The library’s story pre-dates the cherished Greek Revival dwelling that once occupied the lot located at 1 Mechanic Street fondly known as the Christian Slayton Public Library. In 1925 negotiations commenced between the Oxford Literary Society Club, a group of like-minded trailblazing women, who conveyed a lease agreement with Mrs. Zella McVey to establish a reading room in her building located at 28 N. Washington Street in downtown Oxford. This early concept of the public library was operated with volunteer help and established the foundation for what would become the modern library of today.
We are often asked, “who was Christian Slayton?” Christian Slayton wasn’t a person at all. When Mrs. Nellie Slayton passed away in 1901, she bequeathed a vacant lot located on Hovey Street to the Christian Church. Later, when the church disbanded, the money from the sale of this lot was set aside for the purchase of a proper library building. It came with one caveat, with the Township to levy a property tax to support its perpetual legacy. It wasn’t until 1927 that the voters of Oxford Township voted to support the library and a library board was officially established under the requisites of Public Act 164 of the 1877 Library Establishment Act.
In 1939 the library board had developed plans to purchase the McKenzie Howser House, believed to be the oldest dwelling in Oxford at that time. This is what would become known as the Christian Slayton Public Library that was located on Mechanic Street.
By 1965 the library had outgrown its space. To address this issue residents of Oxford Township approved a 1-mill tax levy “for the purpose of providing funds for operating expenses and capital improvements for the free public library presently operating in said Township of Oxford”. In the spirit of collaboration with the Township and the Village of Oxford, in 1967 a new library facility was constructed to serve as an anchor between the two government entities that occupied the east and west wings of the newly constructed civic center complex located at 20 W. Burdick Street. Shortly thereafter a 2,000 square foot expansion would become necessary to meet the demands of the quickly growing community. At this time the library board officially changed the legal name of the library from “Christian Slayton” to “Oxford Public Library.”
A $4.2 million-dollar bond was passed In November of 1995 to build the modern 23,400 square foot library located at 530 Pontiac Street. This library is situated on four-acres of wooded land that abuts the fifty-seven-acre Powell Lake Park owned by the Township. Today the library is governed by a six-member elected autonomous board, who serve without compensation. Funds for operating the library are generated from a combined 1.85-mill perpetual tax levy that was approved by the voters of Oxford Township in 1984 and 1995.
Only five individuals have served as Library Director over the years, a true testament to its strength and longevity: Margaret Duff (1925—1942); Lillian Crawford (1942—1976); Renwick Garypie (1976—1984); Judith A. Doublestein (1984—2007) and Bryan J. Cloutier (2007—Present).