ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

BUILDING
Constructed of bedford stone and buff-pressed brick, with a red tile roof. The expansive lawn is shaded by sycamore, elm and buckeye trees.

NONFICTION ROOM
Formerly the Fiction Room and before that it was the Children's Room.

FICTION ROOM
This room has been the Nonfiction Room for years. However, after the Library renovation in 2007 it became the Fiction Room.

REFERENCE ROOM
Above the fireplace, a mural painting of Learning, a woman in flowing robes holding the literature of the world on her arm. In a niche in the all is a beautiful marble statue of History with an open book and pen in her hand. Brought from Italy by Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair. On a pedestal beside the fireplace was another Italian marble statue, the Muse of Music, Polyhymnia, donated Brigadier General Sigafoos. Between the Reference Room and the Biography/900 Room is a stained glass window showing William Shakespeare. Next to the fireplace is a stained glass window showing Henry St. Clair.

PERIODICALS ROOM
Formerly the public reading room which contained current magazines and history books.

Formerly Public Reading Room (Currently Periodicals Room)

MAIN LOBBY
There was a skylight in the ceiling, which consisted of a stained glass panel over a white background. Incandescent lighting was available but seldom used. When renovation to the attic was done, the skylight was unfortunately covered. To this day, staff members still wonder what happened to the stained glass panel. Was it left in place, covered by a wood panel and paint, waiting to be rediscovered by future generations? We may never know….

The walls were originally frescoed in tans and brown. In the arches, these words were written:

• "I have taken all knowledge to be my province." -- Bacon
  (over entrance to Non-Fiction Room)
• "In everything you do consider the end." -- Solomon
  (over windows into Fiction Room)
• "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." -- Old Testament
  (over the windows into the Biography/900 Room)
• "In books lies the soul of the whole past time." -- Carlyle
  (over entrance to the Reference Room)

NEW BOOKS ROOM

Underneath the off-white paint lies a fascinating Egyptian motif on the upper walls and ceilings.

Over the years it has served as the Director's Office, Genealogy Room, and a Book Sale Room.

NEW EDITION SOUTH EAST WING
In June of 2008 the library moved back into the 520 Sycamore location.
The newly constructed South East Wing upstairs is used for the public Internet computers, paperback fiction, and the reference staff office.
The downstairs is used for the children's fiction and nonfiction, children's computers, a toddler reading area, and the children's staff office.

NEW EDITION NORTH WEST WING
In June of 2008 the library moved back into the 520 Sycamore location.
The newly constructed North West Wing upstairs is used for Large Print Fiction, new public restrooms, and spillover from the Nonfiction and Fiction Rooms.
The downstairs is used for the Media Room (where DVD, VHS, Audio Books, and Games can be found) and new public restrooms.