Read Across America Day 2023 - Columbus Library Turns 150
Today is "Read Across America" Day, in honor of the birth of the late, great Dr. Seuss. We are using this day to pay tribute to the Sesquicentennial of the birth of the best library system in America - the Columbus Metropolitan Library (National Library Week is still in April, but this weekend is huge for them).
Founded at Columbus City Hall on March 4, 1873 (where the Ohio Theatre currently is today), the Library moved to its current location in April 1907 after a massive funding campaign led by Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The Main Library went massive renovations in 1990 and 2016. The latter saw the new entrance from the Topiary Park, and the dedication of Kaufman Plaza in 2022. Also last year, Fodor's Travel named the system one of the "11 Most Beautiful Library Systems in America".
There are currently 23 branches in the Columbus Library system, which serves Franklin County.
Barnett, Canal Winchester, Driving Park, Dublin, Franklinton, Gahanna, Hilliard, Hilltop, Karl Road, Linden, Marion-Franklin, Martin Luther King, New Albany, Northern Lights, Northside, Parsons, Reynoldsburg, Shepard, South High, Southeast, Whetstone, Whitehall, and of course, the Main Branch itself.
All but three (apologies to Hilliard, Canal Winchester, and New Albany) are accessible by the COTA Bus Lines.
Barnett (Lines 1 & 23), Canal Winchester, Driving Park (Line 1), Dublin (Line 33 to Dublin Metro ONLY), Franklinton (Line 9), Gahanna (Lines 24 & 25), Hilliard, Hilltop (Line 6), Karl Road (Line 8), Linden (Lines 11, 31 & CMAX), Marion-Franklin (Line 4), Martin Luther King (Lines 10 & 11), New Albany, Northern Lights (CMAX), Northside (Lines 1 & 2), Parsons (Lines 8 Parsons & 4), Reynoldsburg (Line 2 to Reynoldsburg ONLY & 25), Shepard (Line 7), South High (Line 8), Southeast (Line 24 - Weekdays ONLY), Whetstone (Lines 2 & 102), Whitehall (Line 10), and of course, the Main Branch (Lines 2, 10 & 11) itself.
There are a lot of events this weekend at 22 of the 23 branches (Marion-Franklin is only open Monday through Friday) on Saturday, including the grand opening of the NEW Gahanna Branch (310 Granville Street) in Gahanna. The Main Library will have Bridgerton author Julia Quinn in a SOLD OUT discussion on Sunday as part of their Sesquicentennial Authors Series.
And coming this Summer (July 15 & 16) will be a NEW Book Festival - The Columbus Book Festival.
For more information on the Columbus Metropolitan Library, go to http://www.columbuslibrary.org.
You can find a good read, research history, look for a job, and so much more at your local library!