Our Story
Wadsworth Public Library is an independent public library serving the City of Wadsworth, Wadsworth Township, and portions of surrounding townships within the Wadsworth City School District's boundaries. It is primarily funded through two local operating levies and a line-item appropriation in the state of Ohio’s biennial operating budget.
The Library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, each appointed to serve either a seven-year (those appointed on or before September 29, 2025) or a four-year term (those appointed on or after September 30, 2025) as required by Ohio law. The Wadsworth City School District Board of Education acts as the Library’s taxing authority, approving trustee appointments and, at the Library’s request, placing ballot issues before voters.
Ohio’s public libraries are nationally and internationally recognized for excellence and broadly popular with constituents, boasting the highest per capita usage levels in the nation. The Library is a member of Search Ohio, a statewide resource-sharing consortium, and OhioLINK, a network of Ohio’s college and university libraries.
Foundations of a Legacy: The Library’s Early Years
Reading has been a cornerstone of community life in Wadsworth since the early pioneer library was established in 1822 by Judge Frederick and Mrs. Chloe (Pettibone) Brown. But the first truly public library would come about 100 years later, on the heels of generous donations from local Girl Scouts and Women’s Clubs, which helped establish a larger loaning library in the early 1920s. In 1926, Ella M. Everhard donated the Dr. Leiter House to serve as the permanent home for Wadsworth’s first tax-supported public library, named in her honor against her formidable will. Under the leadership of librarian Ms. Alice Woodard, storytime for children was introduced, and collections were expanded by more than 4,300 titles. These early efforts laid the foundation for the strong tradition of literacy and community engagement that continues in Wadsworth today.
Ella M. Everhard’s lifelong commitment to education, culture, and community laid the foundation for the library that has served Wadsworth for a century.
The Leiter House, located at the Library's current location. This house served as the Library until the late 1950s.
The Girl Scout House from the 20's, originally located behind Leiter House
A City’s Refuge and Strength: The 1930s
The decade opened with over 4,300 titles, and though the hard hand of the Great Depression bore down, the Library closed the ’30s with 12,000 volumes and more than 3,000 borrowing patrons. As funds collapsed and salaries were deferred, a late-year tax infusion kept the doors from shutting. In those lean years, readers turned to the Library in record numbers: monthly circulation climbed past 6,000, a mark not seen again until the 1960s, and yearly totals neared 70,000. Mrs. C. B. Allen became the first woman to lead the Library Board of Trustees, and public gifts carried the Library through the bleak winter of ’33. By decade’s end, it was hailed as the city’s greatest cultural force, while its matriarch, Ella M. Everhard, celebrated her ninety-fifth year, amid story hours and the steadfast Women’s Literature and Arts Club.
The Leiter House, located at the Library's current location. This house served as the Library until the late 1950s.
Ella M. Everhard celebrates her 95th birthday in October of 1939.
The infamous Antarctic Snow Cruiser passed through Wadsworth, Ohio during its public road journey in 1939 on the way to Boston before departing for Antarctica.
Wartime Years and Rising Hope at the Library: The 1940s
As the 1940s dawned, an era marked by wartime frugality, victory gardens, and nightly radio reports, the Library pressed steadily onward. Its budget rose past $10,000 for the first time, and young Ramona Medley joined the staff as the Library’s very first student page. After twenty-two years of service as a Library Assistant, Mrs. Auck retired, noting the surge of youthful readers who now accounted for nearly half of all circulation. In 1942, the Library mourned the passing of its benefactor, Ella M. Everhard, whose final gift of $5,000 was set aside for a future building. The Library also joined the Victory Book Campaign, collecting donated books for the U.S. Armed Forces. A change in the Ohio General Code granted equal library privileges to all Medina County residents.
1940s era Memorial Day Parade in downtown Wadsworth
Romona Medley, the Library's very first student page.
Japanese submarine on display on High Street, just south of North Park on July 4, 1943.
A New Home and Bright Futures: The 1950s
With televisions flickering in living rooms, drive-in diners dotting town streets, and rock & roll music transforming the youth vibe, the post-war boom arrived with a wave of euphoria, new construction, and population growth. A new library building designed by William Boyd Huff and built by Theodore Bogner Construction Company opened in 1957 at a cost of $225,629, allowing the collection of over 20,000 volumes to finally grow. New families moving to Wadsworth in record numbers accounted for juvenile circulation surging past adult titles in 1956, a trend that continues to this day. First librarian Alice V. Woodard retired in 1958, and in 1959, the Library offered a $1,000 scholarship to any resident pursuing library school; longtime page Don Pike was its first recipient, continuing the tradition of fostering local talent.
Library construction, March 1956.
A new library building opened in 1957 on the same site as the Leiter House.
WPL patrons and staff member, 1952.
Expanding Minds and Space: The 1960s
The Library served as a rock of stability and continuity during this decade of turbulent change. Peering into now ubiquitous television sets, for the first time in human history, families gathered to witness the glories and tragedies of American and world history, in real time. Patron interests expanded, and Library offerings responded in kind to meet this new demand, growing to over 58,000 volumes. The beloved bookmobile hit the streets in the early part of the decade, circulating 30,000 titles in its first year. Children quickly outgrew their new space, and in 1962, a new children’s area in the basement made room for study spaces for all ages. The decade also saw technology’s arrival in the Library: a photocopier was added in 1969, bringing the Library into the modern age while continuing its mission as a hub for reading and knowledge.
Wadsworth Public Library's original bookmobile, 1960.
Diane Manski and Sara Kreider select a record for the Library's hi-fi set.
Head librarian Kenneth Emerick and librarian Don Pike, 1961.
Summer Reading, Multimedia and Outreach: The 1970s
As disco spun on record players and bell-bottoms filled the streets along with oversized ‘land yacht’ sedans, the decade of energy shortages and economic stagnation brought renewed interest in frugality. The collection swelled to 90,000 titles, and patrons began directly shaping acquisitions by requesting specific works. Records and cassettes joined the stacks, reflecting the era’s musical pulse. In 1977, an $86,000 renovation transformed the Library with a new multimedia center, art gallery, listening room, expanded community spaces, and monthly movie screenings. Outreach initiatives thrived, highlighted by two new bookcases at Menwa, made possible through a generous local bequest. Summer got a lot cooler with the launch of the longstanding Summer Reading Club for children, nurturing a lifelong love of books.
Library exterior and logo, 1970s.
Children's story time, 1972.
Library interior, 1970s.
Friends, Honoring Roots and Modernization: The 1980s
The decade of the Walkman, music cassettes, MTV, the space shuttle program, and the initial commercial opening of the internet set many trends that are still with us today. As new media competed with books for patrons’ time and attention, the Library debuted the Toybrary, offering educational toys and puzzles with the hopes of attracting new young readers to books, an effort championed by longtime staff member Eloise Williams. The Friends of the Wadsworth Public Library was founded and began its beloved annual book sales. New attention was focused on local history with the arrival of the microfilm machine and dedicated research space, giving residents a richer window into Wadsworth’s past. In 1988, thanks to voter approval of a bond issue, the Library completed renovations to modernize the space for years to come.
Head librarian Eileen Flowers demonstrates WPL's new microfilm reader, 1983.
WPL groundbreaking ceremony, June 1987.
WPL staff learning the new computer system, 1987.
New Foundations and Reaching Further: The 1990s
A new spirit of exploration and collaboration was in the air as the Cold War came to an end, the hubble telescope and international space station were launched concurrent with the public opening of the internet. This spirit of expansion was evident in the Pelican Post Program, launched in 1998 to deliver books and materials to homebound patrons, a new bookmobile, and new facility on N. Lyman to house Outreach operations. In-house resources grew too, with the creation of the first dedicated Reference Department under Barbara Pfahl and Barbara Black. Dial-up internet arrived, opening a world of discovery beyond the Library’s walls. In 1995, the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation was established to further expand funding and preserve the Library’s core mission, raising nearly $1 million to date.
Barbara Pfahl teaches patron how to use new Library computers.
WPL introduces computers for patrons.
WPL's new bookmobile, 1998.
Challenges and Achievements: The 2000s
From the tragic opening of 9/11, followed by the bursting of the dot-com bubble to the debut of the iPod, streaming media, and social media, the first decade of the new millennium was a time of challenges and achievements. The Library opened that decade as the 4th best library in the nation in its population category, and its partnership with the Wadsworth City Schools was extended further, expanding student and teacher access to books and programming. By 2002, email and the World Wide Web connected patrons to the Library from home. The following year, the Library’s largest renovation and expansion to date was opened to the public, more than doubling the size of the physical building. Yet, in response to the Great Recession, state funding cuts forced reductions of staff, open hours, materials, and the eventual sale of the bookmobiles.
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WPL Bookmobile in the city's famous Blue Tip Parade.
WPL introduces new online catalog, 2008.
In 2003 construction was completed on WPL's biggest building expansion. Renovating its current building and adding a 14,000 square foot addition.
Rebuilding and Reaching Young Readers: The 2010s
As the Library emerged from the Great Recession and the pace of smartphone adoption accelerated along with streaming media and social media, voters approved a 1-mil, five-year levy, allowing the Library to rebuild services and collections. With screens capturing more attention than ever, the Library renewed its commitment to early literacy and student success. Outreach staff brought storytimes and programs directly to schools, preschools, childcare centers, and older adult facilities. The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative became a cornerstone of this early literacy effort, and the children’s department was expanded to make room for the popular early literacy interactive play area, supported by the generous funding of the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation, welcoming a new generation of learners.
Made possible by the support of the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation, our interactive play area features a “bookmobile,” multifunctional play kiosks, a towering alphabet whirligig, and a STEM-focused magnetic ball run.
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WPL add the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program in 2017. Pictured is our first finisher, Lilia Kingland.
Loretta Sussman shares a story during one of the Library's many popular story time sessions.
Celebrating 100 Years
More than 500 visitors joined us in celebrating our 100th Anniversary on Sunday, January 18, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make this milestone so special.
The Wadsworth Public Library Foundation’s generous sponsorship made the celebration possible and allowed us to partner with and support several local businesses. We’re grateful to Photography by Felicity, LLC, Ann's Pastry Shop, Dolce at the Strand, Barlett Cook Flower Shoppe, Just Eat the Cookie, Lift Up Balloons & Designs, Warther Woodworking, and Wadsworth Community Radio 97.1 FM & On the Web for adding such special touches to the day. We also appreciate the Wadsworth High School Jazz Band for their wonderful performances.
Finally, none of this would have been possible without our incredible staff, whose hard work made this celebration a smashing success.
Our ceremony included Wadsworth native Alaina Tennant performing Ella M Everhard's 1926 speech. We thank Alaina for bringing those iconic words to life and helping us connect so deeply with our library’s history.
We'd like to thank Dan Chafin, Director of Public Safety for delivering the Mayoral Proclamation and State Representative Sharon Ray for delivering the Proclamation from the Ohio House.
Our recently renovated space includes an updated and expanded history room. Stop by to check out photos, artifacts, books, and more all detailing Wadsworth's fine history.
Coming soon in 2026 - a memory lab with Self-directed analog-to-digital media conversion station. Digitize old photos, home movies, audio tapes, and documents to preserve personal and family history.
Our appreciation also goes to the Friends of the Wadsworth Public Library for sponsoring our new 100-year timeline. If you haven’t visited recently, stop in to explore our new timeline expertly crafted by Eyedeal Creative.
Pictured here is Wadsworth Resident Ramona Slabaugh posing with her photo on our timeline. Ramona was hired as the Library's First Student Page and we were honored with her presence at our celebration!
