200 Years of Library Service in Centerville, Ohio

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but attaching a 200-year anniversary to the Washington-Centerville Public Library is a bit misleading.

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Washington-Centerville Public Library time line.

1810.   Formation of the Washington Social Library Company  a joint stock company was modeled after Benjamin's Franklin's The Library Company of Philadelphia.

1840.  "...the Washington Social Library Company flourished for some thirty years..."

c. 1900. The Centerville Library Club, a group of commmmunity leaders, was organized. Meetings took placed at members' homes.

1930. Washington Township public library incorporated. Centerville Library Club donate "some of their 150 volumes".

1961. Centerville Library facility opens.

1974. Storefront North Branch opens in Washington Square Shopping Center.

1980. Woodbourne Library opens in converted bank building, replacing North Branch.

1986. 7700-square-foot addition to Woodbourne Library.

1995. New Centerville Library opens.

The Lane Library in Hamilton, Ohio, lays claim to being the oldest public library west of the Alleghenies.

Whatever the case, whatever the numbers, Centerville and Washington Township residents have access to a great, which has been ranked #1 seven times on Hennen's American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR) .   Congratulations to all concerned.