move 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 that meant temporarily relocating Main Library in 2001 until the project was completed in 2004. Divisions within Main Library include:
• Audio Visual Services
• Business & Government
• Children’s Library
• History & Humanities
• Magazines & Newspapers
• Popular Culture
• Science & Technology
• Special Collections
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
The
Akron-Summit County Public Library system services all the suburbs of
Akron, OhioAkron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
within
Summit CountySummit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In 2007 the population was estimated to be 543,487 . Its county seat is Akron...
. The Main Library is located at 60 South High Street,
downtownDowntown is a term primarily used in North America to refer to a city's core or central business district, usually in a geographical, commercial, and community sense....
Akron, OhioAkron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44326.
Branches
There are 17 branches plus Mobile Services in the Akron-Summit County Public Library system.
- Ellet Branch, 2470 E. Market Street, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44312
- Fairlawn-Bath Branch, 3101 Smith Rd., Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44333
- Firestone Park Branch, 1486 Aster Ave., Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44301
- Goodyear Branch, 60 Goodyear Boulevard, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44305-4487
- Green Branch, 4046 Massillon Road, Uniontown, Ohio
Uniontown is a census-designated place in Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,802 at the 2000 census. It is often confused to being part of Summit County, Ohio, primarily because the Uniontown post office serves a large part of the city of Green in Summit County...
44685
- Highland Square Branch, 807 West Market Street, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44303-1010
- Kenmore Branch, 969 Kenmore Boulevard, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44314-2302
- Maple Valley Branch, 1187 Copley Road, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44320-2766
- Mogadore Branch, 144 S. Cleveland Avenue, Mogadore, Ohio
Mogadore is a village in Portage and Summit counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a suburb of Akron and is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area...
44260
- Nordonia Hills Branch, 9458 Olde Eight Road, Northfield, Ohio
Northfield is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,827 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Northfield is located at ....
44067-1952
- North Hill Branch, 183 E. Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44310-3078
- Northwest Akron Branch, 1720 Shatto Avenue, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44313
- Norton Branch, 3930 S. Cleveland -Massillon Rd., Norton, Ohio
Norton is a city in Summit and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 11,523 at the 2000 census.The Summit County portion of Norton is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the small portion in Wayne County is part of the Wooster Micropolitan Statistical...
44203-5563
- Odom Boulevard Branch, 600 Vernon Odom Boulevard, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44307-1828
- Portage Lakes Branch, 4261 Manchester Road, Akron, Ohio
Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44319-2659
- Richfield Branch, 3761 S. Grant St., Richfield, Ohio
Richfield is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,286 at the 2000 census. The village and surrounding township are fast-growing, rural/suburban communities, known for good schools and being equidistant between the downtown areas of Akron and Cleveland and has...
44286
- Tallmadge Branch, 90 Community Rd., Tallmadge, Ohio
Tallmadge is a city in Summit and Portage counties in Ohio, United States. It is also a suburb of Akron and part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 16,390 at the 2000 census...
44278
- Mobile Services, offices located in the lower level of Main Library, 60 South High Street, downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America to refer to a city's core or central business district, usually in a geographical, commercial, and community sense....
Akron, OhioAkron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. In 2008, its population was estimated to be 207,510. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland to the north and Canton to the south, approximately 60 miles west of...
44326
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