Ohio Library News 06.05.20

Whoa, returns are back! Westerville Public Library shared a picture of their recent influx of books!
Conversations around race are never easy, but the Cleveland Public Library has put together a number of resources and titles to help start discussions with children, friends, and community members.
In addition to hosting a Let’s Talk series, Wright Memorial Public Library is also hosting a Choosing to Participate poster exhibition created by Facing History and Ourselves and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County encouraged participation in Cincinnati’s Gear Up for this Moment: Activist Day of Virtual Training. The program coached 900 participants in strategies for peaceful, coordinated and strategic action. The library also posted a Black Joy Book List for children and young adults.
Bluffton Public Library‘s Thoughtful Conversation Series is focusing on racism with book recommendations for children, teens and adults.
Summer Reading is Underway!
Mercer County District Library used a countdown clock and live announcement on Facebook to kick off the library’s summer reading program.
Toledo Lucas County Public Library is offering track cards and yard signs for summer readers.
In addition to programs for kids and teens, Shelby County Libraries is also offering a summer reading program for adults.
Dayton Metro Library is offering a number of family-friendly online concerts and events on its Facebook page as part of the library’s summer reading challenge.
Muskingum County Library System has teamed up with WOUB Public Media’s Learning Lab to provide a virtual scavenger hunt to kick off the library’s summer reading program.
Mentor Public Library is hosting a virtual (Zoom) yoga session with a certified yoga instructor who will lead little ones and their grown-ups through exercises in breathing and movement along with a story and music.

Many of Ohio’s public libraries serve free healthy meals and snacks to children. This summer all meals are grab and go!
Summer meals are still being offered for children at more than 100 library locations this summer, including Athens County Libraries and Logan Hocking County District Library. This year, all meals are grab and go!
[A map of all locations in Ohio is available on the Ohio Department of Education website.]

Curbside service is a convenient way for library customers to pick up materials without leaving their cars.
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library teams up with the Cleveland Food Bank to distribute fresh produce (no contact and drive-thru service).
Fairport Harbor Public Library is compiling a community diary of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Columbus Metropolitan Library is sharing pandemic photos from the community. Customers can upload photos through the My History section of the library website.
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County created Book Banter on Facebook for readers of Young Adult (YA) fiction who like to break down what they are reading critically or hear varying viewpoints on some great YA books.
Cuyahoga Falls Library has teamed up with OhioMeansJobs to host a Zoom workshop for teens called “How to be the MVP at Work.”
More than 1.2 million Ohioans have filed unemployment claims in the last 11 weeks. This is a staggering number, but Ohio’s public libraries are ready to help job seekers and small businesses in their communities. Logan County Libraries has teamed up with OhioMeansJobs to post job openings in the area on their social media.