Adrian Traynum II has been going to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s downtown building since he was 5.
But for an entire year, while the main library was under construction, he lost that convenience.
He got his routine back Saturday.
“A piece of Toledo that was locked away is back now,” the 21-year-old musical artist, who performs under the name DonDeada, said. “Nothing beats the downtown library. This is home.”
Mr. Traynum was one of thousands to participate in Saturday’s reopening of the city’s main library that has been rooted downtown for almost 80 years. Anxious Toledoans flocked the building on Michigan Street, now also designated out front as Clyde Scoles Way in honor of the library system’s longtime director who died in February.
A half hour before the library’s doors officially opened, dozens of people lined up outside. At noon, Toledo had its main library back.
“I got goosebumps when we opened up those doors at noon and saw all the people pouring in,” said Jason Kucsma, the director and fiscal officer of the library and its 19 branches. “It’s been a quiet building here for the last year, and we’re really excited to see people coming back in.”
Mr. Kucsma wanted to make sure community members on hand understood one message: The main library’s $12 million renovation is for everyone to enjoy.
“It has been said that libraries are palaces for the people,” he said while addressing attendees. “This is your palace.”
Elected leaders including Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz attended the event to discuss the library’s importance to the community.
“We’re grateful to have our friend back ...,” the mayor said of the library. “The idea of the public library is an American idea. We should be proud of that as Americans. This is among the greatest things we have provided.”
“We are interconnected as a nation with libraries, right down to the neighborhood level,” added U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo).
City Councilman Yvonne Harper, who brought a resolution from Toledo City Council recognizing the grand reopening, called the library “a pillar of the community.”
“Most people used to come down here and you had to be quiet,” she said. “As a kid, I had to be quiet. Look at it now. It’s robust. This is giving people opportunity. It’s reaching out the community. It’s moving up in another century.”
Diane Scoles, Mr. Scoles’ widow, was moved by the huge crowd. She said her husband would have “loved” to see all the smiles on the faces of community members.
“He would be delighted and he would want to show everything off,” Mrs. Scoles said. “He would want everyone to see everything that’s been done and how the taxpayer money has been spent for the benefit of the community.”
Sarah Edwards, 28, of Toledo said renovation of the newly re-named George K. Saloff Children’s Library will benefit her son, 3-year-old AJ, who she says “loves the library.”
“I’ll definitely be here more with my son,” she said. “I’m most excited about the children’s area upstairs.”
Jim and Mary Ann Henricks of Sylvania Township said the turnout of the library’s re-opening “showed a lot of Toledo spirit.”
“This is one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve seen,” said Mr. Henricks, 84, who has lived in numerous places, including the United Kingdom. “The downtown resurgence and what’s going on here in Toledo, with this library here, is just a big plus.”
First Published September 28, 2019, 9:35 p.m.
