April 24, 2024 — More than 200 library administrators and trustees met in Columbus today for Legislative Day. Library supporters spent the morning at the Sheraton on Capitol Square listening to legislative briefings and a keynote presentation by the Director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Steve Dackin. Dackin talked about the shift to the science of reading in Ohio’s schools and how public libraries play an important role in the state’s education initiatives, including high-dosage tutoring for literacy.

The event also featured a a Property Tax Panel Discussion with Sen. Louis Blessing (R-Cincinnati), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform and Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee; and Rep. Dan Troy (D-Willowick), Ranking Member House Ways and Means Committee and member of the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform.

The rest of the day was spent at the Statehouse, where members of the Ohio General Assembly heard first-hand about the the life-changing work of Ohio’s public libraries. You can see pictures from today’s event on social media using #OhioLibraryDay.