Provides the largest American history research center in northern Ohio. Holdings consist of 235,000 books, 25,000 volumes of newspapers, 30,500 rolls of microfilm, 1,000,000 prints and photographs. and more than 3000 collections of manuscripts and archives. The focus of the library is on the growth and development of Cleveland and that portion of northern Ohio once known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. Maintains ethnically specific genealogies and archives as well. Provides periodic genealogy classes.