Read All About It
Whether you’re looking for a best seller, want to delve into your family history, or dive into your latest obsession, the library is the place to be.
After nearly three years of construction and renovation, the Main Library, 800 Vine St., the flagship location of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, re-opens with a weekend-long celebration, July 12–14, with family friendly programs, guided tours, and the return of the beloved book sculpture.
The celebration begins with a ribbon-cutting of the Vine Street entrance at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 12. Once the doors open, guest can explore three floors and 540,000 square feet of books, movies, music, and more in the refreshed South Building. The new spaces and services include
Redesigned meeting rooms and interactive areas for kids and teens
The new Catherine C. and Thomas E. Huenefeld Story Center to record and share history with future generations
Social stairs that connect all floors and highlight local musical history
Outdoor plazas with new public art and spaces to gather
Phronesis, a new large-scale light sculpture
On Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the public is invited to make history, as the Library attempts to break the world record for most library card signups in one day. Everyone who signs up for a library card –or shows that they already have a library card – on Saturday will have a chance to win raffle prizes.
Among the programs on Sunday, July 14 is a sneak preview of “Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio” from Cincinnati Opera.
The Downtown Main Library renovation is guided by CHPL’s Facility Master Plan, which outlines improvements to your 41 library locations with input from more than 3,000 community members. The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library is one of the biggest and busiest libraries in the country, with 41 neighborhood branches, a vast range of programming, and an ever-growing collection of virtual resources,
FULL SCHEDULE
Friday, July 12
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
10 a.m. | Ribbon Cutting
11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Guided Tours (Signup link)
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Storytimes with Mascots and Media
11–11:30 a.m. | Cincinnati Bengals’ Who Dey with FOX 19’s Julie O’Neill
12–12:30 p.m. | Cincinnati Reds’ Rosie Red with Local 12’s Sheila Gray
1:30–2 p.m. | FC Cincinnati’s Gary with WLWT’s Ashley Kirklen
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Live Music with Cincinnati Music Accelerator featuring DJ Dior
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Food Trucks
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Chalk Art with Pam Kravetz and Indigo Hippo
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Songs from the Social Stairs with DJ Vader
12 – 1 p.m. | “How to Go Viral and Turn It Into a Full-Time Job” with Clancy Burke
2–4 p.m. | Live with Grammy-Nominated Children's Entertainer Zak Morgan
4–5 p.m. | Crosstown Readout with Athletes and Mascots from Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati
Saturday, July 13
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
All Day | World Record Attempt for Most Library Card Signups
All Day | Guided Tours (Signup link)
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Nintendo Super Smash Tournament hosted by University of Cincinnati Football Players and the Cincinnati Fear
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Food Trucks
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Pickleball with Cincinnati Tennis Foundation
1 p.m. | Exhibition Match with Adaptive Pickleball
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | DJ Music with Cincinnati Music Accelerator featuring Preston Charles III, Jimmy Ruehlman, and DJ Dior
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Touch a Truck with the Cincinnati Fire Department
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Experimenting with Physical Science Hosted by the Cincinnati Museum Center
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Live music with DJ Etrayn
Noon – 1 p.m. | Dance 101 with Pones
Noon – 5 p.m. | Friendship Bracelet-Making Station
1 – 2:30 p.m. | Live with Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
2 – 4 p.m. | How to Be a DJ with DJ Vader
4 – 5:30 p.m. | Writing Rap Lyrics with Laurent Che
4 – 6 p.m. | Live music with DJ Monet
5:30 – 7 p.m. | “Taylor's Version: Why Taylor Swift Resonates” by Melissa Jacquart
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Live Music with Soul Pocket
Sunday, July 14
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
1 – 2 p.m. | Preview of Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio with Cincinnati Opera
1 – 2 p.m. | “Taylor’s Version: Why Taylor Swift Resonates” with Melissa Jaquart
1 – 2:30 p.m. | Live Music with Chris Comer Jazz Trio
1 – 5 p.m. | Live DJ Music with Cincinnati Music Accelerator featuring Jimmy Reuhlman and DJ Dior
1 – 5 p.m. | Food Trucks
1 – 5 p.m. | Pickleball Hosted by the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation
1 – 5 p.m. | Friendship Bracelet-Making Station
2 – 3 p.m. | Women in Film Panel moderated by WLWT’s Megan Mitchell featuring Ensemble Theatre's D. Lynn Meyers and Film Cincinnati's Kristen Schlotman
2 – 3 p.m. | Illustration by Steve Harpster
3 – 5 p.m. | Rollerskating Performance with Skate Downtown Cincy
3:30 – 5 p.m. | Live Music Tribute to the Cincinnati Music Festival with the P. Ann Everson Price All Star Band