For the Love of Libraries

By Mary Casey-Sturk

In recent years, the local library has become increasingly important to the community it serves. From borrowing books, to reserving a study room, to attending a program-there are many ways people use the library today.  In my childhood, we would take a bus to our closest branch, the main library in Covington. For me it was a building packed with opportunity, full of books that my grandmother would help me check out, mainly about horses. 

Oh, and those books! With every turn of the page there was a new adventure, words to learn and understand, stories unfolding as the characters became images in my mind. The smell of new books, the dust from older ones. Skipping to the last pages because I was too impatient to see what happened (I still do that). The wonder of it all, starting with those magical shelves filled with stories and my grandmother by my side. 

My love of libraries started there and remains today.

The Madeira Branch

The Madeira branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library started in a shop on Laurel Avenue, where there was room for little more than a circulating collection. The current building on the corner of Euclid and Miami was dedicated on June 13, 1965. Architect Carl Strauss was awarded the Gold Medal by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects for his design. Strauss (1912-2002) along with Ray Roush (1920-2007) are often credited with bringing modernism to Cincinnati. They designed over 100 high profile structures in the area as well as mentored young architects and designers who went on to acclaim, including Michael Graves.  The library was remodeled and expanded in 1993 and officially renamed the Madeira Branch Library in 2001. 

Today, library patrons can participate in classes and programs, reserve a meeting room or study pod, check out books, movies, music and more as well as use a computer, make copies, scan, send faxes and relax with a stack of magazines to look through on a rainy (or any) day.  There are programs for all ages, including story times, crafting, LEGO Crew and more. 

In the entry hall, look for listings of community events and take in the latest items on exhibit. On the shelves, explore the thousands of titles on offer, including staff favorites. The staff is there to help you with wayfinding, suggestions or give your child a scavenger hunt.

Community Connection

“Libraries are information hubs working to connect people of all ages to various forms of knowledge, resources and entertainment. We work to encourage literacy and community connection through access to books, online resources and free programming. Libraries are a welcoming space for learning, exploration, growth and social engagement.” shares the library team. 

The library’s refreshed children’s play area is scheduled to debut in early March. Madeira was the first CHPL branch to offer a creative play space over 20 years ago and it looks forward to continuing this tradition.

For fun outside, grab a Free StoryTrail Kit and head to the nearby Nelle V. Hosbrook Bird Sanctuary and Park. There you can follow the StoryTrail created in collaboration with the library. A StoryTrail (or Story Book Trail) is where families can read and enjoy a picture book while strolling through a park. This writer ventured to the StoryTrail on a dreary winter day and found it enchanting! The 2-acre wooded park features the StoryTrail, a picnic table, benches, and identified trees. Operated by the City of Madeira, it’s free and open to the public from dawn to dusk. Even in the 32-degree weather with snow falling, it was fun to read the story. As for the birds on my visit, they were wise enough to stay warm and hidden.  

Staff Memories

Indian Hill Living reached out to library staff to share their favorite library memories.

Kathy, Branch Manager shared, “Coming to the Madeira Library (!!!) with my mom to attend storytime. The librarian read Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears. I was around 4 years old and completely mesmerized!”

Debbie, Branch Supervisor – Youth Services recalls, “Visiting the Library with my first-grade class and receiving one of the most important cards of my life…a library card!”

Amanda, Children’s Librarian remembers, “I was 9 years old when I signed up for a library card and checked out my first library book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I hated having to wait for it, but when it came in for a hold, it was like Christmas came early!”

Katie, Library Customer Specialist reflects on time with family, “Going to story time with my grandma and little cousins! It was early in the morning and hardly anyone else was there, so it was like a special time where the library was just for us kids.”

Calvin, Library Customer Adviser, recalls a school trip, “My elementary school class came for a visit to do an activity. I couldn’t tell you what it was, because I was too busy reading the Bone Graphic novel series that I found on the shelf!”

For a program, to check out a bedtime story, or to research your family tree-make a plan to visit your local library soon and create memories. 

7200 Miami Ave Madeira

Top L to R: Little Andi searching for the perfect book. Andi (left) and Agnes team up on a scavenger hunt. Madeira Library staff Katie Niemeyer (left) and Amanda Seifert are ready to help patrons.

Bottom L to R: Library Customer Specialist Katie Niemeyer. Grab a Free StoryTrail Kit at the Madeira Library and head to the nearby Nelle V. Hosbrook Bird Sanctuary and Park. The Nelle V. Hosbrook Bird Sanctuary and Park. Photos by Mary Casey-Sturk