Main Library Slideshow

Main

325 Michigan St.,
Toledo, Ohio 43604
419.259.5200

M-Th: 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
F-Sa: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Su: Closed

Holiday Hours

ABOUT US:

Main Library has free, covered parking in an attached parking garage. Enter the parking garage from Adams Street and go down the ramp.
Parking garage height limit: 7 ft. 6 in.

Once you park, enter Main Library through the automatic sliding doors to reach our garage-level hallway and proceed to the stairs or elevator.

For busses or vans over the parking garage height limit: please drop off your guests at the front entrance off Michigan Avenue. Then proceed to park your vehicle by turning right at the light onto Madison Ave. and parking along the cut-out on the street, vehicles can utilize 11th St. in the event of multiple busses or vans.

Study rooms at Main Library are for 1 – 4 people at a time. Check here for availability and to make a reservation or call 419.259.5200 for help.

Room size varies from 6 – 50 people. View room specifications and availability, and make a reservation here or call 419.259.5200 for help.
Users of these spaces must agree to and follow the Library Community Room policy.
Groups may not fundraise, sell goods, solicit commercial services or future commercial services, charge admission, or ask for donations for or during their meetings/events held on Library premises. Meeting rooms are not available for private events or gatherings.

If you have a large gathering or meeting, consider one of the larger meeting room spaces at Main Library, including McMaster or our Large Glass Meeting Room. We also offer outdoor spaces at Main and many branches.

 

Located on the first floor, Computers and Media is equipped with 40+ Public PCs, a Computer Training Lab, and two collaboration rooms fitted with laptop computers and and a mounted large digital display (TV).
For more information about Computers and Media at Main Library, contact Manager Eisha Hearn or call 419.259.5200.
Located on the first floor, the Fact and Fiction Department will help you find your next great read! With a large collection of books, magazines, historical periodicals, and government documents.
 

For more information about Fact and Fiction at Main Library, contact Manager Franco Vitella, or call 419.259.5311.

Located on the third floor, the Local History and Genealogy Department houses digital collections and exhibits, obituaries, newspapers, other genealogy records, and digitization services.
 
For more information about Local History and Genealogy at Main Library, contact Manager Jill Clever, or call 419.259.5233.
 
You can also request a one-to-one appointment with a Local History and Genealogy librarian here.

Please check our Maker Space page for a full list of options.

Located on the second floor, our Saloff Children’s Library is the perfect place to bring young ones for fun, learning, and play! Enjoy features like the Rainbow Fish Tank, the Mystery Wall, and explore signature areas including:
  • The Susan M. Savage Family Place: Creativity Lab
  • The Dorothy Louise Kyler Foundation Children’s Computer Center
  • The Joseph and Judith Conda Family School Readiness Room
  • ProMedica Picture Book Room
  • Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection
For more information about Saloff Children’s Library at Main Library, contact Manager Mary Rava Miller or call 419.259.5231.

Let our staff help you find funding, start a nonprofit, research prospective donors, and develop a strategic or fundraising plan. We have the expertise and tools to help you: learn about the business you’re interested in; know your competition; define your goals; and create a business plan. Learn more here.

Located on the first floor, the teen space is a place for junior high and high school students to hang out with friends, play video games, and grab the latest graphic novel or book series.
 
For more information about our teen space at Main Library, contact Manager Celeste Felix or call 419.259.5297.
SAME Café is located inside Main Library. SAME stands for ‘So All May Eat’ and provides guests with healthy food through contributions of time, money, or food donations.

Hours:
Mon. – Fri. from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.


View the menu here!


SAME Café will be closed during Main Library holiday closures, which can be found at the bottom of this page.

Additional 2024 Holiday Hours:
Martin Luther King Junior Day, (M) Jan. 15
President’s Day, (M) Feb. 19
Cesar Chavez Day, (Su) March 31
Memorial Day, (M) May 27
Juneteenth, (W) June 19
American Independence Day (Th) July 4
Labor Day (M) Sept. 2
Indigenous People’s Day (M) Oct. 14
Veterans Day (M) Nov. 11
Native American Heritage Acknowledgement / Thanksgiving Holiday Break Nov. 28-29
Winter Break Dec. 24 – Jan. 1, 2025

Celebrate Gloria Steinem’s 90th birthday and the Steinem Sisters Collection’s 10th anniversary!
 
 
To commemorate these milestones, the Collection will host a celebration at Main Library with refreshments and speakers to be announced. The theme of the evening is Libraries as Feminist Spaces.
 

The Steinem Sisters Collection is a feminist collection that explores the lives and achievements of women. Created to honor Gloria Steinem, the collection champions the historical, cultural and political contribution of women. The collection strives to provide a welcoming space for women of all walks of life to share their truths. The types of materials we collect are “feminist materials” – which are materials that uphold women’s rights and interests in defining and promoting political, economic, personal and social equality of the sexes. This collection was possible due to a generous donation by The Steinem’s Sisters Collective.

Donate to the Steinem Sisters Collection Fund.

For more information about the Steinem Sisters Collection at Main Library, contact Collections Specialist Melissa Luthman or call 419.259.5311.

Thank you for your interest in touring Main Library. Please note tours typically take 45 minutes to 1 hour. Click here to start your request.
 
We Are SUA
Exhibit Dates: Through May 31
Main Library: Teen
Students in St. Ursula Academy’s Community Art and Production class studied the works of contemporary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. Students took inspiration from her bold use of color, bright patterns, and message.
 
Students on the Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC) developed a questionnaire that invited 6th-12th graders to reflect on diversity, identity, and community. DAC students reviewed student responses to gain insight into the experiences and future visions of the student body.
 
In collaboration, the DAC students and Community Art students chose direct quotes from the questionnaire to pair with portraits representing the SUA student body.
 
We Are SUA illustrates pride, unity, and belonging in the SUA community.
 
The artists hope that you see yourself in this mural.
 
Community Art and Production Class
Olivia Beck ’23, Ashlyn Chapman ’23, Caroline Fawcett ’23, Arden Goode ’24, Emily Juette ’23, Miranda Lydey ’24, Meghan McCourt ’23, Gabrielle Michalak ’24, Devyn Riley, ’23, and Hasley Young ‘24
 
Diversity Advisory Committee
Kathryn Buerk ’23, Grace Fitzgerald ’26, Maya Fitzgerald ’24, Sydney Gregory ’23, Terri Gullatt ’24, Brooklyn Highsmith ’25, Savanna Jones ’27, Marybelle Mawad ’27, Isabella Rizzo ’26, and Kabreya Stewart ‘25
 

 
Guild Invitational and Threadware – Fiber meets Pottery Exhibits
Toledo Area Weavers Guild
Exhibit Dates: Through April 1
Main Library Gallery
 
Guild Invitational Exhibit
Ninety fiber art pieces, including the ten works from the Threadware: Pottery-Fiber Challenge, are on display in the beautiful gallery at the Main Library.
 
Fourteen artists show a variety of functional and fiber art pieces which reflect many techniques, including handweaving, felting, eco dyeing, resist dyeing, knitting, crochet, papermaking, surface design, and textile construction. Some are traditional techniques and others are non-traditional pieces. Functional objects include scarves, shawls, wearables, purses, table runners, placemats, hand towels, rugs, bookmarks, and basket coiling. Fiber art pieces include eco printing, felting, weaving with unusual materials, such as painted reed, handmade paper and found objects. Fiber materials used include cotton, silk, linen, wool, bamboo, tencel, and handspun.
 
Artists on display are Wayne Anthony, Susan Jeanne Baker, Susan Cayton, Lynn Buri, Susan Dignam, Chris East, Lou Ann Glover, Holly Monsos, Sheila Roberts, Barbara Schneider, Angelia Slifer, Pat Smyth, Jeanette Sullivan, Art Westrick, and Laurie Zollinger.
 
Threadware – Fiber meets Pottery
Members of the Toledo Area Weavers Guild were challenged to combine fibers and clay into one art piece. Many questions went into each design decision:
  • How does one combine soft and hard materials together in the same art piece?
  • What colors will contrast and enhance one another?
  • What role does texture and pattern play?
We were provided with a hand-thrown bisque fired clay vessel made by ceramic artist David Cayton. People were free to paint, print, collage, or draw onto the vessel.
 
The finished containers show a variety of fiber techniques including handwoven, knitting, looping, basketry, pin weaving, braiding, wrapping, and felting.
 
Participants: Susan Jeanne Baker, Susan Cayton, Susan Dignam, Chris East, Lou Ann Glover, Holly Monsos, Nasus Rekab, Angelia Slifer, and Laurie Zollinger
 

Interested in displaying your work at Main Library?
Propose an art exhibit here!
The Library selects displays to share a variety of artistic mediums, styles, and points of view within the community. Art to be displayed should adhere to local community standards and be appropriate for both youth and adult audiences. Please note—we receive far more submissions than our modest spaces allow.

PROGRAMS:

We are looking for programs…

We are looking for programs…

We are looking for programs…

We are looking for programs…