Hough Branch
🏢 Cleveland Public Library — Cleveland, Ohio
Hough Branch
Cleveland Public Library's Hough campus reopened in 2022 in a striking new building by majority Black-owned firm Moody Nolan, whose design draws on the Sankofa bird, an African symbol of remembering the past while moving forward.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 6530 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103
Phone: (216) 623-6997
Website: cpl.org
📖 About Hough Branch
The Hough Branch of Cleveland Public Library serves the Hough neighborhood from a new campus at 6530 Lexington Avenue, replacing the branch's earlier Crawford Road building. Hough's library roots run deep: the first building opened in 1907 with a design inspired by Christopher Wren's Orangery at Kensington Palace, reopened in 1966 after renovation as the "Treasure House," and was rebuilt in 1984 as a distinctive cluster of three octagons. The newly reimagined Hough campus opened in 2022, designed by Moody Nolan, a majority Black-owned, Ohio-based architecture firm, using the Sankofa bird as its guiding metaphor for honoring the neighborhood's history while preparing for its future. The flexible interior includes a rear room with a "garage" door that opens for large events, a light-filled conference room, movable workstations, an improved children's area, and a 24-hour vestibule with book lockers. Outside, an amphitheater and welcoming green space extend the branch into the community. The branch also hosts a Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk and collaborates closely with area agencies.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Reopened in 2022 in a new Moody Nolan–designed campus themed around the Sankofa bird, symbolizing history and forward motion
- Library history on-site dating to 1907, including a 1966 "Treasure House" era and a 1984 three-octagon building
- Features an outdoor amphitheater, a 24-hour book-locker vestibule, and a Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk
- Flexible event room with a garage door that opens onto a gathering space
📱 Free with a Cleveland Public Library Card
Any Ohio resident can get a CPL card free and unlock:
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning behind the Hough Branch's new building design?
The 2022 campus, designed by majority Black-owned firm Moody Nolan, is inspired by the Sankofa bird, an African symbol that looks back while moving forward. The concept ties the neighborhood's rich history to its hopes for the future.
Has the Hough Branch changed locations?
Yes. The reimagined Hough campus at 6530 Lexington Avenue opened in 2022, succeeding the branch's earlier building. Hough's library service in the neighborhood dates all the way back to 1907.
What services beyond books does the Hough campus offer?
The campus includes a 24-hour vestibule with book lockers, flexible meeting spaces with a room that opens to an event area, an outdoor amphitheater, an improved children's area, and a Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk serving the community.