Meribah Mansfield with Northwest Library Story Garden character Wilbur

Worthington Libraries Director Meribah Mansfield is pictured here during the Northwest Library construction. Next to her is the character Wilbur, based on Garth William’s illustrations from “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. This character became part of the Story Garden at the Northwest Library.

Mansfield became director of the Worthington Libraries in December 1991, having previously been the director of the Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan Library system. Her first charge at Worthington Libraries was to lead efforts to pass a 2.2 mill, 22-year operating levy, which voters approved in November 1992. The levy promised that a new library would be built in the rapidly growing area of northwest Columbus, and on October 13, 1993, trustees from the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Worthington Public Library signed a joint development agreement for the construction and operation of the Northwest Library. The Northwest Library was the first library in Ohio and only the second in the country to be built and operated by two library systems. The library opened its doors to the public on April 16, 1996.