Wright Memorial Public Library — Attraction in Oakwood

This library was built while Orville Wright was still living, and he had a hand in the design of the original building. It used to be much quieter.

About all that remains of his input is the front reading rooms and entrance. They did change the entrance from two small doors to one larger one to accommodate those with disabilities, but the work was done well and in lines with the original building. Orville would have approved of the new front door and lobby area I think.

I have been going to this library for 60 years. It used to be quiet. People told their children to be quiet and would shut them up if they were not. If someone or a group was getting loud, a staff member would ask them several times if necessary to keep it down. If they didn't they were ask to leave, and if they did not, the Oakwood Police force was more than happy to remove noisy people.

Since that time, there have been at least three major additions and an unknown number of less important rearrangements and improvements. Each time the library got louder and louder, often because physical separation (walls) between areas were gradually removed until there are few left. These walls, covered with wooden bookcases and many books helped absorb some of the undesired sound. Today, wood probably would not be used for the book cases to reduce fire risk but books are still an excellent way to absorb sounds.

The second and third additions created huge and uncluttered (but very noisy) areas across the back -- not unlike bowling alleys. Like bowling alleys, a relatively small noise can penetrate the long distances and be added with other noises along the way and create an uncomfortably loud volume of unintelligible sounds.

My suggestions for future rearrangements and remodel lings would be first to do whatever is possible to maintain the look and perhaps even try to reverse changes made to the front reading rooms to maintain the original library's historic past before it is all lost simply to make the spaces more modern.

The second suggestion would be to contract with a qualified sound engineer to look at the existing noise issues, take noise level measurements and provide suggestions prior to any work being done. If architectural work is needed, or a supplier offers to provide renovations services to the library, the sound engineer should be contacted and ask to evaluate the proposed changes. While not all potential corrections would be affordable, and some may not work well with overall planning of the library space, some certainly can be addressed.

Make it a priority in the remodeling or rearrangement plans to spend a small part of any budget to help correct sound issues. Books, mechanical issues, etc. of course must also be addressed, but patron issues -- like a noisy environment -- should also be addressed.

A qualified and degreed sound engineer with appropriate sound level studies can recommend specific materials or material changes to help keep the library more quiet, sometimes at a very low expense. A simple thing like moving the book shelving from straight with the walls to an angle might reduce some of the sound, and cost virtually nothing, except for a little labor for the actual move. Differences in carpet materials, wall covering, and ceiling treatments can also reduce sound levels without adding a lot to the cost. Many of these changes could be phased in over time to further reduce the need to finance everything at once, but only add something at the time other work...

The library has a very cottage feel to me that I appreciate in terms of a calming environment.

I tried to take a few pictures without being in the way of the staff and was very appreciative of the time they took to answer any questions I may have had.

I did get a library card, and though they have a movie section, you can also sign up for Hoopla and watch movies that way too. There may be movies at the library, not on Hoopla, and vice versa.

You can do a search for a specific movie in Hoopla, and already, I have found a movie I would like to see soon.

The lower half of the library sits on a hill. If someone is handicapped in terms of needing a cane or even a wheelchair to navigate, instead of walking the incline to the front, both entrances have handicap door controls.

A person could always walk the decline at first to get into the library. To get from the basement to the 1st floor, a person could take the elevator and walk out the front door to get back to their car, because then the walkway would then be easier to walk down.

They also have a water fountain that you can fill your water bottles up and restrooms on both floors. They have a scanner, copier printer, and fax machine in ways of assistance with personal documents.

For a smaller library, I believe it has what you need close to home in case there are other libraries, maybe too far away to drive to with fuel prices increasing.

I hope the photos I've taken can be of assistance in checking out this library in terms of an easier access from a...

What a gorgeous setting. A beautiful library set next to a lovely park. I could not get a copy of a book club selection anywhere in the Montgomery Country Library system so, I decided to try this library. Not only did they have the book, the wonderful librarian assisted me in obtaining a library card while her coworker gladly notarized a document for my daughter. The staff are personable, friendly, and helpful. An all around...