Monroe Branch

The gray limestone building, considered a showplace in 1930, is a blend of antique charm and modern technology. Located between the YMCA and Interstate 490, Monroe Branch continues to be the cultural hub of its southeast neighborhood. The renovations that were completed in 2005 included an elevator connecting the adult and children’s floor, handicapped accessible bathrooms and ramp access to the adult floor which makes the entire library accessible to all of our patrons.

A beautiful mural, entitled Onon:ta (The Hill), leads you down the stairwell from the adult floor to the children’s room. This work was lovingly painted by Jim Barbero. As part of the cultural hub of this neighborhood, we provide musical performances and offer local artists a venue to display their art work. The children’s room provides our youngest patrons with an interactive play area and a large puppet theater. Here they can play with puzzles, use their imagination and create puppet shows, prepare meals in our little “kitchen” or simply cuddle up and enjoy listening to a story.

Our stately giraffe, “Artichokie” keeps watch over all the fun activities happening in the children’s room.

When you visit this branch, you will notice a few special collections:

• Adult Floor: language kits and a local history collection
• Children’s room: Braille collection (includes books for toddlers through young adults); Science Kits for ages 4 – 8; and Social Studies Kits for primary grades.

Branch Supervisor: Mary Clare Scheg

• Interlibrary loan
• Changing table in public restroom (Children’s Room restroom)
• Notary Service (call for availability)
• 24 hour accessible book drop
• Bicycle rack
• Copier/scanner/fax machine
• Free Wi-Fi
• Stamps available for purchase
• Discount passes to area museums & cultural centers
• Research assistance
• USB cords available for in house use
• Seed Bank (available spring & early summer)
• LROC (Library Resource Outreach Center) – services to the homeless

Programs

• Story Times
• LEGO Club
• Teen Book Club
• Adult Book Club
• First Friday Coffee Hour
• Summer Reading Programs

Computers

• 7 adult & 4 teen computers with internet access and Microsoft programs.
• The Children’s Room has 3 computers with filtered internet access, children’s games and Microsoft programs.
• There is a computer for checking the library catalog on both floors.
• 2 laptop computers for “in house” use.
• Printing is available from all computers, with color prints at $.50/page, and black and white at $.20 cents/page.

Nearby Recreation Center