Other Questions FAQs

  • General Questions

    Helping your child find appropriate reading material requires your guidance and continued support. When choosing books for your child, take into consideration the following:

    • Pick up a book and have your child flip through the first few pages. Oftentimes, your child can tell you if there is too much text or if the words are too big.
    • Consider your child's two or three favorite books. Compare other books by this standard. Feel free to pick up a few that are slightly easier and slightly harder than their favorite titles!
    • Determine whether the subject matter is appropriate for your child's age and/or maturity level. Are they ready to learn about concepts such as manners, math, war or sexuality?
    • Choose books that will keep your child's interest. Are they bored by trucks and fascinated by dinosaurs? Try to choose materials that will make your child excited to read!

    • Audiobooks on CD, Preloaded Audiobooks on MP3, and Digital Audiobooks: These are recordings of books being narrated aloud. These are good alternatives for reluctant readers. Available titles usually mirror titles found within the juvenile fiction, juvenile non-fiction and teen sections.
    • Board Books: For infants and toddlers. The content ranges from basic concepts to simple stories. Board books are made of hard cardboard, a durable choice for babies who are developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
    • Bookpacks: These are books paired with audiobooks. These are good alternatives for reluctant readers. 
    • Picture Books: These are typically 32 pages long with illustrations that are integral to the story. These are often meant to be read aloud while the listener pores over the pictures. This collection includes alphabet and counting books.
    • Readalongs: These are books with written text (and sometimes illustrations) paired with audio narration. Readalongs help readers match sounds to written words. Perfect for travelers, reluctant readers, and English learners.
    • Readers: These are books with limited vocabulary and purposely placed illustrations to help decode words. They are designed to be friendly for those learning to read on their own.
    • Graphic Novels: These are stories told in illustrated panels and texts, including comic books and are great for building visual literacy skills. Graphic novels are captivating and provide extra support through imagery to help kids understand the text. 
    • Juvenile First Chapter Books: For young readers ready to move from readers into chapter books. Characterized by having slightly larger print, more pictures and shorter chapters than books for older readers.
    • Juvenile Fiction: For 2nd graders to 5th/6th graders. This is a collection of novels for children, often called chapter books. Note: The main difference between juvenile fiction and teen fiction is subject matter, not reading difficulty.
    • Juvenile Non-Fiction & Biographies: For toddlers to teens. There is something for everyone in non-fiction! Be sure to flip through these books to gauge difficulty, and let your child pick out subjects that sound interesting. This collection includes fairy tales, folklore & poetry.
    • Juvenile Magazines: For babies through tweens. Magazines are a great way to get reluctant readers on board! Subjects range from nature to popular culture to sports and humor.
    • Tablets for Kids: These tablets are pre-Loaded with learning apps, games, videos, and more. (Sometimes referred to as Playaway Launchpads.)

    If you need to update your contact information on file with the library, contact us.

    Alternatively, you can update some information (like email address, username, PIN, phone number, or notification preference) via your online account.

    1. Log into your account.*
    2. Go to My Settings.
    3. Choose the desired option(s) from this menu: Account Information.

    * Trouble logging in? View these instructions.

    In late 2024, the Westerville Public Library became a member of the Central Library Consortium.

    • You now have access to an additional 3.9 million items. (That’s a 2059% increase!) 
    • You can pick up and return items owned by other libraries to the Westerville Public Library.  
    • You can return items borrowed from the Westerville Public Library at any of the 17 member libraries. 
    • On average, you will experience shorter wait times for new and popular items.  
    • Your hold and reminder notices now feature upcoming events and popular services. 
    • You now have more options for managing your library account via phone. 
    • Your library can now allocate more money and staffing towards high-value projects and services to benefit the community. 

    No. The Westerville Public Library is an independent library with a unique service district and funding structure. However, the Westerville Public Library does share items in the collection with neighboring libraries via the Central Library Consortium, as well as the statewide SearchOhio & OhioLINK services.

    Yes! Follow these steps to connect to an interpreter within moments: 

    1. While visiting the library, stop at the welcome desk, the desk on the second floor, or the desk in the kids area.
    2. Point to your preferred language on the sign.
    3. A staff member will call an interpreter to help translate via video or audio within moments.

    Languages available include: 

    • Af-Soomaali (Somali)
    • American Sign Language (ASL)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Français (French)
    • Kreyòl (Haitian Creole)
    • नेपाली (Nepali)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • ...and 200+ more!

    This service is intended for one-on-one conversations with a staff member in person at the library. Library staff will connect to an interpreter via a video conference call or an audio call using a computer tablet. For options when attending a library-hosted event, please see this page.

    Note: For less common languages, you may need to wait for an interpreter to be available.

    Property taxes are the main source of revenue for the Westerville Public Library. The residents of the Westerville City School District passed a continuing 2.0 mill property tax levy in 2011 and a 0.75 mill additional continuing levy in November 2024 (to take effect on January 1, 2025).  Due to a law designed to protect property owners from unvoted tax increases, the amount that your existing home was appraised when each levy passed is what your current taxes are based on today. Reappraisals do not affect the amount of money the library receives. Library levied taxes for new construction after each levy passed are calculated at the time of construction completion. 

    In addition, the library receives state funds from the Public Library Fund (PLF) and homestead and rollback revenue. A small portion of revenue is composed of printing fees, interest income, etc.

    Funding for the Westerville Public Library is separate from funding for other library systems in the Central Ohio area, including Columbus Metropolitan Library and Worthington Libraries.

    For more details, visit the Financial Dashboard.

    The Westerville Public Library offers many services and amenities, including:

    • ATM machine
    • Community bulletin board
    • Charging stations
    • Hotline phones
    • Indoor & outdoor seating
    • Magazines to read while you're waiting
    • Quiet study area
    • Step stools
    • Telephone booths
    • Vending machines
    • Water fountains
    • Wi-fi access
    • and more!

    For more details, visit the Services & Amenities page.

    The Westerville Public Library offers various assistive technology and tools for persons with disabilities and other special needs, including:

    Most options are first come, first serve. Some options may be limited to specific locations. Learn more.

    All are encouraged to inquire about additional options. Contact us.

    The Westerville Public Library restrooms (i.e. bathrooms) are open to the public during regular library hours.

    Restrooms include:

    • Changing tables and diaper genies available in all public restrooms
    • Free feminine hygiene product dispensers available in all women's restrooms
    • A single-stall option (near the Media area)

    If you have further questions, contact us.

    Yes! Please request special arrangements within at least 5 days advance notice. To place a request, call 614-882-7277 option 4 or email ask@westervillelibrary.org.

    Kids and teens, call 614-882-7277 option 5 or email kids@westervillelibrary.org.

    Yes, we do. Lost items that are reported to staff are retained based on the following schedule:

    • 1 week - books, media, clothing, toys, and food & beverage containers
    • 4 weeks - items of value, including phones, electronic devices, expensive jewelry, and IDs

    To inquire about a lost item, stop by the Welcome Desk or contact us.

    Book lovers unite! Connect with fellow bibliophiles by reading the same book and then get together to talk about it - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

    Library staff can:

    • Match you with a library-hosted or community-led book club.
    • Connect you with free digital copies (ebook or audiobook format) of the selected books to be discussed.
    • Provide your group with engaging and topical discussion questions.
    • Offer training and support materials to volunteers (ages 18+) interested in leading a book club.

    Interested? Contact Mindy at 614-882-7277 x2186 or mindyb@westervillelibrary.org.

    For more information about book clubs hosted at the library, visit this page.

    Awesome! Please submit your feedback here.

    No, not at this time. We have submitted a request with our third-party vendor for a calendar view and will implement if/when it becomes available.

    You may manage your events in different ways, depending on the information you provided.

    • If you entered your library card number when registering for an event, you can view your registration via My Events.
    • If you entered your email address when registering for an event, you will receive email confirmations and reminders about the event.
    • If you only entered your name and phone number, but not your library card number or email address, you can contact us to find out if you are registered for an event.

    Questions? Contact us.

    1. Clear your browser history and cache. (Not sure how? Watch a video tutorial.)
    2. Refresh the page. 
    3. We can help! Contact us

    Thank you for your interest in sharing your passion and expertise with our community. We are always looking for events, classes, workshops, demonstrations and other programs that enrich the community and adhere to the mission and values of the library.

    To help us get a better sense of what you would like to offer, please fill out the form (linked below). If your proposal meets our needs, fits into our schedule, and is within our budget, you will be contacted within 90 days by a library staff member.

    Fill out the form.