Franklin Sylvester Library’s bookmobile began making stops at all the Brunswick elementary schools in 1948. But the City of Brunswick was growing rapidly and it was clear that bookmobile service would not meet the needs of the community for very long. Many civic groups banded together to raise money for a library of their own. The Brunswick Friends of the Library was incorporated in 1960. They raised enough money to open a small store-front library on Pearl Road. Mrs. Olive Meyer became the first librarian and stocked the shelves with donations from residents, purchases, and books borrowed from the State Library. By 1965, the library had outgrown its walls and moved a little north to a location in the Brunswick Shopping Center under the bowling alley (yes, bowling alley). Besides the noise level, there were other problems, too: vandalism and leaking pipes. In fact, one of the staff duties was covering the collection nightly to protect it from water damage and broken glass.
By the mid-1970's, expansion was once again on the community’s mind. The Franklin Sylvester Board of Trustees met with a committee from Brunswick City and worked out an agreement for the construction of a library. The library would pay 30% of the cost if Brunswick financed the rest. The building would be owned by the city and leased to the library board who would maintain and staff the library.
Crider Partners, Inc. were hired to design a building in 1979. A four-acre plot on Center Road near the high school was donated to the city if the citizens would pass a bond issue to finance the cost of construction. The June, 1979 bond issue passed with an impressive 75% of the voters approving the plans for the new library!
The 20,500-square foot building opened in December, 1980 with room to house 70,000 volumes. It features a community meeting room that will seat 100 people, a children’s storyhour room, conference rooms, and a staff lounge. It serves all Medina County residents with emphasis on Brunswick, Brunswick Hills township and Liverpool township.
