This former house of Henrietta Brown, transitioned into the library November 1934

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the residents of Putnam County, Ohio, undertook numerous initiatives aimed at establishing a public library within their community. These efforts, which began as early as 1896, primarily involved attempts to gather both financial resources and necessary materials. Despite these early endeavors, it was not until the 1920s that the aspirations for a county library would materialize, thanks in large part to the dedication and leadership of Maizie Hauck Frey alongside a group of committed local women. Together, they successfully founded the Putnam County District Library in 1924.

The first library was situated within the Putnam County Courthouse, specifically in the anteroom adjacent to the women’s restroom. The county commissioners contributed by donating shelving and tables reclaimed from a defunct law library for the new public library's use. To further furnish the fledgling library with books and other necessary materials, regular benefit events and donation campaigns were organized. The library officially commenced operations on February 12, 1924, with Mary Stoltzfus assuming the role of its first librarian. For the next 11 years, the library functioned within these constrained conditions, managing a limited budget and space, until it was relocated to a more spacious premises.

This opportunity for expansion arose following the death of Henrietta Brown in September 1934. Brown, who had been a teacher, bequeathed her residential property to the library through her will, motivated by a desire to provide local children with a space for reading and learning. The library transitioned to this new location in November 1934. This house was significantly larger and accommodated a reading room, a children’s room, and a collection of local historical materials.

Efforts to enhance library accessibility across the county ensued, with Mary Reed joining as a librarian in 1936. One of her initial assignments was to establish branch libraries, starting with Columbus Grove in 1936, followed by Leipsic in 1945, Continental in 1955 within the city hall, Ottoville within the Monterey Township house in 1962, and Kalida in 1973.

In the quest to further extend library services across Putnam County, Maizie Hauck Frey, alongside Nora Meyers, then board secretary, proposed the introduction of a bookmobile service. This vision was realized in the 1940s, culminating in the acquisition of a secondhand bookmobile in 1948 through fundraising endeavors. With time, the bookmobile service expanded to include stops at various locations, including schools and nursing homes. Due to diminishing need, the library transitioned to a van for branch deliveries in 1989 and subsequently sold the bookmobile in 1990.

Over the years the Ottawa Branch of the library became known as The Main Street library. This location  was also a hub for pioneering initiatives. Hildred Safford, the librarian at the time, inaugurated a summer reading program. Furthermore, in the years 1970-71, the Putnam County District Library affiliated itself with the Western Ohio Regional Library Development System (WORLDS) for the first time. This consortium began offering a rotating collection of music cassettes and 8mm films to its member libraries, thereby granting library cardholders early access to multimedia resources. Presently, the PCDL is a member of Serving Every Ohioan (SEO), a statewide collaboration among libraries to share resources.

Despite these expansions, the Main Street facilities became outdated and overcrowded by the early 1970s, prompting the library board to propose a bond issue in November 1985 for the construction of a new building. This initiative was welcomed by voters, leading to the construction of the new library on Thomas Street between 1986 and 1987, which remained in use until 2007. The final expansion in 1986 saw the opening of permanent locations in Fort Jennings and Pandora.

Current building opened 2011

Following a flood in 2007, a strategic decision was made to relocate the library to a site beyond the flood zone of Ottawa. During the construction phase of this new facility, the library was temporarily situated in the Putnam County Educational Service Center. The contemporary library, which opened its doors in 2011, stands as a testament to the enduring dedication of the Putnam County community towards its library system, evolving from its modest inception in the early 20th century to its current status as a significant cultural and educational pillar. Presently, the Putnam County District Library encompasses eight locations: Columbus Grove, Continental, Fort Jennings, Kalida, Leipsic, Ottawa, Ottoville, and Pandora.
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