THE ORRVILLE LIBRARY
The library in Orville, Ohio is a joy to visit. Some of you may be rubbing your forehead and asking yourself "Orrville?? Where is that" Orrville is about 20 miles west of Canton then 3 miles north of US 30. Or about 45 miles south of Cleveland, OH. It is also just a few miles east of Wooster.
If you let your mind wander a little you should recall that Orville is the world headquarters of Smuckers (you know..the people who make jam!)
The Orrville Library has this nice library statue to greet you near the main entrance.
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| Note the statue behind the railing on right |
I have seen libraries where they have thrown a lot of money at it but had few creative ideas and what they wound up with was a big expensive and uninteresting building. That is not the case here.
As you can see in the following pictures, this library is not small. It covers most of a block. I have been in larger cities with smaller libraries. |
| View from the main street of town |
The pictures above and to the right are taken from the main street of town. The picture below is taken from the opposite end of the library.
One of the more interesting things about this library is the creative use of raised or lowered floor areas. Although some of the areas are in the same large room the change in floor levels gives the illusion of it being a separate space.
I live in northern Michigan where we get a lot of snow and found the "No Parking" sign below amusing. Where we live 3" of snow is a common occurrence. The fence on the right of the picture below is along the ample parking lot where you can park when there is snow.
The woodwork in this library is especially attractive. Orrville is just north of Amish country in Ohio and may have been the source for the woodwork. Other libraries in this area have mentioned that the Amish supplied their woodwork.  |
| Looking toward the children's area up the stairs. |
All I had to do was ask and Chris gave me a library card for my collection. I learned that she was also from Michigan, but has relocated to Ohio. Lovely buildings alone do not make a great library. Smiling people like Chris make them warm and friendly places. Thanks Chris. Note the library card in my hand on the left. 
On the way to the childrens section I spotted this charming teen area. The "painted" pony in the middle of the picture was an interesting addition. As I continued up a short few steps to the children's area I did not expect what I saw next -a railroad engine in a library!
I had thought perhaps they would have a large jar of Smuckers Jam but was puzzled by the engine in the children's area. Then I learned Orrville was established about the same time that trains came to the area. A few different train companies served this area and train lines crossed here so the community has a history of RailRoads. They have honored that history with this delightful engine in the children's area. This side has study spaces for children and the other side (see below) has computer stations. What a delightful and useful addition to their children's area. This is an example of the creativity I saw throughout the library.
A word of apology for not posting last weekend. I was in Findlay Ohio doing research at the library there. I hope to show you that library in a week or so.
Thanks for reading. Your comments are always welcome
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