Library Name: Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
Address: 325 Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43624
Phone Number: 419.259.5207
Website: toledolibrary.org
Director: Clyde Scoles
History: The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library dates back to 1838, making it the first public library funded by tax dollars in the state of Ohio. In 1970 the three library systems in Lucas County - Toledo Public, Sylvania Public and Lucas County Public - merged to form one library for the citizens of Lucas County. In addition to the Main Library there are 18 branches plus Outreach Services that provides bookmobile service to neighborhoods, senior centers, and nursing homes. Outreach Services also provides materials to correctional facilities in Lucas County. Main Library has stood as a downtown landmark since it opened on September 5, 1940. Welcoming more than a half-a-million visitors a year who check out nearly one million items, Main Library is home to 1.2 million books, CDs, videos, DVDs and reference materials, the fifth largest public library collection in the state of Ohio. In August of 2001, a 271,000 square foot, $45.1 million renovation and expansion to Main Library was unveiled, opening one of the most technologically advanced public libraries in America.