View of Main Library from the north lawn

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! We offer 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.

For more information about Making at Main Library, contact Manager Adam Marier, or call 419.259.5215.

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:
 
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 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

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.

Asian in Ohio

On view in the Welcoming Corner through fall 2024
Asian in Ohio presents an interactive gallery of stories from Asian American individuals who have made Ohio their home, and serves as an open archive depicting another side of the American story — one often whitewashed and rendered invisible. Explore maps, watch curated videos, and interact with colorful and moving narratives.
 
It is an ongoing project of Midstory, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inform, interpret, and inspire post-industrial communities across the Midwest through multimedia storytelling and solutions-oriented research. It is made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Equity & Access Initiative Fund of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation.
 
 

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…