New Branches, Programs and Summer Reading

After several years without new branch libraries due to the Great Depression, by 1939 neighborhoods were eager for new branch locations. Though Linden and Clintonville (two original branches) moved to new locations in this time, only the new Milo Branch (1930) had opened since 1928. Shepard Branch opened in 1939, Northside followed quickly in 1940 and Franklinton opened in 1943.

Programs like “Story Hour”, Book Week, and the Summer Reading Contest drew customers to the library branches in addition to Main Library. The first “summer reading contest” was in 1937 at Main Library for students in third grade to eighth grade. After a successful first year, the library decided to make Summer Reading Club (also known as Vacation Reading Club) an annual event. The second contest was extended to children from third grade to twelfth grade and was open to kids at Main Library, Hilltop and Linden branches.

Book Week at Clintonville

Main Library has celebrated Book Week since its inception in 1919, and branches were eager to join the fun as soon as they were established. Puppet shows were popular, as seen here at the Clintonville Branch.

Shepard Sanitarium

Shepard Branch opened February 1, 1939 at 2185 E. Fifth Ave. The Shepard area is named for Dr. William Shepard whose Water Cure Sanitarium opened in 1855 on the same site as later Shepard branch locations.

First Northside Branch

Northside Branch opened in May of 1940 at 944 N. High St. (today the site of Rocket Fizz soda pop and candy shop). Northside has had four more buildings since then and was served by a bookmobile while the new branch was being built in 2017.

First Summer Reading Contest

The winners of the first Summer Reading Club in 1937. Left to right: Dino Pappas, age 8, read 69 books. Jeanne F. Chavous, age 10, read 101 books. Bobby Weisberg, age 11, read 80 books.

"The Paperback Branch"

On June 11, 1943 the Franklinton Branch opened at 841 Sullivant Ave. Franklinton was the first “merchandised” branch to be set up like a bookstore and was later nicknamed “the paperback branch” because much of the collection focused on popular fiction and nonfiction.