Action Council | Goals and Objectives 

The Children’s Services Division is focused on providing professional development opportunities for children’s services professionals and helping all children achieve their high potential through the use and enjoyment of library services.

Action Council

Samantha Lumetta, Coordinator (2024)
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
Work: 513-369-6053
sam.lumetta@chpl.org

Allison Knight, Asst. Coordinator (2024)
Dayton Metro Library
Work: 937-463-2665
aknight@daytonmetrolibrary.org

Sarah Simpson, Secretary (2024)
Ohio State University
Work: 614-247-7772
simpson.962@osu.edu

Annamarie Carlson, Past Coordinator (2024)
Westerville Public Library
Work: 614-259-5026
acarlson@westervillelibrary.org

Kimberly Bautz (2024)
Greene County Public Library
Work: 937-736-7057
kbautz@gcpl.lib.oh.us

Laura Erwin (2026)
Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library
Work: 740-702-4170
lauraerwinlibrarian@gmail.com

Kelly Halleen (2026)
Medina County District Library
Work: 330-273-4150 x. 2160
halleen@mcdl.info 12/31/2025

Chelsea Weissman (2024)
Grandview Heights Public Library
Work: 614-486-2951
cweissman@ghpl.org

Janet Ingraham Dwyer, ExOfficio
State Library of Ohio
Work: 614-644-6910
jdwyer@library.ohio.gov

Board Liaison: Julianne Bedel
PDC Liaison: Jessica Smith
Staff Liaison: Angie Jacobsen

Goals and Objectives

The Children’s Services Division of the Ohio Library Council seeks to identify and address issues relevant to children’s services in public libraries and to the changing needs of children and their caregivers by focusing on the following areas. We strive to help others provide equitable, diverse, and inclusive service to children and all those who support them.

(1) Providing Continuing Education for Library Staff

• Offer a minimum of two continuing education opportunities for library staff directly related to at least two different OLC core competencies, virtually or in person, as the situation allows
• Develop content and sponsor programs for OLC events.

(2) Supporting Families & Caregivers

• Provide and support trainings/resources that encourage developmentally-appropriate best practices in Ohio libraries
  – Ohio Ready to Read trainings
  – School Readiness trainings
• Provide information on how library staff can support caregivers in their role as a child’s first teacher
  – Early literacy initiatives like the Ohio Family Literacy Calendar

(3) Supporting Library Staff

• Provide resources on the Science of Reading
• Update members on sponsored activities and support two-way communication through the publication of a regular electronic newsletter
• Contribute to the State Library Youth Services Listserv, the Ohio Ready to Read website & Facebook page, and other local or regional virtual or in-person forums with the goals of increasing CSD membership/visibility, encouraging participation in events, and providing useful forums to discuss our vocation

Annual Report (PDF)

Current Task Force:

Ohio Ready to Read Task Force – Website
Ohio Ready to Read is an ongoing collaboration between the OLC and the State Library of Ohio. Ohio Ready to Read helps librarians to educate Ohio’s families on the importance of early childhood literacy.

• Lauren Boeke, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
• Pam Brockway, Past Chair, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County
• Carrie Burrier, Akron-Summit County Public Library
• Amber Cristofaro, Dayton Metro Library
• Ally Doliboa, MidPointe Library System
• Janet Ingraham Dwyer, State Library Liaison, State Library of Ohio
• Taryn Lentes, Athens County Public Libraries
• Kerry O’Brien-Rhoad, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
• Katie Ross, Westerville Public Library
• Barbara Scott, Bucyrus Public Library
• Julia Shaheen, Chair, Stark County District Library
• Jessica Smith, Shaker Heights Public Library
• Maria Trivisonno, Cuyahoga County Public Library
• Martie Yunker, CSD liaison, Archbold Public Library

Ohio Ready to Read Annual Report & Goals (PDF)