Benjamin Malczewski

I remember standing in front of the Library on the morning we reopened (on Sept. 7, 2018 after being closed for a year for renovations) and welcoming parents coming in with their kids and seeing grandparents walking in from the neighborhood with their grandchildren – all of them smiling and aglow; a pathway reclaimed and a sense memory reawakened. Part of me positively just can’t believe it, but this has been our everyday ever since: packed and boisterous storytimes, people reading newspapers by the fireplace, passport desk busy round the clock, a service dog undergoing sociability training, Girl Scouts touring the Tech Tools lab, a yoga class or the Downtown Sylvania Association gathering in the big meeting room, students and entrepreneurs filling every study space and table, and teens playing video games.

Our Sylvania Branch is not only a shining example of how the Toledo Lucas County Public Library is re-imagining itself, but of how Libraries impact and transform their neighborhoods and communities.

When we imagined our Sylvania Branch, we listened to the community, and thoughtfully considered how the different audiences used its spaces. The achievement in architectural design is really a glorious one. We were sensitive to keeping the iconic features (such as the archways), but noticeably improved is the natural light and the nearly 360 degree panorama that allows customers inside the Library to look out into the community, just as it allows the community to look in and see their Library in motion. It feels aspirational and inspirational – like a Library should.

And just as we hold such a high standard for ourselves within our walls, we hope you’ll notice our efforts out in the community. We are dedicated to integrating and doing what we can to support and encourage this spirited and thriving downtown. By working with individuals, organizations, businesses, and fellow institutions we hope to use the Library as a platform for growth, inclusion, awareness, and impact. If we can be of help, stop by and talk to us.

Thank you for your support – and again, welcome to your Sylvania Branch Library.