South Branch
🏢 Cleveland Public Library — Cleveland, Ohio
South Branch
A 1911 Gothic-style Carnegie library in Cleveland's Scranton Road Historic District, distinguished as the first Cleveland Carnegie branch built entirely of stone, and reopened in 2018 after a landmark restoration.
🕑 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: 3096 Scranton Road, Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 623-7060
Website: cpl.org
📖 About South Branch
The South Branch opened on June 12, 1911, as one of Cleveland's original Carnegie libraries, funded from Andrew Carnegie's 1903 gift that seeded the city's branch library program. It was designed by architect Henry Whitfield, who drew inspiration from Hoghton Tower in Lancashire, England, giving the branch an English Gothic exterior of rough-hewn gray limestone with crenellations along the roofline and a Tudor-influenced interior. Notably, it was the eighth Carnegie branch built in Cleveland and the first constructed entirely of stone rather than brick, at a combined land-and-building cost of about $71,800. The library originally served the German and Bohemian families of the Scranton Road area, a community later reshaped by mid-century freeway construction and today part of the Tremont neighborhood. After more than five years closed for repairs, the branch reopened on December 1, 2018, following a historically faithful restoration celebrated by nearly a thousand visitors. A designated Cleveland landmark, it remains a working neighborhood library well into its second century.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- A 1911 Carnegie library, the eighth branch in Cleveland and the first built entirely of stone rather than brick
- English Gothic design by architect Henry Whitfield, inspired by Hoghton Tower in Lancashire, England
- Rough-hewn gray limestone exterior with roof crenellations, an octagonal central skylight, and Moravian Pottery fireplace tiles
- Reopened December 1, 2018 after a multi-year, historically faithful restoration of the 107-year-old building
📱 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 special about the South Branch building?
It is one of Cleveland's original Carnegie libraries, opened in 1911, and was the first Carnegie branch in the city built entirely of stone rather than brick. Architect Henry Whitfield modeled its English Gothic design on Hoghton Tower in Lancashire, England.
Why was the South Branch closed for several years?
The Carnegie building needed extensive repairs and closed in 2013. After more than five years of historically faithful renovation, it reopened on December 1, 2018, and nearly a thousand people came out to celebrate the restored 107-year-old landmark.
Where can I park when visiting the South Branch?
Parking is available across the street at the Scranton Road Bible Church, the red brick church, so you do not have to rely on street parking along Scranton Road.