Mission:
The mission of the Oak Hill Public Library is to provide the members of our community with access to materials which can improve their minds, enrich their lives and fulfill their informational, educational and recreational needs. The library upholds the principles of intellectual freedom and provides information and materials which reflect different points of view.
History:
The present location of the Oak Hill Public Library is 226 South Front Street, Oak Hill, Ohio where it was established in 2004.
The idea for a public library started in April 1935 and grew through the efforts of the Clionion Club - Oak Hill's only women's club at that time. The club was organized as a book review Club. All the members pooled their books together, with approximately 100 books. The first library was started and located in 3 small rooms on Main Street.
A committee was formed to find suitable space for the library with a donation of approximately 600 books from the State Library and funds donated by local merchants. The library moved twice to larger quarters.
By 1955, the library began to receive some operating funds from the county's intangible taxes and was able to build a nice stock of books. Helen Seidel Davis (wife of E.J. Davis) became a board member and was concerned about the deteriorating condition of the building in which the library was located.
Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Davis gave a generous memorial gift to the Village of Oak Hill, a lot and a new library building on 316 West Main Street - under the condition that the library not bear the Davis's name. It was to be called Oak Hill Public Library. In 1989, an addition to the building doubled the original space to 3,600 feet.
The current library was built in 2004 with approximately 9,890 feet. The Oak Hill Public Library held its grand opening on October 17, 2004. The meeting room was dedicated in the memory of Estella Jones Jenkins, a member of the Clionion Club and one of the original ladies who played a major role in establishing the first library in the community of Oak Hill.
The library became a member of South East Regional Library System, the local Regional library system, in 1997.
