The OLC will host an online discussion forum for library staff to ask questions, exchange ideas and share best practices for handling outreach services.

Grab your favorite hot beverage and join the OLC’s Outreach and Special Services Division for an informal discussion about reaching everyone in your community. Hear about the ways your colleagues have adapted, share what has worked for your library and get some ideas for new things to try.

FREE for OLC members only.

Register now.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the discussion group.

Sponsored by the Outreach and Special Services Division.

Sponsored by the Ohio Library Council

Registration: FREE for OLC Institutional Member Libraries Only.

Register now

Overview: The One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund (OTSCIF) was created in HB 33, the state’s FY 24-25 Operating Budget. OLC staff will provide an update on what is happening at the Statehouse related to the Capital Budget and the OTSCIF. Also, staff from the Ohio Senate Budget and Finance Office will join us for more information and to answer any questions you many have.

Intended Audience: Library directors, fiscal officers, trustees and administrators.

What’s Included: Participation in the live webinar, and/or access to the recording and resources provided by the presenters.

The OLC’s Small Libraries Division will host an online discussion forum for directors of small libraries on Fri., Feb. 23. This virtual session will be held from 2-3 p.m. and is open to all directors of small libraries.

Registration:
Registration is free for OLC Institutional Members Libraries only. Please register using the link below.

Register now!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Who Should Attend: All directors of libraries that have a budget of $1 million or less and a service area of 25,000 or fewer.

Overview:
OLC’s Executive Director Michelle Francis will provide an update on several items of interest, including state funding and what to expect for the Public Library Fund as well as answer any questions you may have about OLC activities. The forum also will allow time for discussions with your peers about issues and challenges unique to small libraries.

Sponsored by the Ohio Library Council

Registration: FREE for OLC Institutional Member Libraries Only.

Register at my OLC | Registration deadline: 2/27/24

Amazon Business Prime

OLC is launching a new partnership with Amazon Business to help reduce costs for OLC Institutional Member Libraries throughout the state. The majority of Ohio’s public libraries already have some type of Amazon account. Some are utilizing Amazon Business, and some are using individual Amazon accounts. Many libraries would prefer to have Amazon Business Prime, but are unable to include it in their budgets. These accounts are used to make purchases on everything from princess crowns to bird houses, but many are missing out on Amazon Business Prime discounts.

New Benefit Program

This new program is completely voluntary and free of charge. It will be available to all OLC Institutional Member Libraries with your Institutional Membership in 2024. It includes:

• A free Amazon Business Prime Account — a value of $1,299/year with up to 100 users
• Discounted pricing up to 15% from Amazon.com
• Fast and free shipping on Prime eligible items
• Pay by invoice option
• $10,000 monthly line of credit with net-30 terms
• Additional 10% discount on 5,000 items
• Tax Exemption on all purchases
• Additional discounts on specific book titles (book list to come)
• A dedicated customer service advisor

Objective: During this webinar, you will learn more about this new benefit program and how to take advantage of it.

Presenters: Michelle Francis, Executive Director, Ohio Library Council and Tessa Sullivan, Senior Customer Advisor, Amazon Business

Intended Audience: Library directors, fiscal officers, and administrators

What’s Included: Participation in the live webinar, and/or access to the recording and resources provided by the presenters.

The OLC will host an online discussion forum for IT library staff to ask questions, exchange ideas and share best practices for handling technology’s evolving impact on library services. Grab your favorite hot beverage and join the OLC’s IT Division for an informal discussion.

Send questions and discussion topic suggestions in advance to rswanson@olc.org.

FREE – for OLC IT Division members only.

Register now

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the discussion group.

Sponsored by the Information Technology Division.

This is a hybrid event. Participants can attend in person at the OLC office in Dublin (Northwest Columbus) or online with the same access to workshop content. Workshop will be recorded and available to registrants for 30 days.

Map to OLC office
NOTE: For those attending the workshop in person, please note that the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the same day. There will be open access to the OLC office from Metro Place South.

Registration Deadline: 3/2/24

NOTE: When registering for this workshop, please indicate whether you will be attending in person or online.

Registration Fees: Member $95 | Non-member $190
*Individual members or staff/trustees of OLC institutional member libraries. Fee includes access to in-person or virtual option. Select “in-person” or “virtual” when registering at my OLC.

Overview: This workshop will focus on what every library trustee needs to know, including boardmanship, legal issues, library funding, working with your director, and library finances. The program will also take a look at Intellectual Freedom issues as well as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in public libraries. You will also learn about services that the OLC offers to its member libraries and their trustees. This is important training for new library trustees as well as those with years of experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to be an effective Board member and how to work with your library’s director and staff.
• Make sense of your library’s finances and understand how libraries are funded in Ohio.
• Get updates on the latest legislative issues at the Statehouse including the Public Library Fund (PLF).
• Gain a better understanding of the legal questions library trustees often ask.
• Understand Intellectual Freedom as well as EDI in public libraries.
• Learn more about the services that OLC provides to trustees.

Intended Audience: Any member of a public library Board of Trustees. The OLC encourages new trustees as well as current trustees to attend this educational event.

What’s Included: Morning coffee, light refreshments and lunch will be provided for those who attend at the OLC office. All handouts, provided by presenters, will be available online through the OLC app. Print them prior to the workshop, view them from your personal device during the event or view/download them after the event. The handouts will be available on the OLC app for 30 days following the program. Attendees will also receive a free digital copy of the Ohio Public Library Trustees’ Handbook.

Agenda

8:45 a.m. | Join the Zoom Classroom/Onsite Registration & Refreshments

9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Ohio Library Council Overview

Presenter: Michelle Francis, Executive Director, Ohio Library Council

9:30 a.m. | Boardmanship

Presenter: Chad Seeberg, Former Trustee, Marysville Public Library

10:30 a.m. | Break

10:45 a.m. | Demystifying Library Finances

Presenter: William Shkurti, Trustee, Upper Arlington Public Library

11:30 a.m. | State Funding and Other Legislative Issues for Ohio’s Public Libraries

Presenter: Jay Smith, Director of Government and Legal Services, Ohio Library Council

12:15 p.m. | Lunch Break

12:45 p.m. | Legal Issues – What Trustees Need to Know

Presenter: Jason Elvers, OLC Legal Counsel, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

2:00 p.m. | Break

2:15 p.m. | Intellectual Freedom & Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Public Libraries

Presenters: Kacie Armstrong, Director, Euclid Public Library and Meredith Wickham, Director, Southwest Public Libraries

3:45 p.m. | The Importance of the Director/Board Relationship

Presenter: Tony Howard, Director, Pickerington Public Library

4:30 p.m. | Adjourn

Sponsored by: Ohio Library Council and Ohio Department of Education & Workforce

FREE* for OLC members only.

*Individual members or staff of OLC Institutional Member Libraries.

When registering, click “Finalize This Transaction” instead of “Pay Now” as there is no cost to participate.

Register at my OLC | Registration deadline: 3/12/24

Webinar Overview:
OLC is happy to announce that we are partnering with the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce on the Science of Reading. We are hosting a series of webinars over the next three months to provide OLC members with specifically tailored training on the Science of Reading.

As a reminder, the changes in state law are requirements for school districts and not for public libraries. However, several of our members have contacted OLC and are looking for ways to incorporate the Science of Reading into library programs and materials. This webinar series is designed to help you stay abreast of the changes in classroom reading instruction.

We strongly encourage participation in the live webinars. However, if you are unable to attend this live presentation, the webinar will be recorded and posted on the OLC website.

The first webinar in this series will provide a general overview of the Science of Reading, including the recently approved core instructional materials and intervention materials from the Ohio Dept. of Education & Workforce.

Presenters:

• Dr. Melissa Weber-Mayrer, Chief of Literacy, Ohio Dept. of Education & Workforce
• Michelle Francis, Executive Director, OLC

Intended Audience: All library staff, especially those who work with children.

What’s Included: Participation in the live webinar, and/or access to the recording and resources provided by the presenters.

NOTE: Webinar access information will be sent via e-mail the day prior to the webinar. Please check that your correct e-mail address is listed in your my OLC profile page.

Register at my OLC | Registration Deadline: 3/21/24

Registration Fees:  Member*: $50   | Non-Member: $100

*Trustees and staff of OLC Institutional member libraries

This event is an opportunity for library trustees and administrators to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead for Ohio’s public libraries.

Topics include:

• The Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform
• Public Library Fund (PLF) distributions and forecasts
• Current Intellectual Freedom issues and recent book banning tactics
• Latest news from the Statehouse

8 p.m. | Adjourn