Westerville Public Library is an amazing community hub focused on innovation and imagination.
In 2017, Library Journal awarded Westerville its highest designation. Only 85 libraries across the country received a five-star rating, ranking the library in the top 1% of the nation’s public libraries. And for good reason. Exemplary outreach includes daily delivery to Westerville City Schools, it was the first Central Ohio library to offer drive through service and new technology gives customers the ability to self-check an entire armload of materials all at once. Partnerships and convenience make Westerville one of the nation’s best libraries.
Library renovations completed in 2006 created an incredible atrium, teen space resembling an Internet cafe with booth seating, a retail-like media space with flat screen TVs and an enlarged youth department providing individualized spaces for different ages.
Westerville Public Library’s Meet the Author series brings stellar luminaries to Central Ohio. Most recently, Ernest Cline, author of the new blockbuster Ready Player One, spoke to a packed house. In April, New York Times best selling author Karen White will speak. Other notable visits have included Pulitzer Prize winning Anthony Doerr (All the Light You Can Not See), NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Newbery Medal winner Matt de la Peña (Last Stop on Market Street). Don’t miss Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) this September!
In addition to an incredible library, the building also hosts the Anti-Saloon League Museum. For forty years (1893-1933), the league was a major lobbying force that helped bring the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, creating an era of prohibition. The museum’s collection has been instrumental for researchers worldwide, including Ken Burns and his documentary Prohibition. During our visit, we met with Local History Associate Nina Thomas who pointed out the collection’s depth in WWI materials. Check out their online collection that includes cartoons, songs and more here.
In 2017, Executive Director Erin Francoeur joined Westerville. She’s thrilled to be part of such a strong, community-supported library. Erin spoke highly of the library’s amazing staff, making work exciting and fun. She’s eager to further deepen community partnerships, including a recent collaboration with Otterbein University’s Courtright Memorial Library, and begin a new strategic plan.
And we’ve just briefly introduced the Westerville Public Library. We highly encourage you to visit and experience this dynamic community resource!
This feature is dedicated to the memory of Officers Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli. Their service to community and sacrifice will never be forgotten.