Shepard Branch
🏢 Columbus Metropolitan Library — Columbus, Ohio
Shepard Branch
The Shepard Branch serves Columbus's East Side from a striking Moody Nolan–designed building clad in bronze stainless-steel shingles that neighborhood children nicknamed "dragon scales."
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | 1 PM – 5 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 850 N. Nelson Rd., Columbus, OH 43219
Phone: (614) 645-2275
Website: columbuslibrary.org
📖 About Shepard Branch
The Shepard Branch anchors the Shepard neighborhood on the East Side of Columbus at 850 N. Nelson Rd. Its current home, part of the Columbus Metropolitan Library's building program, opened on October 13, 2016 and was designed by the Columbus-based firm Moody Nolan. The roughly 10,000-square-foot building is expressed as one large, light-filled room whose form is subtly twisted apart, a design that nods to the role Alum Creek played in shaping the community. Its bronze stainless-steel shingle cladding shimmers like moving water and earned the "dragon scales" nickname from local children. Inside, the branch holds a collection of about 30,000 items and offers books, movies, music, video games, two meeting rooms, two study rooms, public computers with mobile printing, interlibrary loan and free Wi-Fi.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Award-winning Moody Nolan design opened October 13, 2016
- Bronze stainless-steel "dragon scale" shingle exterior inspired by nearby Alum Creek
- Roughly 10,000 sq. ft. built as one open, daylit community room
- Two meeting rooms and two study rooms available to the neighborhood
- Public computers, mobile printing, interlibrary loan and free Wi-Fi
📱 Free with a Columbus Metropolitan Library Card
Any Ohio resident can get a CML card free and unlock:
📍 More Columbus Metropolitan Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did the current Shepard Branch building open?
The current Shepard Branch opened on October 13, 2016 as part of the Columbus Metropolitan Library's building program. It was designed by the Columbus firm Moody Nolan.
Why is the Shepard Branch called the "dragon scale" library?
Its exterior is clad in bronze stainless-steel shingles that reflect light like moving water. Children in the neighborhood nicknamed the shimmering shingles "dragon scales," and the name stuck.
What are the Shepard Branch's hours?
The branch is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.