center in the Library parking lot until the completion of DiscoveryWorks in early 1995.DiscoveryWorks opened to the public on Saturday, January 21, 1995. In the first 14 months, 40,000 patrons visited during a limited 14-hour-per-week schedule. In 1997, DiscoveryWorks was one of 10

national museum sites chosen to be a “ZOOM Room”. These sites would serve as pilot locations for children to perform and evaluate math and science activities to be featured on the PBS series, “ZOOM”.

Several unique exhibits, acquired within the first few years of operation, continue to delight visitors, young and old. Starlab, an inflatable, portable planetarium, allows

19301940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990200020102020

In 1991, while sharing ideas for the expansion of the Avon Lake Public Library, a gathering of community focus groups suggested the addition of a hands-on discovery center. The idea was to create an interactive learning center for science and the arts, offering programs and exhibits for all ages. Local resident Doris Forror was hired as the center’s director in 1993 and began putting the plans into motion.

Grants were obtained from the Nord Family Foundation, The Avon Lake Women’s Club, and the Library Foundation for the purchase of exhibits and materials. Local residents and businesses donated additional talent, materials, and funds. Displays were built with the help of community volunteers, such as The Reading Room play loft, designed and constructed by the Avon Lake High School Industrial Arts class.An old school bus, purchased and transformed into a “Magic School Bus”, served as a temporary learning

1930sThe Maltese Falcon by Dashiell HammettThe Good Earth by Pearl S. BuckThe Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer Brave New World by Aldous HuxleyThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

The First Book...

In January 1931, the first book welcomed

into the ALPL Collection was Penrod by

Newton Booth Tarkington, published in 1914 with

delightful illustrations by Gordon Grant. It tells of

the escapades of Penrod Schofield, an 11-year-

old boy growing up in Indianapolis at the turn of

the 20th century. A likable rapscallion, Penrod

is always getting into trouble as he navigates

childhood with his loyal dog Duke – causing

uproar at the school pageant due to his hideous

costume, eating himself sick at the county fair,

fabricating wild rumors about family members as

an excuse to teachers, driving his big sister

and her beau crazy, sparking the Great

Tar Fight, concocting a cure for Small Pox,

and trying to win the affections of

his childhood crush.

AVON LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY HISTORY Avon Lake Public Library opens in 1931. The first librarian was Mrs. Anna Heider.

The Library has a collection of 5,292 titles for 928 cardholders.

In 1958, the Library moves into a new building, which is the current location on Electric Blvd.

The Early Settlers Reading Program celebrates Avon Lake’s 150th birthday.

The Library adds 8mm films to the collection.

A minicomputer automates the Library’s catalog.

The Library expands, including the addition of DiscoveryWorks. Friends of Avon Lake Public Library was formed.

The Library offers Internet classes; Jungle Terry makes his first visit.

Boo by the Woods comes to the Library in 2014.

Curbside service begins in May 2020. The Library celebrates its 90th Anniversary in 2021!

Young readers enjoying the

storybook trail located in

the kopf family reservation

participants to experience the night sky in the comfort of an indoor setting. Stuffee, a 9ft. giant doll containing soft sculpture replicas of the internal organs, helps teach children about body systems and nutrition. Visitors can take a stroll on the giant walking piano, a replica of the one made famous in the movie “Big”. For aviation enthusiasts, a full-sized hang glider and experimental airplane “soar” amid the rafters.

Over the past 25 years, DiscoveryWorks has expanded its schedule to 37.5 hours per week, and annually hosts 30,000 to 35,000 visitors. Public programming attracts over 750 children, ages 3-13, each year. More than 150 science classes are presented for local school groups between September and May,

reaching more than 3,000 students in grades K-5.

DiscoveryWorks was imagined as a place for visitors to learn

and grow through hands-on experiences,

and will continue to serve the community as a place to share discoveries while learning about the world around them.

The History of DiscoveryWorks

1940sForever Amber by Kathleen WinsorThe Keys of the Kingdom by A. J. CroninThe Song of Bernadette by Franz WerfelThe Robe by Lloyd C. DouglasStrange Fruit by Lillian Smith

1950sThe Cardinal by Henry Morton RobinsonFrom Here to Eternity by James JonesThe Silver Chalice by Thomas B. CostainExodus by Leon UrisNot as a Stranger by Morton Thompson

FROM CARD CATALOG

TO COMPUTERPrior to 1990, when the Library’s cataloger received materials they entered each item by hand in an acquisitions ledger. The cataloger then hand recorded the information about each item, which was then written or typed on a card for the card catalog. The head of Circulation wrote or typed the cards.

In the early 1990’s, the Library started using a computer system called ‘Gaylord’ that allowed the cataloger to enter information about the materials so staff members in other departments of the Library could view the Library’s holdings. The card catalog system was still used, however.

In 1999, the Library moved forward with a new computer system named ‘Sirsi’, which led to the computerized catalog of Library materials.

1960sThe Source by James A. MichenerThe Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving StoneShip of Fools by Katherine Anne PorterAirport by Arthur HaileyPortnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth

1970sLove Story by Erich SegalWheels by Arthur HaileyChesapeake by James A. MichenerThe Matarese Circle by Robert LudlumCentennial by James A. Michener

1980sThe Covenant by James A. MichenerNoble House by James ClavellE.T. by William KotzwinkleReturn of the Jedi by James KahnIt by Stephen King

1990sThe Plains of Passage by Jean M. AuelScarlett by Alexandra RipleyDolores Claiborne by Stephen KingHannibal by Thomas HarrisThe Chamber by John Grisham

2000sThe Summons by John GrishamThe Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownAbsurdistan By Gary ShteyngartThe Broker by John GrishamThe Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

2010sThe Girl on the Train by Paula HawkinsSteve Jobs by Walter IsaacsonFifty Shades of Grey by E. L. JamesThe Fault in Our Stars by John GreenGo Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

POPULAR BOOKS EACH DECADE

“Over the past 25 years, DiscoveryWorks has

expanded its schedule to 37.5 hours per week, and annually hosts 30,000 to

35,000 visitors.”

WHAT’S IN A NAME?Have you ever wondered the story behind these names?

Waugaman GalleryThe Waugaman Gallery was named after Marcia Waugaman, assistant director and head of the Reference department. Among her many accomplishments, Marcia was responsible for establishing the monthly art shows in the gallery. It was after her passing that it was suggested to rename the Gallery in her memory.

McMahan and Parke RoomThese rooms were named after two former library trustees, Jean Parke and Betty McMahan. Jean Parke held a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master of Arts from The University of Toledo. Her library interests encompassed trusteeship on the Friends of Avon Lake Public Library (past president) and Avon Lake Public Library Foundation, Inc. (founder and secretary). The Conference Room in the Avon Lake Public Library is named in her honor. Mary E. McMahan, also known as “Betty”, served on the Avon Lake Public Library Board for 37 years and was a library treasurer for 11 years. She also enjoyed tutoring and reading to students.

Riggle StoryTime RoomJudith Riggles was a former children’s librarian and retired director of the Avon Lake Public Library. Judy had a vision that the Library would be a central spot for learning, information, resources, entertainment, and social interaction. Judy was named Ohio’s Outstanding Librarian in her year of retirement, and is the co-author of previous editions of the book Beyond Picture Books. Due to her passion for storytelling, the StoryTime room was named in her honor. She died on November 25, 2020, after a long illness.

Marybelle Arnold North Coast History RoomThis room was part of the renovation and updating of the Library’s interior during 2014-2015. To help with the completion of the room, the Library held a small campaign to solicit funds in exchange for the naming rights. It was by chance that an anthropology professor from UCLA contacted the Library looking for a way for their family to honor their mother Marybelle Arnold, who was an avid reader and book borrower at Avon Lake Public Library. She also facilitated a Great Books discussion at the Library for several decades.

Mary’s Children’s GardenIn 2016, the Library’s summer reading theme was “ALPL Had a Farm.” This sparked the idea that the “farm” needed a vegetable garden, and so the seed was planted. The Children’s services manager, Sybil Wendling, along with the director of the Library, Mary Crehore, were part of the driving force behind the children’s garden, and they enlisted the help of local Boy Scout Evan Huang of Troop 334 to design and build the garden beds as an Eagle Scout Project. The purpose of the garden was to teach children the important steps to plant, care for, maintain, and harvest food from a garden. This journey was made possible by Mary’s dedication to getting a grant proposal from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is awarded by the State Library of Ohio. This was quite an achievement, and so a plaque for “Mary’s Children’s Garden” was gifted to Mary at her retirement party in 2017.

Launch of the

borrow a

bike program

Constructing the

DiscoveryWorks loft.The 1st alpl building! We’ve m

oved to the curr

ent

location on e

lectric blvd.!

DID YOU KNOW...

The Library shares building space with ALCTV and the Metroparks? ALCTV set up shop in March of 1995 and currently has a studio set up downstairs. The Metroparks came around in November 2008 and has a dedicated space next to DiscoveryWorks.

Hello neighbors!

Talk about a

hand cramp

Have you read any

Of these titles?Miss Kim reading in the

storytime room

Unveiling ceremony for the

Marybelle Arnold history room

Mary’s Garden in full bloom.

So many tasty vegetables!

Librarians using the card catalog.

Friends members

stand beside the new

ALPL book bike

TRIVIA QUESTIONIn 2017, A1 Steak bottles were mysteriously found in the Library. How many bottles in total were found? Answer: 55

Do you know the answer?