Main Library Divisions and Services

Audio Visual Services

The center for the Library’s large and diverse collection of videotapes, CDs, DVDs and audio books.

Business & Government

Provides a wealth of information on managing money, finding a job or running a business. Other popular topics include investing, government and politics, consumer issues and the laws.

Children’s Library

The Children’s Library offers the opportunity to educate and entertain your children. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find:

• Board and picture books, nursery rhymes
• Fiction and non-fiction books for children through sixth grade
• Craft programs, story times, summer reading programs and classroom visits
• Audio collection of lullabies, classics and everything in between
• DVDs and Videos for young children
• Early Childhood Learning Computers

Resources for Early Childhood Educators

Akron-Summit County Public Library, with support from Akron Community Foundation, recently opened a new service for early childhood educators. It includes a Lab located at Main Library and collections of teacher resources at all library locations for teachers to borrow.

History & Humanities

Offers an abundance of knowledge on subjects ranging from architecture, art and education to language, psychology and religion. Included are self-help books, wedding planning, baby names and college financial aid.

Magazines & Newspapers

Main Library subscribes to over 1,000 magazines and dozens of local and national newspapers. Many are available for checkout.

Popular Culture

The center for the library’s holdings of mysteries, science fiction, westerns, music, movies, television, sports, crafts, collectibles, biographies and more.

Science and Technology

Librarians can answer questions about consumer health, car repair, computers, gardening and more.

Special Collections

Houses genealogy and local history materials including microfilm of the Akron Beacon Journal and other local newspapers going back to 1841. The goal is to collect, preserve and provide access to the history of Summit County and maintain one of Ohio’s most extensive genealogy collections.

Teen

Every library location has a section targeting teenage readers ages 11 to 18. The Teen Area includes:

• Newest selection of teen and non-fiction books about sports, movies, music and more
• Teen magazines, books-on-tape or CD, music and DVDs
• Craft, gaming and other programs. Summer reading programs, class visits and book talks

Friends of Main Library

The Friends of the Main Library is a group of citizens assisting the library staff in meeting its goals through programming and activity support.

Library Café

Hattie’s Library Café, operated by Hattie Larlham offers fresh sandwiches, soups and salads, coffees and desserts.

The Library Shop on Main

A shop for unique gifts and gently used books owned and operated by Friends of Main Library. Browse featured items; donate books and other materials; volunteer at the shop; and read about upcoming events and special offers. Visit the Library Shop on Main at www.lsom.org

Library Services

Ask-A-Librarian
Allows you to ask our librarians questions via our Web site at www.akronlibrary.org

Audio Books and Music Downloads
Check out and download audio books and music on your home PC and MP3 player. Visit the Downloadables section at www.akronlibrary.org

Bookable Film/Video Collection
The items maintained in the Audio Visual Bookable collection provide opportunities to schools, individuals and community organizations to enhance presentations and lessons. The collection includes VHS video cassettes and multimedia kits.

Book Mobile & Van Services
The Mobile Services department extends library services beyond a library building to children, senior citizens and the disabled. Our Bookmobiles visit schools, day-care centers, Head Start programs and neighborhoods during the school year and in the summer. Our van services extend our reach to senior citizens in housing facilities or retirement communities.

Book Letters
A service from the Akron-Summit County Public Library, offers book reviews and information on hundreds of authors with online newsletters delivered to your desktop.

Books in Boxes
A program for primary to middle-high school students. Each Books in Boxes set consists of 35 copies of paperback titles packed in a box. Each set circulates as a unit for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks. All reservations are made through the Children’s Library at 330-643-9050.

Computer & Internet Programs
Provides free computer training programs from entry level applications such as Introduction to Computers and Microsoft Windows for Beginners; to advanced applications such as Excel, Exploring eBay and Introduction to Digital Cameras. Call Electronic Services at 330-643-9145 or contact your local branch library.

E-Mail Notifications
Receive e-mail notifications of items ready to be picked up or that are overdue. Another feature is an automatic reminder sent out a few days before something is due.

Library Event Calendar
Find out what’s happening at Main and Branch Library locations at www.akronlibrary.org/events/hmtl. You may search by type of program, location or date.

Grant Center
Akron-Summit County Public Library is a part of the Cooperating Collections of the Foundation Center in New York. We house a core collection of materials on grant proposal writing, foundations and fundraising and offer free access to the Foundation Directory Online database. Look for our schedule of training classes offered in grant seeking basics, proposal writing and use of the database. Reference materials are located at the Grant Center on the Third Floor of the Main Library.

Kits for Kids
Designed for toddlers and preschoolers age three and up, their families, caregivers and teachers. Kits include theme-centered books, video or audio cassettes, puzzles and toys. Kits may be checked out for two weeks.

Know It Now 24 x 7
A live Internet information service provided free of charge for citizens of Ohio by the State Library of Ohio and your local public library. Librarians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions and find information. Check www.akronlibrary.org for a link to Know It Now.

Learning Express Library
Provides an interactive online learning platform of practice tests and tutorial course series designed to help students and adults succeed on necessary academic or licensing tests. Immediate scoring, complete answers, explanations and an individualized analysis of results are provided. Learning Express Library is available through www.akronlibrary.org

Library by Mail
Library Express Delivery Service provides free delivery of items by postal mail to those who are homebound or to those recuperating from illness or surgery.

Meeting Rooms
Library locations provide meeting room spaces for library-related activities. When these facilities are not needed for library events they are available to non-profit community groups to book for meetings.

Patent & Trademark Information
The Library was named a Patent & Trademark Depository Library in 1995. We offer access to resources from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in a variety of formats, including full images of patents granted since 1790. Sign up for a Patent Searching Class, check USPTO databases of patent and trademark information or check out some of our books on how to secure a patent or trademark and/or develop and market your idea.

Renew Library Items
You can renew items in four ways:

• At any of our library locations
• Call 330-643-9025 during library hours
• Use the TeleCirc automated circulation system 24 hours a day at 330-643-9240
• At www.akronlibrary.org

ShelfLife
ShelfLife is a free quarterly newsletter of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. It features news stories & upcoming events.

Wireless
The Library provides free wireless Internet access at all library locations.