This library is a part of what inspired my post-retirement project visiting all the public libraries in the Columbus metro area. I would pass by on N. High Street between the O.S.U. campus and downtown and look up at that glass enclosed space on the second floor extending toward the street and just imagine what a great place that would be to sit and read on a sunny winter day—and further, how easy it would be for me to use the city bus to get from my home to the library since I live a block and a half from a stop on bus route #1 which goes right by the library.
So that’s what exactly what I did this morning. Instead of driving, I headed out at 10:25 am to catch the #1 bus headed for downtown.
After a 25-30 minute ride, I got off the bus at N. High St. & King Ave. and headed north toward the library. The building is quite striking, with all the glass toward the street and that enticing reading room above. After checking out views of the building from different vantage points, I headed for the entrance.
Once inside, the first thing I noticed was the intricate metal sculpture suspended above the two circulation desks.
One of the librarians welcomed me at the door, and after I explained my project, he took me aside to point out various features of this new library which opened in June of 2017. He began with the children’s section, which is immediately to the left upon entering the library from N. High St. There’s a storytelling area near the windows, and the colorful space extends back to a media area with computers.
My first impression looking to the right from the entrance was of open space, lots of glass, and ramps. There’s a ramp down to the book shelves for adult fiction and non-fiction and a ramp up along a long wall of windows facing the street lined with desks and comfortable chairs.
Going farther into the building, we came to a Homework Help area (a particular emphasis in all 23 Columbus Metropolitan Libraries) and then turned to look back toward a stairway down to the book stacks.
In the distance beyond the book shelves are three meeting rooms and several study rooms.
There is also space for a small cafe dedicated to Annie Maude Batelle off to one side (which unfortunately has been closed for now because it struggled to make a profit since it couldn’t open before 9 am).
On the upper level at the top of the street-side ramp is a Quiet Room, more study rooms, and an open area overlooking the book stacks.
From there another ramp goes to the upper level where that glass-walled reading room above N. High St. was summoning me. (There’s also an elevator to that level.) But first, I headed back down the ramps to the book stacks to look for books on my want list. Here’s a view from the stacks looking back toward the circulation desk and the children’s area… and another view zooming in on an opening that reveals a portion of the metal sculpture.
Once I’d found several books to check out, I headed up the ramps to the upper level. All along the way I loved the wonderful views of the open space from the ramps—such as the fish tank in a wall of reused barn wood and various angles on the book shelves and the front window wall.
Here are two views looking down on the hanging metal sculpture—first looking toward N. High St. and then looking back from the reading room. The circulation desks and the self-checkout stands are below.
At the top of the ramp to the right there is a Learning Lab as well as an area reserved especially for teens.
On the left is an area for computers—lots of computers—and, off in the distance toward N. High St. is that glass-walled reading room that had been calling to me. (Note also the top portion of the metal sculpture on the far left of the picture.)
The views from the reading room were wonderful (although I must admit to a minor disappointment that the windows are not absolutely clear, but have a dot pattern tinting that becomes more apparent up close and prevents taking pictures when close to to the glass).
But right there in the NE corner of the room were a couple of chairs exactly where I’d pictured myself sitting and reading on a sunny winter day like today.
I settled in to read for the next 90 minutes or so with a clear view to the north and one across the room where all the primo seats in the sunshine were occupied. And yes, it was every bit as wonderful as I'd imagined.
At around 1:15 pm, I found myself getting a bit hungry, so I decided to head downtown for lunch. But first I needed to check out the three books I’d found from my Amazon wish list—two science fiction books in the Murderbot series by Martha Wells and the latest installment in James Lee Burke’s series about Detective James Robicheaux set in Louisiana.
I took the bus on down to Broad & High Streets and had a wonderful omelet for lunch at one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Columbus, Jack & Benny’s Downtown Diner on E. Broad St. across from the Ohio statehouse.
Then I caught the northbound bus for home, getting a last look at the library from the bus window as we passed by on N. High St. All in all it was a super way to spend several hours on a cold, but sunny, winter day.
