Library Takeovers
Toledo Lucas County Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Our Main Library is a beacon of public service, spanning five floors and nearly 300,000 square feet. Attracting nearly 500,000 visitors annually, it’s more than just a building—it’s a hub of inspiration and connection.
In 2021, the Library launched a strategic plan with a mission that included becoming the "go-to community connector." From this, the Takeovers initiative was born. The idea: let community partners take over the library for a day and create something extraordinary.
In April 2022, our first takeover with Metroparks brought activities like rope climbing, archery, and fishing into the library, drawing 2,000 visitors. Families cheered children scaling ropes, a man experiencing homelessness tried archery for the first time in his life, and a newly immigrated family made s’mores.
Held four times a year, these Takeovers, in partnership with local organizations, create unique experiences, strengthen community bonds, and showcase the library as a dynamic space of possibility.
Challenge/Opportunity
- Logistics: Adapting our spaces for activities like indoor hockey required detailed planning. Spaces needed to be reimagined to ensure safety and functionality for unconventional use.
- Coordination: Collaborating with partners, each with unique goals and needs, added complexity. Effective communication and coordination, including staffing adjustments, were essential.
- Audience: Attracting visitors required targeted marketing, cross-promotion, and creative outreach to reach a diverse audience.
- Resource Allocation: Balancing daily operations with event needs required careful resource management, with staff juggling regular duties alongside executing the Takeovers.
- Breaking Tradition: Convincing the community and staff of the value of these unconventional activities required challenging traditional perceptions.
- Accessibility: Ensuring all activities were safe and accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities, required thorough planning and risk managent.
Key Elements of Innovation
- Collaboration: Partnering with organizations like Metroparks, Imagination Station, the YWCA, Running Wild Media, Welcome TLC, the Ability Center, and the local Mud Hens/Walleye teams, the library created unique experiences that resonated with attendees.
- Innovative Programming: Activities offered go beyond traditional library offerings on a grand scale. Examples include 3-story rope climbing, hockey rink, documentary film making, and disability awareness and activities.
- Flexible Use of Space: The library’s various spaces are adapted to accommodate these activities.
- Inclusive and Engaging Experiences: We worked to appeal to a wide audience, from various backgrounds and abilities.
- Effective Promotion and Outreach: Cross-promotion to attract attendees and share each organization's benefits and resources.
Achieved Outcomes
By collaborating with various community organizations to take over the library, we transformed the conventional view of what a library can be. Through strategic cross-promotion and outreach, we drew in individuals who had never set foot in our spaces and enlightened those unaware of the extensive services and resources the Library offers. Even though thousands of people have participated in our Takeovers, the outreach, branding, and messaging has far exceeded those numbers, and the community is aware of the new feel of the space as a community connector and hub.
One particularly rewarding and unforeseen outcome has been a shift in how our community partners perceive us. Our adaptability and openness to new ways of operating have earned us a seat at the table in various community discussions and initiatives that were previously outside our reach. This new level of engagement underscores our evolving role and influence within the community, extending far beyond the scope of a Takeover.
