Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes are posted after being approved at the following month’s Board meeting.

History

An Oakwood School Library was mentioned in 1913 in the Oakwood Village Record. In 1916, the Board of Education passed a resolution to organize the Oakwood Library. It was housed in a Harman School classroom, included books for both adults and children, and was open only a few hours a week.

At the end of 1923, John R. Fletcher, president of the Board of Trustees, deeded the Library a building at 45 Park Avenue. That building, called the "Library House" or the "Park Avenue Library" was a big improvement over the school room, but by 1928 it was already overcrowded.

Orville Wright was appointed to the Board in 1934, serving for the next twelve years.

In 1937, the Library Board of Trustees placed a $40,000 bond issue on the ballot for a library building to be built in a park named for Katharine Wright, Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister. The land was leased from the city for $1.00 per year for 99 years, renewable. Orville Wright offered $100 to underwrite the cost of the campaign to pass the bond issue. The Oakwood Garden Club suggested the name Wright Memorial Library in honor of the three Wrights, and the Board of Trustees approved. The building opened February 14, 1939.

Many people are curious about the Egyptian hieroglyphics above the front door. Peter Dorman of the Egyptian Department of The Metropolitan Museum of Art advised in 1980 that "The inscription seems to make no sense in Egyptian or English transcription, although it is a fascinating bit of wood carving."

A new wing was added in 1964 to house an additional 8,000 volumes and air conditioning was installed. Staff facilities completed that project. In 1972, floor space was doubled to 13,800 square feet. The project enlarged the Children’s Department and areas of publicly accessible shelving, and added a meeting room, magazine storage area, book processing department, and staff lounge.

Overflowing book shelves, deterioration of the building itself, and increased demand for audiovisual materials led in 1983 to an addition of 9,850 more square feet and a complete remodeling. An Audiovisual Room, a new Children's Room, and a meeting room with a capacity of 75 were the major additions.

Library use continued to increase. In 1991, the audiovisual department converted to open shelving and Wright Library introduced the computerized catalog. Automation increased the speed and efficiency of repetitive tasks, including many behind-the-scenes library jobs, freeing more staff time for individualized service to patrons.

In 1997, the Library introduced OPLIN – the Ohio Public Library Information Network – which provides Internet resources for public libraries throughout the state. Also new in 1997 was the Electronic Notification System, which electronically calls to notify patrons when they have items on hold or overdue. The Library’s web site was launched in 1999. In 2002, Wright Library became the first library in the area to offer a virtual reference service. EBooks were added in 2003. The Library joined the Ohio eBooks project in 2005 and began offering downloadable audio books. Wireless Internet access and e-mailed Library notices via the LibraryElf web site were provided for patrons in 2007. Today Wright Library continues its tradition of friendly, personal service while providing convenient technological advances for library users.

Vision

Wright Memorial Public Library has a distinctive role in the community as an institution that fuels the intellect and imagination of people of all ages. Wright Library recognizes that libraries are no longer just physical places containing inventories of books, but have become channels through which knowledge flows to patrons from many sources. The Library strives to serve all patrons, whether on-site or virtual, by providing the resources they seek promptly, completely, accurately, and in a comfortable environment. The Library partners with other organizations to project its reach in the community and strives to expand physical and virtual access to its resources. Wright Library seeks to play an active role in preparing preschoolers to learn, helping students succeed in school, and supporting lifelong learners by providing a broad range of viewpoints, formats, and programs. Wright Memorial Public Library actively works to connect patrons with resources that will enrich their lives.