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Image for event: Akron on Foot: The Library Hiding in Plain Sight

Akron on Foot: The Library Hiding in Plain Sight

2023-04-01 14:00:00 2023-04-01 15:30:00 America/New_York Akron on Foot: The Library Hiding in Plain Sight Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Akron Main Library, built in 1969, and learn about how the architectural practice of adaptive reuse was implemented in the 2004 expansion. Main Library - Business, Government & Science

Saturday, April 01
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Add to Calendar 2023-04-01 14:00:00 2023-04-01 15:30:00 America/New_York Akron on Foot: The Library Hiding in Plain Sight Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Akron Main Library, built in 1969, and learn about how the architectural practice of adaptive reuse was implemented in the 2004 expansion. Main Library - Business, Government & Science

Main Library

Business, Government & Science

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Akron Main Library, built in 1969, and learn about how the architectural practice of adaptive reuse was implemented in the 2004 expansion.

You know that the library building that you remember from your youth is still on South Main Street, right? 

Explore Akron history as current and former librarians will tell stories and offer a tour throughout the 1969 portion of the Main Library, now mostly used as staff work areas.

Alice Christie will join us from Progress Through Preservation, a local organization dedicated to maintaining the architectural and historical significance of Akron’s buildings and neighborhoods. Christie will speak on the benefits of the practice of adaptive reuse, where existing buildings are redesigned and expanded for the 21st century, and discuss other similar projects around Akron. 

Our Special Collections team will give a brief history of the library as a fixture of Downtown Akron over the past 150 years.

We’d also love to hear your stories and memories of visiting the Main Library! So come and learn, discuss, and explore one of the spaces that define Downtown Akron.

Akron on Foot is a new series from the Akron-Summit County Public Library, where we’ll take short walking tours to explore and enjoy Downtown Akron’s history through landmarks and special locations.

For questions or additional information, contact the Culture & AV Division at 330.643.9015 or cadiv@akronlibrary.org.


For additional reading, check out:

AGE GROUP: | Teen | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Special Events | History | Community Discussion |

TAGS: | |

Main Library

Phone: 330.643.9000
Branch manager
Michael Bianchi

Hours
Mon, Jul 07 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jul 08 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 09 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 10 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jul 11 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jul 12 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jul 13 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Main Library, located in the heart of downtown Akron, combines compelling public space with meaningful and relevant public library services for all members of our community. Since opening in 2004, the downtown library welcomes more than one million visitors each year.

Subject divisions include: Business, Government & Science, Culture & AV, Magazines & Newspapers, Special Collections (local history & genealogy), TechZone@Main, Teen, and a 12,000 square feet Children's Library.

Special services available at Main Library include: a Patent & Trademark Resource Center; U.S. Passport and Notary services; a Microbusiness Center; a Maker Space; a resource lab for early childhood educators; and regularly scheduled computer training classes. Also available at Main Library are more than 125 public access computers, color photocopiers/printers, laminating, scanning, faxing, and free Wi-Fi.

Specialized spaces include a 425-seat auditorium, public meeting rooms, and a used bookstore. An interior glass block walkway leads to a 600-space parking garage owned by the City of Akron. An outdoor amphitheater and landscaped park complete the complex.

Upcoming Events

Fri, Jul 11, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Jul 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Sat, Jul 12, 2:00pm - 4:45pm
Auditorium

Sun, Jul 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Mon, Jul 14, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

Mon, Jul 14, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Mon, Jul 14, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
TechZone

Tue, Jul 15, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space B

Tue, Jul 15, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jul 15, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
TechZone
This event is full

Wed, Jul 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 16, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 16, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Jul 16, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
TechZone

Cancelled
Thu, Jul 17, 10:30am - 12:00pm

Thu, Jul 17, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Cancelled
Thu, Jul 17, 12:30pm - 3:00pm

Thu, Jul 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 17, 6:10pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 18, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Jul 19, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Atrium

Mon, Jul 21, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

Tue, Jul 22, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 23, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space B

Wed, Jul 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 23, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 23, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Thu, Jul 24, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 24, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 24, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 24, 6:10pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 25, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Jul 26, 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Mon, Jul 28, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

Mon, Jul 28, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E Market St, Akron, OH 44308

Tue, Jul 29, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Computer Lab 1

Tue, Jul 29, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 30, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 30, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 30, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Jul 30, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Wed, Jul 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Thu, Jul 31, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Thu, Jul 31, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 31, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 31, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 31, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Thu, Jul 31, 6:10pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Aug 01, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 02, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Library Park/Amphitheater

Sun, Aug 03, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Auditorium

Mon, Aug 04, 12:30pm - 1:00pm
Registration opens Monday, July 14 2025 at 10:00am

Tue, Aug 05, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Aug 05, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Aug 06, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Aug 06, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Aug 06, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Atrium

Wed, Aug 06, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 07, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 07, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Thu, Aug 07, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
1 South High St.

Fri, Aug 08, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 09, 10:00am - 4:00pm