Morley Library
Encyclopedia
Painesville, Ohio
As of the 2010 Census, there were 19,563 people. As of the census of 2000, there were 17,503 people, 6,525 households, and 4,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,928.6 people per square mile . There were 6,933 housing units at an average density of 1,160.0 per square mile...
serves as the County District Library for Lake County, Ohio
Lake County, Ohio
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 230,041. The county seat is Painesville, and the county name comes from its location on the southern shore of Lake Erie....
. Morley Library is a medium-sized public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
that is supported by both state funds and a local tax levy. The original library was founded in 1899. Its mission is to "be a community resource, available to all, contributing to the quality of life in its service area by: providing information for life-long learning and recreation in an organized, professional manner; extending outreach to encourage Library use; serving as a focal point for the community". In 2007, Morley Library was visited by 342,870 people and circulated 689,694 items. The collection includes 180,490 items. Morley Library serves 48,650 people in Painesville City
Painesville, Ohio
As of the 2010 Census, there were 19,563 people. As of the census of 2000, there were 17,503 people, 6,525 households, and 4,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,928.6 people per square mile . There were 6,933 housing units at an average density of 1,160.0 per square mile...
, Painesville Township
Painesville Township, Lake County, Ohio
Painesville Township is one of the five townships of Lake County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 18,562 people in the township, 15,037 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, Grand River
Grand River, Ohio
Grand River is a village in Lake County, Ohio, United States, along the Grand River. The population was 345 at the 2000 census.Grand River is the hometown of Don Shula, a former professional football coach for the National Football League, who coached the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories,...
, Leroy Township, and part of Concord Township
Concord Township, Lake County, Ohio
Concord Township is one of the five townships of Lake County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 15,828 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the center of the county, it borders the following townships and municipalities:...
.
History
The nucleus of the library was provided by the local Women's Christian Temperance Union, which established a temperance library and reading room in 1878. After librarian Mary Dean's death in 1898, friends set about fulfilling her dream of a free public libraryPublic library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
. Other groups donated more books, the Village of Painesville (Painesville became a city in 1902) agreed to provide tax funds, and local businessman Jesse Healy Morley bought the land and erected the building. The library was named in honor of his parents. Morley Library opened its doors in October 1899, with Julia Erwin as librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
. Additions to the building were made in 1937 and 1978.
In November 2001, a general election saw the passage of Morley Library's bond issue of $11.59 million. A groundbreaking ceremony on May 14, 2003 marked the official start to construction of a new building—a three-story library designed by Meehan Architects of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
(now Holzheimer Bolek + Meehan). The original building closed to the public at 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 17, 2004. The new Morley Library building opened to the public on November 7, 2004, with a ribbon cutting ceremony
Ribbon cutting ceremony
]A ribbon cutting ceremony is a public ceremony conducted to inaugurate the opening to the general public of a new building or business.Often, the ceremony is conducted in just the manner the name suggests: by tying a ceremonial ribbon across the main entrance of the building, which is then cut in...
. The building was officially dedicated on Sunday, February 13, 2005. It is 61000 square feet (5,667.1 m²).
Special Collection
Morley Library has a special collection to help those interested in researching their family genealogyGenealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and local Painesville history. The collection includes a variety of atlases, birth records, cemetery records, census enumerations, church records, city directories, high school and college yearbooks, magazines, marriage records, military records, naturalization records, newspapers, obituaries, telephone books and wills. Morley Library also subscribes to a number of Internet-based resources for genealogy and local history research.
Special services
- Book discussion clubs – five different monthly groups
- BookmobileBookmobileA bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. It usually has enough space for people to sit and read books inside. Mobile libraries are often used to...
– service began in 1957 - Foundation Center – Morley Library is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center
- Homebound – delivery service for patrons who cannot come to the library.
- InterLibrary LoanInterlibrary loanInterlibrary loan is a service whereby a user of one library can borrow books or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library...
(ILL) – Morley Library currently participates in Ohio’s Moving Ohio Resources Everywhere (MORE) program to share items. As such, patrons can request items to be sent from other libraries to Morley to be borrowed. - Internet access – introduced in 1997 through the Ohio Public Library Information Network. Funding assistance has also been received through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Access is freely available to all patrons. Free WiFi access is also offered throughout the building.
- Language – collections and programs for English language learners
- Literacy – Open Book Family Learning Center assists children and families with literacy needs
- Programming – movie showings, educational lectures, tea groups & more
- Story time – fun and age-appropriate stories and activities for children ages 6 months to 10 years