The Wagnalls Memorial

Such a beautiful library! My coworker and I took a field trip down to Lithopolis to check out this library. It’s so funny to be driving down the main street in a typical little Ohio town and suddenly have a castle-​like building off to the left. Being unfamiliar with the layout and following the signs that said «library entrance,» we actually turned into someone’s driveway thinking it led to the back parking lot, but it didn’t. The turn to the parking lot is before the library itself, though we didn’t see any signs indicating such.
It really does feel castle-​like walking through the front door and into the vestibule of the library. We were greeted at the front desk and offered some literature about the building. I really loved the main reading room with the high ceilings, elevated stage, stained glass windows, and long tables with banker’s lamps. The fiction reading room was also beautiful, though blindingly sunny in the afternoon, and a little cramped by the placement of chairs in little nooks. I do hope that they allow the piano to be played sometimes. The architecture reminded me a little of the California Grand Hotel at Disneyland (and subsequently, of the Ahwahnee and other state park lodges). The nonfiction area had more of a traditional library feel with long rows of stacks, as well as a computer lab area. The selection of new books was small, but included some popular and current titles.
The layout with the children’s department downstairs is a little like the Bexley library, though I worry a little about the stairs and children running up and down them. There was a large table of Lego-​type blocks which I totally would have used if I wasn’t concerned about how often they’re sanitized. It looked like at one point there were some private study rooms off to one side, though they’re being used for storage now.
Staff was helpful and willing to share about their experiences once they found out my coworker and I were doing a little reconnaissance on other library collections. I’d definitely come back to bask in the reading room if only it were closer.

First off I will outwardly admit that I have a special place in my heart for Wagnalls. I am very sad by it’s current condition and hope that eventually it will recover to what it used to be five or ten years ago.
While today it is dramatically reduced down to the main floor being the whole library it still is a worthwhile resource. I love the history of the collection and building.
One day when I am rich I will donate a sh*t ton of money to this place because I truly believe in it.
Long live Wagnalls Memorial… the future generations needs you.

This library has recently had some financial troubles but is still a beautiful place to visit.
My mother used to bring me here quite frequently as it is a small library and their children’s section is nice place to bring kids, let them play with the toys there and look at the books. The children’s section is separate from the other sections so there’s no need for the ‘library voice’ that makes going the library seem not fun to some kids.
The rest of the library seems really old and makes you feel that you are in some grand reading room of a distinguished university library surrounded by professors in tweed jackets. But this also holds true for the books. If you’re looking for the newest and latest information and releases, you’re probably not going to find it here.
Because of the recent financial troubles, they are holding more and more rented events here. This is a great place for those as the setting is lovely and the grounds (and town) themselves are nice to walk around on a nice day.

Housed in an amazingly ornate building on the far outer edge of the C-​bus sprawl, this library was actually a bit of a disappointment.
My town, Canal, doesn’t have a library. I had heard great things about the Wagnalls Memorial Library (as in Funk and…, seriously) and that it was only about two miles out of downtown Canal. I decided to check it out.
Built with lots of publishing riches, the building is indeed beautiful. It’s a bit of an anomaly in the tiny town of Lithopolis. With its Gothic architecture, the structure looks more like a church than a library. The interior of the library is equally majestic. It is sprawling. It boasts a 300-​person auditorium, a banquet hall and a museum.
The catch comes with the library’s holdings. They are extremely out of date. It was very hard for me to find much of anything I was looking for. Luckily, the library is part of the same consortium as Grandview and Lancaster. All the books and DVDs I wanted could be ordered from those facilities.
Wagnalls Memorial Library = Five stars for form but only two stars for function. I met in a reasonable middle at three stars.