Sandusky Public Library

Library History

The First Hundred Years: On November 5, 1895, the Library Association of Sandusky was incorporated under the laws of Ohio and has since given free library service to all residents of Erie County.

In 1870, the books and property of the Young Men's Christian and Library Association were turned over to a group of unusual local women organized under the name of the Library Association. They were determined to succeed and ran their small subscription library ($2/year membership fee, and the city appropriated one-tenth of a mill of city tax levy for its support) from a room in the high school until 1896. Later, they were in the Masonic Temple. By 1886, they formed the Library Building Fund to raise money to purchase or build a library in the future. The ladies had asked for a location on the east public square but the city refused, so the group looked elsewhere, although they felt they were by right entitled to a place on the square. They worked diligently to secure money, sponsoring over 50 plays, lectures, and musicals. In 1898, they had collected enough money to purchase the James Woolworth home on the southwest corner of Columbus Avenue and Adams Street for $10,000. The location was ideal and the house large enough to serve as a temporary library.

Through the efforts of Sanduskian Mrs. Jay O. Moss, in 1899 Andrew Carnegie, wealthy philanthropist, offered to give $50,000 for a public library in our city. The ladies were ecstatic! Mr. Carnegie specified that the city must give $3,000 per year to maintain the building, which they agreed to do. The contract for the building was awarded in the summer of 1900 and the building completed in 1901. Sandusky's library is one of the three earliest Carnegie Libraries in Ohio. The Gala Opening Dedication was held July 3, 1901.

Beginning in 1912, the Library received funding from the Erie County Commissioners, and services were offered to all residents of the county through an annual contract of the Library and the Commissioners.