New Public Library

The Oberlin Public Library was not established as an entity separate from the College Library until 1947, when changes in State law and a new 1/2 mill tax levy led City Council to establish a Public Library board as an independent unit.  However, the Oberlin Public Library stayed where it was, and survived the move of the college library to the Mudd Center in 1974, continuing to occupy the same space.

The children's room also continued to be used as before. There was a proposal to move the Public Library to the second floor of the Carnegie Building, to occupy the open area of the old reading room (now the Root Room), but this ultimately proved impossible since the floor in that part of the building was not designed to bear the load of book shelving.

The Oberlin Public Library was rescued from its overcrowded space when the College bought the old Fisher Fazio supermarket for $730,000 and turned it over to the Public Library Board.  Oberlin residents approved a tax levy to support the remodeling of the building, transforming it into a modern, spacious facility equipped with modern technology.

The construction of the current Oberlin Public Library began in 1989.  Many in the town resisted the idea of moving out of the Carnegie location, as they thought this contravened the agreement with Andrew Carnegie, but research turned up no requirement that the Town Library stay in the Carnegie Building.  The downtown location has since proved very popular.

The new public library opened on December 16, 1990.