About the library
About Alexandria Public Library
The Alexandria Public Library opened on a Thursday evening in June 1935 with 524 borrowed books. Ninety years later it lends from a collection of more than fifty thousand items and a whole central-Ohio consortium.
· Source: alexandrialibrary.org
Quick answer
Alexandria Public Library is a free public library in Alexandria, Ohio, founded in 1935 and governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees. Its mission is Envision, Enlighten, Educate. As of September 2022 it served 3,750 patrons with 52,856 items and 39,077 annual in-house circulations.
Mission: Envision, Enlighten, Educate
The library sets out three goals for the community it serves:
- To help people meet and interact with others in their community and take part in public discourse about community issues.
- To satisfy residents’ appetite for information about popular cultural and social trends, and their desire for satisfying recreational and educational experiences.
- To help students of all ages reach their education goals, support self-directed personal growth, and answer questions on a broad array of topics.
| First opened | June 13, 1935 — township house, West Main Street |
|---|---|
| Building today | 7,155 sq. ft. (after the 1994 addition) |
| Patrons | 3,750 (Sept. 2022) |
| Items | 52,856 (Sept. 2022) |
| In-house circulation | 39,077 per year (Sept. 2022) |
| Interlibrary-loan circulation | 18,113 per year (Sept. 2022) |
| Consortium | Central Library Consortium, since Sept. 2006 |
| Director | Carrie Strong |
History of the library
- 1935
Formed through the efforts of the Community Council, the library opens on June 13 in the township house — a small building on West Main Street — with 524 books borrowed from the State Library of Ohio.
- 1938
On March 26 the library moves into the Shaub house, at the front of the lot where the present library stands. The house and lot were bought in 1937 with money collected from subscriptions.
- 1961
The house is removed and a new 60’ × 32’ building is erected for $38,430 including furniture. It opens October 7 and is dedicated November 12, 1961.
- 1964 · 1972
A 10’ × 20’ workroom is added at the back; in 1972 both the north and south ends are expanded, heating and cooling upgraded and more shelving added.
- 1968
The library joins the county interlibrary-loan program, served by a mobile unit that visited the county’s libraries three times a week.
- 1974
Drs. Hazel and Robert Price donate a fireproof file cabinet to preserve historical papers for public use, plus a display case for historical books and items.
- 1989
A remodel and addition funded by the Licking County Budget Commission is completed in May, bringing the library to 6,610 sq. ft. at a cost of about $214,000. The adjoining Church Street lot is purchased the same year.
- 1990
The library receives a surprise $5,000 gift from the American Bicentennial Presidential Inauguration Committee — at Mrs. Barbara Bush’s suggestion — and uses it for an outdoor flagpole and a complete set of the Ohio Revised Code.
- 1994
A juvenile activity room, a new meeting room and additional restrooms (about 1,740 sq. ft., roughly $195,000) bring the building to 7,155 sq. ft.
- 1996
Public internet arrives through OPLIN, the Ohio Public Library Information Network. By 2007 the library offers four public internet terminals.
- 2006
In September the library leaves the Newark library cluster and joins the Central Library Consortium.
Library leadership
Alexandria Public Library is administered by a seven-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Northridge Board of Education. Each trustee serves a seven-year term, with one term expiring each year. The first board members were Rev. McMillen, Rev. Smith, Frances Johnston, Oliver Carroll, Maimie Tyler, Walter Castle and Robert Price. The board meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM.
Volunteer librarians — first Leona Smith, then Fred Fleming and Nellie Fisher — ran the library in its early years. Helen Dumbauld served as librarian from 1952 to 1986; Linda Schneider as Director of Library Services from 1986 to 1994; Dorothy Hannahs from 1994 to 2005; and Denise Shedloski from 2005 to 2017. Carrie Strong is the current Director of Library Services.
The library today
Today the library offers internet access, word-processing programs, online databases and its online catalog. It is staffed by a full-time director, a part-time children’s coordinator, young adult coordinator, adult services coordinator, cataloger, janitor, clerks and pages. Programming has grown to include book clubs and adult, family and teen programs alongside regular weekly children’s programs.
Frequently asked questions
When did Alexandria Public Library open?
The library legally first opened on Thursday evening, June 13, 1935, in the township house on West Main Street, with 524 books borrowed from the State Library of Ohio.
Who runs Alexandria Public Library?
The library is administered by a seven-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Northridge Board of Education, each serving a seven-year term. Carrie Strong is the current Director of Library Services.
How is the library funded?
The library was funded by intangible taxes until 1986. Funding now comes from income taxes collected by the State of Ohio, with appropriations made by the Licking County Budget Commission.
Which library consortium is Alexandria part of?
Since September 2006 Alexandria Public Library has been part of the Central Library Consortium, a group of central Ohio public libraries that includes Grandview Heights, Fairfield County, Marysville, Pickerington, Pickaway County, Plain City and Wagnalls Memorial.