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Birmingham
203 Paine Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43605
Welcome to Birmingham Branch!
Branch Manager
Julie McCann
419.259.5210Email Julie
Hungarian heritage. Youth gathering spot. Neighborhood place to be.
Walk into the Birmingham Branch Library and take a step back in time. This beautiful branch has a traditional library feel as well as beautiful Hungarian artwork. Although we are the smallest branch in the system, Birmingham has a large presence in our community. Weekly programs are offered for children and teens in areas such as STEM, karaoke, gaming, crafts, life skills and dance. We have two community meeting rooms, with GED classes available Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. We also partner with the Hungarian Club of Toledo to offer ethnic cooking classes and host a monthly book discussion for adults.
I was born and raised in East Toledo and graduated from Waite High School and Bowling Green State University. I began my library career as a clerk at Reynolds Corners Branch in 1992. Since I enjoyed reading with my four young children, I decided to attend library school at Wayne State University, graduating in 1996. After several years as a children’s librarian at various branches, I became Birmingham manager in 2007. This neighborhood has been very welcoming to me, and I enjoy learning about the cultural traditions and history of the Birmingham neighborhood.
I am involved in the East Toledo Club, the Birmingham Development Corporation and the Hungarian Club of Toledo. I’ve enjoyed participating in many East Toledo initiatives including the annual Memorial Day breakfast, Main Street cleanup and the holiday parade. I was very honored to receive the Friend of the Neighborhood Award at the Birmingham Ethnic Festival in 2016. In my free time, I enjoy biking, cooking, traveling, reading historical fiction and sharing books with my grandchildren.
Birmingham Cultural Center
Our Birmingham Cultural Center is a collection of books and historical documents in English and Hungarian. The collection celebrates the rich Hungarian heritage of the neighborhood and includes historic photographs of life, artwork, clothing and dolls in authentic Hungarian costume.
Branch History
Birmingham opened in 1920 in the East Side Community House before moving to its current location in 1930. In 2003, the facility received an expansion that nearly doubled its size, allowing it to host more programs for children than any other branch in Lucas County. Birmingham offers a special collection of materials related to Hungarian language and culture. Special features include stained glass panels and a mural reflecting the Hungarian heritage of the Birmingham community.
Take a look inside our Birmingham Branch!
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