Locke
703 Miami St.,
Toledo, Ohio 43605
419-259-5310
Email Manager Holley Jackson
M-Tu: 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
W-F: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sa-Su: Closed
Services:
We’re happy to be a good neighbor by providing free self-serve meeting rooms. (Self-serve means you may move furniture, but you will need to return room to original set-up. Technology support may be available.) Users of this space must agree to and follow the Library Community Room policy.
This branch provides a continuous Friends of the Library mini Book Sale area.
Programs:
Taste Testing Fun
(W) September 2 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Play games, taste and rate your favorite snacks and see which one is the winner!
Edible Insects
with Lucas Water and Soil Conservation District
(Th) September 10 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Do you eat bugs with every meal? Most will likely say NO WAY, but we encounter bugs in more ways than we realize. Explore how people all around the world use bugs in their daily lives, including you!
Switch Gaming Class
(M) September 21 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Play the Switch and get tips from a "local champ" who wins a friendly tournament annually.
Why Trees Matter: Papermaking with KTLCB
(W) September 23 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Learn the importance of trees and their impact on the environment with Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful. Simulating a recycling facility we will turn old paper into paper pulp then into new paper.
Create a Catrina Mask
Provided by the Sofia Art and Cultural Center
(W) September 30 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
We will be painting masks of La Calavera Catrina, which resemble the sugar skulls commonly seen during Day of the Dead, and adding flowers and other embellishments to create a fun and decorative mask.
Unicorn Craft Party
(Th) October 1 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Create sparkly, colorful and amazing crafts to celebrate all things unicorn!
Zumba Dance
with Elaina Hernandez
(W) October 14 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Learn some dance moves and play fun games to get your heart pumping and create some smiles!
Martial Arts for Kids
(W) October 21 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Have a blast with Sempai Shelly Blanco from Ohio Martial Arts, learning a variety of kicks, punches, and self-defense techniques. Build self-confidence and learn how to avoid conflict with bullies.
Halloween Craft Party
(Tu) October 27 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Are you ready to put a spooky twist on some fun projects? We'll provide all you need to craft your way to Halloween!
Fun Fall Mosaic with Molly Miller
(Th) November 5 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Create a fall-themed mosaic picture by gluing small colorful pieces together to form an autumn design.
Fall Craft Fun!
(Tu) November 10 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
What helps you enjoy autumn? Fluttering leaves, bonfires and trips to the orchard all make fall special. Make a craft to remember and celebrate the wonder of Fall!
Zumba Dance
with Elaina Hernandez
(M) November 16 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Learn some dance moves and play fun games to get your heart pumping and create some smiles!
Switch Gaming Class
(W) November 18 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Play the Switch and get tips from a "local champ" who wins a friendly tournament annually.
Taste Testing Fun
(W) September 2 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Play games, taste and rate your favorite snacks and see which one is the winner!
Be a School Year VolunTEEN
(Th) September 3 | 3:30 — 5:30 p.m. | Locke
The School Year VolunTEEN program runs September through March, and is for teens ages 13 (must be 13) through high school graduation. An online volunteer account and one-hour training are mandatory!
Learn How to Play Lotería
(W) September 16 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Celebrate Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month by learning how to play a traditional Mexican card game similar to bingo.
Switch Gaming Class
(M) September 21 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Play the Switch and get tips from a "local champ" who wins a friendly tournament annually.
Teen Cafe
(Tu) October 20 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Come to the Teen Café, a place to sit and chat with friends, play games or just chill with other teens.
Switch Gaming Class
(W) November 18 | 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Play the Switch and get tips from a "local champ" who wins a friendly tournament annually.
Mercy Health Community Nurses
(W) September 2 | 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Nurses are at select locations to conduct free blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight screenings. No appointment is needed; all services are first-come, first-served.
TRIO: one-stop shop for help with adult education
(Tu) September 22 | 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. | Locke
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), adults ages 19 and over can receive free one-to-one assistance.
Upcycled Bookmark Making with TC Acrylics
(M) September 28 | 6:30 — 7:30 p.m. | Locke
In this hands-on class, you’ll create your own custom bookmark using upcycled pieces from original pour paintings—each one filled with color, movement, and story.
Mercy Health Community Nurses
(W) October 7 | 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Nurses are at select locations to conduct free blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight screenings. No appointment is needed; all services are first-come, first-served.
TRIO: one-stop shop for help with adult education
(Tu) October 27 | 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. | Locke
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), adults ages 19 and over can receive free one-to-one assistance.
Mercy Health Community Nurses
(W) November 4 | 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Nurses are at select locations to conduct free blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight screenings. No appointment is needed; all services are first-come, first-served.
Lucas County Benefit Bridge Assistance
(M) November 9 | 1 — 5 p.m. | Locke
Meet with a Lucas County Benefit Bridge representative to see if you qualify for the program, have questions answered, and apply.
Acrylic Painting with Shannon
(Tu) November 10 | 6 — 8 p.m. | Locke
Learn to paint birch trees on a rainbow background with alcohol inks and acrylics. This is a fun experimental class that produces beautiful pictures.
TRIO: one-stop shop for help with adult education
(Tu) November 24 | 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. | Locke
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), adults ages 19 and over can receive free one-to-one assistance.
Mercy Health Community Nurses
(W) December 2 | 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. | Locke
Nurses are at select locations to conduct free blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight screenings. No appointment is needed; all services are first-come, first-served.
TRIO: one-stop shop for help with adult education
(Tu) December 22 | 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. | Locke
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), adults ages 19 and over can receive free one-to-one assistance.
Building for the future:
A digital copy of the full 200-plus page facilities master plan is available upon request.
Branch overview (based on 2018 data)
Service population: 22,508 (5.3% of total service population)
Median age: 31
Households with children: 39.9%
Households: 8,277
Mean household income: $32,963
Population living below the poverty line: 37.4%
Gross square feet: 9,698 square feet
Year constructed: 2007
Collection size: 31,639 items
Programs: 163 in 2018
Meeting room size: 998 square feet
Meeting room capacity: 50 people
General Observations
- Consider relocating and creating more of an identity for the Children’s area.
- Consider using the patio for Children’s programs.
- Consider mobile display for new materials.
- Consider a single, centralized service point.
- Consider creating a unique identity for the teen area and blending this area better with technology.
- Consider creating smaller study and tudor rooms.
- The Children’s area does not feel like a special area for kids.
- The stack area feels closed in, crowded, lacking display, and doesn’t invite browsing.
In spring 2024, the Library sent a survey to the Lucas County community to learn what you love about your Library and how we could improve our buildings to better meet your needs. This is what 38 Locke neighbors said they wanted in an updated space.
| Rank |
Services and amenities |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Expanded adult areas |
36.84% |
| 2 | Access to drive-through, pick-up, and drop-off services |
31.58% |
| 3 |
More technology |
28.95% |
| 4 |
Expanded children’s areas |
23.68% |
| 5 |
Expanded teen areas |
18.42% |
| 6 |
More study spaces |
18.42% |
| 7 |
Greater access to audio/visual equipment |
7.89% |
| 8 |
Larger and/or additional meeting room spaces |
7.89% |
| 9 |
More Maker Spaces |
7.89% |
| 10 |
Additional programming space |
5.26% |
Construction phase: Q1 2029 – Q3 2029
Dates are approximate and subject to change.
Q4 2027 | Dates and locations will be shared as soon as available
The Locke Branch, which opened in 1917, was one of six libraries built in Lucas County with funds from Andrew Carnegie. The current building renovation was funded by a 10-year bond levy approved by Lucas County voters in 1995. David Ross Locke (1833-1888) is one of the early owners of The Toledo Blade and the namesake for this Branch. Locke wrote the Petroleum V. Nasby letters. President Abraham Lincoln loved these letters for their satiric abolitionist humor.
