Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County - Virtual Tours

CET is pleased to partner with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and to provide you with "virtual tours" of the newly redesigned Main Library. While the Main Library has a new look, more importantly it has also reorganized to better serve its customers. On this page you'll find descriptions of each area; click on the title and watch a video tour of that section. Also, check out the interactive maps of each floor.

FIRST FLOOR
Map

Popular Library
This "library within the library" is a one-stop, quick-in/quick-out spot. Located right by the Vine Street entrance, it offers the latest fiction, movies, audiobooks, music, graphic novels for adults, large print titles, foreign fiction, and recent releases of popular nonfiction including gardening, cooking, decorating, and biographies. Self-check machines make borrowing books, films and music easy.

Children's Learning Center
The Children's Learning Center collection reflects the wide variety of children's materials. In the collection, you'll find picture books, concept books, board books, beginning readers, juvenile fiction, nonfiction, audiobooks, music tapes and cds, non-English language books, titles for parents, and reference resources for educators. Children's Learning Center staff are available to help kids, parents, caregivers, and teachers find the reference, educational and recreational material of interest to them. Our staff are also happy to provide reading recommendations, prepare teacher collections, and lead tours of the Children's Learning Center.

Homework Central Homework Central is an area dedicated exclusively to supporting the homework needs of young people. Technology supporting homework is readily available from all computers, including Internet access and a range of productivity software frequently needed by today's students to complete schoolwork, such as word processing and presentation software.
 

SECOND FLOOR
Map

TechCenter This computer enclave offers nearly 100 PCs offering access to the Internet, productivity software (including word processing), the ability to download music, and graphics/audio/video/web development workstations. Plus, there are knowledgeable staff on hand to assist you with your technology questions.

Information & Reference Department Most of the current subject departments are now merged into the Information & Reference Department and shelved in Dewey Decimal order. "Roving reference" staff assist customers in the building, and the "Remote Reference Center" will handle phone calls and emails.

Teen Spot The new TeenSpot, designed specifically to meet the needs and interests of young people (ages 12-18), features a high-interest collection of teen print and audiovisual material and the latest technology. The Spot offers an inviting and comfortably furnished floor plan designed to support a wide variety of activities from group and independent studying to programs and activities just for teenagers.

Magazines & Newspapers The Library has always actively collected magazines, journals and newspapers. The following are some of the magazine collections available at the Library.
- APS Microfilm Collection (American Periodicals Series)
- African-American Newspaper Collection
- ELPS Microfilm Collection (English Literary Periodicals Series)
- Local Newspaper Collection
- Newsdex (Index to Local Newspapers)

THIRD FLOOR
Map

Genealogy & Local History
This new research department collects and houses all genealogical material, as well as all material concerning the history and culture of the city of Cincinnati, its African-American community, and its Ohio river setting. Research-level service in these areas also is available.