On a crisp day just outside the Diamond, the welcoming facade of the Meadville Public Library invites curiosity and discovery. For this edition of Meeting Meadville, local photographer Kelly Rhoades of Kelly Rhoades Photography steps inside to spotlight this vibrant community hub, where lifelong learning, resources for all ages, and a team dedicated to service make the library a cornerstone of Meadville life. The Meadville Public Library is located at 848 North Main St. in Meadville.
Meeting Meadville with Kelly Rhoades
This edition of Meeting Meadville lands us at the beautiful Meadville Public Library, just outside the diamond, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect because February is Library Lover’s Month! Gabby, Dan, and Steve took the time to meet with me and give me a detailed tour. I have to say…there were a lot of changes that I did not know about! The Book Club in a Bag might be my favorite.
In addition to a huge selection of books, our local library has many other items you can check out, such as kits for birding, searching for honey bees, or even stargazing! They’ve also moved their non-fiction to the third floor and it’s so cozy up there. If you haven’t been by lately, this is a great month to check it out!
Tell us a little about your business!
“We love being a place with something for everyone, offering access to over 40,000 books, movies, games and digital collections. To further our commitment to lifelong learning, each month we offer an average of 60 events for all ages. We also provide access to computers, printing, wi-fi, and meeting space to keep our community connected.”
What inspired you to start your business?
“We were founded in 1879 by a group of community members passionate about creating a space to read and learn. 147 years later, we’re proud to continue that legacy. Fun Fact: The Library was originally located on Park Avenue at Cup N Spoon’s location.
What is something that makes your business unique?
We’re one of nine libraries in the Crawford County Federated Library System. Your library card gives you access to all of these libraries and a collection of over 100,000 physical and digital books.”
In your opinion, what is the best thing about Meadville?
“The opportunities! Our role of distributing reliable and accurate information means that we get to share about all of the great things that are happening in our community.
Which Meadville business, aside from your own, is your favorite?
We love partnering with local businesses and nonprofits, and we’re grateful to have the support of our community. Whether that’s partnerships with Meadville Medical Center, Allegheny College, or PA CareerLink to bring events and resources to the library, the FCCA & YMCA for our summer lunch program, Chippers for our Silent Book Club, or French Creek Coffee & Tea, Co for our Books and Coffee events. We also love CHAPS, Shelter Area Meadville, the Arc of Crawford County, Erie Homes for Children and Adults, Supports Inc., Touch-Stone Solutions, and United Community Independence Programs for providing a safe place for our community members.”
You can scroll through the visual story using the gallery below. You can also see the original post on Kelly Rhoades’ Facebook Page here. (Be sure to Like and leave a nice comment too!)
Kelly Rhoades is helping to Make Meadville through her work on this project. If you’d like to see Kelly’s full portfolio of work and book a session, go to her website at www.kellyrhoadesphotography.com
