best in the country!!!! great selections, wonderful architecture, and quite the selection of books!!!!

The main floor/adult collection was fine. Wish the staff were a little friendlier to folks coming in, as a new visitor I had no idea where/what I was walking into. The kids felt. is where it's at though! The librarian at the desk was super friendly, and kind enough to mention some cool things of note, especially after we mentioned we were both librarians who worked with kids! So jealous of this beautiful children's' dept.! We loved the gorgeous tile work around the walls, the Nancy Drew special collection, and how inviting the space was, especially with all of the displays the kids can climb on and into! Would definitely bring kids here! read more

See all

So I drove past this place many times thinking it was a museum or some sort of convention/learning center. It's the main library downtown! When I parked I knew this place would be a spot that we would be coming to, often. This library has so much to offer. Not only do they have an abundance of books, but they have learning rooms, adult events, children events, an amazing children's library section, a rooftop terrace to enjoy a book or a nice beverage, many classes, the list goes on and on. When we finally made our way to the children's section I was wowed by the aquariums, Dr Seuss room, large car like jungle gym and the staff. They had so much information to provide and hosted so many events. What an amazing library. The best I've ever been to by far. read more

See all

A friend of mine had recently moved to start working here so I had to go check it out. It's wonderful! It has a fantastic genealogy area upstairs, a great kids area with plenty to do, it offers so many things like a makerspace type area, and it's just a gorgeous library. I could spend hours in this library! Parking is also fantastic and gives easy access into the building. I plan on stopping in again soon! read more

I love coming to this Library, it's a good place to just get away from home, and relax and get on the computer, it's a quiet place 95% of the time. read more

Toledo Lucas County Public Library - Main Library - Libraries Near Me - Toledo, Ohio

This Library is amazing !! I was here for a conference !! I want to bring my son back. If your ever in Toledo I encourage you to check out the library !! The children's section of the library is so so wonderful !! read more

See all

This was the coolest library going to as a kid and growing up. They've done a great job maintaining and developing a space for all ages.

The new Main branch renovation was completed in 2019 and looks fantastic. Great facility, but the Children's section is what stood out to me -- see pictures attached to this review. One of the highlights of the Children's section is the collection of animation cells and original art prints from various children's books. It's just a really innovative and fun Children's section. read more

See all

Beautiful building, accessible programming, wide selection and friendly, helpful staff.

One will never be able to fully appreciate and value of Toledo's Library System until they have moved away and no longer have access. This is a gem in Toledo...a valuable gem that other cities don't have...and cannot even begin to imagine! Could this be the reason that Toledoans have superior intelligence to other citizens of cities around the nation? LOL I can attest to several cities that could really ...really use some books! LOL I have lost many hours looking at books and reading in the niches of the library.....yes, indeed...one of my happy places! Free Video rentals, books, magazines, internet access, more books...new books, archives, newspapers...What don't they have? You could earn a degree with the books that they offer...and in a case where they don't have a certain book...another branch probably will. They will order it and have it delivered to your branch within a couple of days. Now that is service...and FREE! Simply Amazing! I would love to visit the Libraries that were ranked higher...they must be something to see! read more

Excellent outdoor venue for weekly brown-bag lunch-time concerts. Chairs provided or sit on nicely manicured lawn. Plenty of sun or shade. Easy parking. Indoor library closed for a year-long historic renovation. read more

Very beautiful library in downtown Toledo! On Sundays, there is free garage parking! The library is only open from 1-5pm on Sundays unfortunately. Very easy to join to be a library patron. Also, no limit on how many books you rent! Love libraries, but this is truly a Toledo gem. Pros: - huge library with multiple floors - no limit on book rentals - easy garage parking right under the library Cons: - nothing! Keep supporting your local library! Why I gave it a 5.... Support your local library! Very easy to become library patron and there is no limit on how many books you can borrow! Definitely a gem of Toledo :D. read more

Oh Toledo library how I miss thee. I'm so sorry I took you for granted the 15 years we were together. The Chicago Public Library doesn't even compare to your vast selection of books, CD's, and DVD's, and your user friendly system. I can't even bring myself to visit you when I'm in town because I'm afraid I will never visit a Chicago library again. Toledo doesn't have much, but it has you. And you are fabulous. read more

I can still remember the first time my Grandma took me to the Main Library. It's amazing! There are so many books, it could make your head spin. And the building is gorgeous! Grand, open, old, with many cozy corners to settle with a book. The Columbus main library is okay, but I don't understand why people rave about that one. Toledo's is the best! read more

Now THIS is what a library should be! Wow! If I were a kid again, I would want to hang out here all the time. The children's floor is truly spectacular! There is a fund for this library specifically designated to collect original illustrations of children's books--and what a collection they have! And how uniquely displayed! Lining all the walls of that floor are original pieces of artwork, with a summary of the book underneath, and then a low shelf with the actual book under the art work. There are pieces from many different time periods and the curator of the collection is SO knowledgeable and passionate about her collection. The rest of the layout of this floor is really beautiful--a giant aquarium where the photo of a fish would have gone, encased in what looks to be a floor to ceiling book about fish. There is a "Once upon a time" floor to ceiling replica of a book that has a cutout for a doorway. It is simply a magical and inspiring place and if you live anywhere near Toledo, you should take your child there often! I also visited the special collections room on the top floor, since they were displaying the work of an artist I'm writing a book about. The staff is friendly and helpful and it was a pleasure to deal with everyone there! They also had a cafe in the basement and easy parking! Hooray for Toledo Library! read more

This is a wonderful library. I don't have kids, but if you do, you should take them to the children's floor. It is amazing! In addition to a good new book display, they also have a great range of DVD's and CD's to check out. They have a few films that are hard to find in other places. And the librarians are also really helpful if you have any trouble finding anything. They also put on a lot of cool events. Toledo is lucky to have a library like this. read more

Its OK, just. I had to go in to copy a police report on a photo copier. I walk in, to find wasteful cable TV's without sound, behind glass. This wastes our tax money on cable. It also wastes electricity, no matter how low voltage the TV's are. The staff members appeared to be doing something. A few were actively helping people. I saw one employee ignoring me, while she read a book. She was right behind the copier, so it was not hard to see her. I originally did not know where the copier was. I was going to ask her. But another employee got to me, when I appeared to be disturbed by not being helped by the reading perso. Behind the counter. If she was researching and not reading a novel, I could understand. I also found that the copier is 20 cents. When I filed my protection order at the courthouse down the street, the copier was just 5 cents. No good reason at all to gouge me for money. You get enough of it already! Not by my choice either. Both the staff member behind the counter ignoring me, for a book and price gouging for photocopies.... Not too impressed. read more

On line site appears useless! I tried several times to download several different versions of the same book, hit the "download" button and was re-routed to a blank page where nothing happened! Their mobile app is just as useless! read more

When I was in high school I was here 2 times a week either working on school stuff or just browsing the stacks randomly. The selection of books goes way beyond the standard public library fare such as home improvement books, bestsellers, and free DVD rentals. You can learn about things like the history of Poland, number theory, psychoanalysis, music theory, ancient greek philosophers, political science, marketing strategies, language structure, etc. What I'm trying to say is that the downtown library is one of the few places around here that you can just let your self be curious and learn in an open-ended fashion. Even in the age of the internet and amazon prime delivery, nothing can replace the experience of just wondering around aimlessly through such a massive collection of physical knowledge, being able to just randomly pick up books and flip through them, and being shown that you don't really know anything in the grand scheme of things. The trajectory of my life would be so different if not for the downtown Toledo Library as a result of it opening up my perspective to things outside of just the area that I grew up. It's a major gift to the Toledo area and should not be taken for granted. I've lived many other places besides Toledo and still I always wish I had this wonderful resource available to me. read more

LOVE this library. Gorgeous to look at, huge selection of books, magazines and music -- plus the ability to request a book from any other Toledo library or any other state library and have it delivered there. Can return books to ANY library in the system. Great service. Just a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. read more