A Library Visit//Cleveland Public Library

When we decided to move away from Ohio, we compiled a list of places we had never gotten around to visiting and favorite places we wanted to revisit. One place I had always intended to see was the Cleveland Public Library. I was regularly told what an amazing library it is and how beautiful it is. I was in Cleveland regularly for the volunteer work I do, and yet, somehow, I had never made it to the library. I remedied that on my last trip to Cleveland.

Nothing is too far from Lake Erie in Cleveland and that is true of the library. Look at the beautiful views out the windows. I could sit there and read and gaze at the view for hours. Unfortunately, I did not have hours since I was visiting the library on my break. The library is huge and my break was relatively short so I speedwalked my way through the buildings. There are two of them connected by a tunnel. There is a garden between the two buildings. The library takes up an entire city block.

The Cleveland Public Library is the third largest public research library in the country. It was the first large public library to allow patrons to choose their own books from shelves. The library has more than thirty miles of shelving that can hold 1.3 million books. It also provides all the modern offerings including a large maker space.

While Ohio was not my favorite place I have ever lived, the library system for the state as whole is absolutely amazing. If you live in the state you can get a card at any library and the reciprocal borrowing possibilities are endless. Many of my hold requests came from the Cleveland Public Library since they have almost anything I could ever want in their stacks. I love that they keep the old books that I want to read. I understand that many libraries have to have the latest and greatest books. I worked at a library for five years while I lived in Ohio and I know that is what most patrons want. However, there are patrons like me who want the books published years and years ago and that is where the Cleveland Public Library is a winner. I mean, look at these photos. Also, and maybe this is just me, the library smelled like a library. It was that glorious old book smell I remember from the library of my childhood. It made me very happy.

I wish I had more time to explore and wander through the stacks. It was killing me to see all the books I had never thought to request. Maybe instead of moving away from Ohio I should simply have moved into the Cleveland Public Library? It could have been a From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler situation.

The card catalog was there as a piece of history. I am officially old now. I do miss card catalogs. You found what you were looking for but you also found the things you didn’t know you wanted.

I greatly enjoyed my brief visit to the Cleveland Public Library. Maybe I will be back one day. I know I will miss being able to request all the old books. When a hold came in at work they claimed they knew it was mine if it was old. There are worse things to be known for.

If you ever visit Cleveland walk along the lakeshore and visit the Cleveland Public Library. Neither will disappoint.

Cleveland Public Library

325 Superior Ave

Cleveland, OH 44114