Cleveland. Home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Home of the Cleveland Indians, The Browns and The Cavs. A storied and rabid fan base of sports fans, to be sure and a history of rugged, hearty individuals.
However, one can look to the Cleveland Public Library as an example of a city that values not only the sporting life, but the pursuit of knowledge.
As a librarian, I've had the opportunity to visit many storehouses of information in many towns, villages and cities across the country. However, the Cleveland Public Library just about took my breath away. I entered through the Main Wing, built in 1925 and its beauty holds up after all these years. The ceilings and environment are difficult to capture, but this is where I would recommend starting your tour if you make it to downtown Cleveland. From my research, I found that Cleveland had the first children's room and my girls and I had to make a special point to explore what they had available.
I also ventured to the newer side, the Louis Stokes Wing, which houses the DVDs, Business, Science, Government Documents and a stunning Computer Learning Connection which blends the classic library with the new guard.
All in all, an impressive library in a city with a reputation for sports, but knows that having balance is important, too.