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Library History
The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, originally
the Mansfield Memorial Library Association, was founded in 1887
by 50 women and was located in the Memorial Building on Park Avenue
West in downtown Mansfield. At the turn of the century head librarian
Martha Mercer visited New York City to request funds from industrialist
Andrew Carnegie to build a new library in Mansfield.
Carnegie promised $35,000 to the building project
provided that the city of Mansfield furnish a suitable site and
pay for the maintenance of the building.
In October of the same year the city council passed a $10,000 bond
issue for the purchase of the West Third Street site. The original
Carnegie library formally opened Saturday evening, December 19,
1908. Approximately 15,000 books lined the library shelves.
On May 20, 1951, an open house marked completion of a $122,000 remodeling
and enlargement project funded by two bond issues.
The automated circulation and public catalog system came on-line
in 1986, and is now a second generation system with increased efficiency.
This system enables patrons to be more self-sufficient when accessing
information and materials.
The library expanded once again with funds available from a local
bond issue. When the doors opened at the grand opening celebration
February 12, 1989, original Carnegie building had doubled in size
while still retaining its original structure.
In addition to the Main Library, there are eight branch libraries
throughout Richland County to provide services to the outlying areas.
Plymouth and Bellville branches became affiliated with the Main
Library in the 1930's. The land for the Plymouth branch Library
was donated by the McIntire family of Plymouth. Mrs John Stambaugh,
a 100-year old woman provided in excess of $500.000 to build and
furnish the library. In 1986 the Plymouth Branch Library was deeded
to the Mansfield Richland County. Service in Lexington began in
the 1950's while Butler came into existence in 1971. Ontario and
Madison were opened after the 1986 bond issue and Lucas, the seventh
branch, was opened in 1990 as a result of community efforts. Crestview
branch recently became affiliated with the library system in March
1999.
The historical synopsis of the library is best concluded by the
mission statement of the library as stated in the long range plan.
The purpose of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library is select,
maintain and make available to the public those resources, in a
variety of formats, which serve the educational informational, recreational
and cultural needs of the public.
Today, the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library is broadening
it's impact county-wide. Programming in all areas is becoming quite
diversified. .
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