President’s Report

Posted on December 23, 2025 by anitaslack
Paul C. Campbell, ALAO President

Annual Conference Update

Mission Accomplished! This year’s conference was a resounding success. I hope you enjoyed the 2025 Annual Conference as much as I did. I truly treasure the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones. I would like to reiterate what Ione reminded us in their keynote, “ALAO = Community.” For more than a decade, I have deeply valued our community, and I hope you feel that same sense of connection and support.

This year, we were fortunate to welcome presenters from Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, and Michigan. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of them for offering such a rich variety of content and perspectives. Their contributions will undoubtedly strengthen the work we do engaging with our patrons at our home institutions. Developing this content requires significant time, energy, and thought, and we are truly grateful for the dedication each presenter brought to this year’s conference. Look at our line-up of stellar presentations and posters.

Each year, we invite conference attendees to complete a post-conference survey to share their experiences. The Conference Planning Committee (CPC) carefully reviewed feedback from the 2024 conference and used it to guide our planning for 2025. As a result, we implemented several key changes, including:

  • We did our best to assign sessions and rooms. (We recognized that this isn’t an exact science.)
  • Dramatically reduced the number of tables in the smaller rooms, allowing for more chairs and overall space.
  • Utilized more rooms for each concurrent session.

We are looking forward to reviewing the feedback from this year and passing it forward to next year’s CPC.

I would especially like to thank Ione T. Damasco and Hanna Schmillen for their outstanding contributions to this year’s conference. In their keynote, Ione shared powerful insights on how Critical Hope can guide us through the challenges we face in academic librarianship today. While Hanna did an excellent job in leading this year’s Pre-Conference on the growth of evidence synthesis across the disciplines and how librarians can meet the challenge of supporting this methodology.  

Finally, this year’s conference would not have been possible without the tireless work of the Conference Planning Committee.  I am endlessly thankful for their hard work over the last 11 months of planning. 

  • Don Appleby, ALAO Treasurer
  • Cara Calabrese, Indiana University at Bloomington
  • Emily Henderson, Columbus State Community College
  • Kristine Kinzer, Columbus State Community College
  • Katie Maxfield, University of Dayton
  • Abigail Morgan, Miami University of Ohio
  • Gerald Natal, University of Toledo
  • Kristen Peters, Case Western Reserve University
  • Mira Scarnecchia, Columbus State Community College
  • Diane Schrecker, Ashland University
  • Leticia Wiggins, The Ohio State University
  • Rob O’Brien Withers, Miami University of Ohio


We look forward to seeing you again at ALAO’s conference next year. So, mark your calendars!  Next year’s conference is set for October 29 & 30, 2026 at the OCLC Conference Center in Dublin, Ohio.  More information will come out in the spring of 2026.  

Executive Board Meeting Report

In the last ALAO executive board meeting we finalized and approved the updated Strategic Plan for 2025-2030.  In the spring of 2025, Sara Klink met with and listened to many of our committees and IGs on how we should update ALAO’s Strategic Plan.  Given the current political climate, we sought to keep the previous Mission Statement and update the Focus Areas of our strategic plan to better reflect our core commitment to supporting, including, and empowering our members to succeed.  I have asked each of our committees and IGs to develop goals that directly align with at least one of these Focus Areas.

As President, I am eager to focus on Focus Area 3: Stewardship & Development, particularly ensuring that our existing IGs and committees have the membership needed to thrive. I have formed a small task force to support this effort, and we will begin our work together in January.

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Past President’s Report

Posted on December 22, 2025 by anitaslack

ALAO 2025 Annual Conference Awards Recap

The awards and grants that have been established by ALAO are our way of supporting and recognizing the amazing work that is being done by our ALAO members and library community. This lunchtime event is always such a memorable piece of the Annual Conference!

Sara Klink, ALAO Past President

Here are the 2025 scholarship, grant and award recipients:

  • The Research and Publications Committee Research Grant was awarded to Catie Carlson (University of Cincinnati Clermont College).
  • The TEDSIG TEDdy Award for distinguished service by an ALAO member in the fields of Technical, Electronic and Digital Services was presented to Lauren Marshall (John Carroll University).
  • The Support Staff Conference Grants were awarded to Jacqui Allen (Shawnee State University) and Alyssa Cruz (Ohio State University). These awards are intended to encourage staff participation and development in ALAO activities by offsetting registration and travel expenses to attend and/or present at the ALAO Annual Conference.
  • The Continuing Education Grant was awarded to Meagan Fowler (Cuyahoga Community College).  This award is meant to defray costs of participating in conferences, workshops, seminars, and similar library-related educational opportunities.

The 2025 ALAO People’s Choice Poster Award winner was Preserving Libraries’ Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work: A Directory of Projects for the Present and the Future from Ken Irwin (Miami University).

Deidra Herring-Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Award

Deidra Herring

The Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Award was established in 2016 to honor individuals who demonstrate excellence as a mentor and named in memory of its first recipient. It is given annually to an academic librarian who has demonstrated excellence as a mentor.

This year’s recipient of the Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Award is Deidra Herring, Associate Professor and Education Librarian at the Ohio State University.

This year’s award committee was thoroughly impressed with the robust nature of this nomination.This year’s nomination was written by not one but many of the librarians that have been shaped by Deidra’s mentorship, who have discovered confidence, courage, and direction through generous mentorship and example. “Few colleagues embody the true spirit of mentorship as fully, who leads with altruism, empathy, and generosity. Her impact on Ohio libraries and the profession is best measured by the librarians she has mentored”. The Mary P. Key Diversity Resident program was one of the nation’s longest running diversity residency programs in academic librarianship. Though it is now gone into hiatus the nominee has remained one of its de facto guardians and signature mentor. Deidra has offered professional guidance, personal encouragement, and inspiration to countless early career librarians. The extensive mentoring of new and early-career librarians is exactly what embodies the spirit of this award. 

The Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award is named for a former Ohio State University librarian who was instrumental in the formation of ALAO. It honors individuals with a strong record of promoting academic libraries, librarianship, and strong leadership. 

Katy Mathuews

Katy Mathuews-Jay Ladd Service Award

This year’s recipient of the Jay Ladd Service Award is Katy Mathuews, The Executive Director and CEO of OhioNet, in recognition of her exemplary contributions to ALAO and other Ohio academic library professional communities.  

Even before Katy took on her new role this year as OhioNet’s Executive Director and CEO, she was already a recognized leader in academic librarianship throughout the state. Under her leadership, ALAO developed partnerships with a number of state-wide library organizations. In her current role she has taken the lead to ensure that our efforts as an academic library community continue to promote belonging for all despite political pressures. ALAO has greatly benefited under her leadership as it made strides in its strategic goals of increasing our equity and inclusion efforts,improving its efficiency and organization and re-examining the function of appointed and elected positions. When the pandemic hit Katy helped ALAO members work though this difficult and uncertain time. “ALAO members are very fortunate to have her continued leadership as the CEO of OhioNet where she continues to help us as a partner in our important work”

Please join me in congratulating all of our grant, scholarship, and award winners!

2026 ALAO Elections – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Considering professional service or leadership opportunities, or know someone who might be?  If so, please consider nominating yourself or a colleague for a position on the ALAO Board! 

2025-2026 ALAO Executive Board

This year’s elections will take place in spring 2026, with successful candidates officially assuming their positions at the ALAO Board Retreat in July. 

What does the ALAO Board do?

As the Ohio chapter of ACRL, we:

  • Advance academic library services in our state and provide opportunities for education and growth for library personnel at all levels and at every career stage
  • Sponsor an annual conference and spring workshops that focus on innovative topics and showcase Ohio academic librarians
  • Provide scholarships and awards
  • Maintain several active, diverse interest groups and committees.
  • Have a mentoring program that pairs up Ohio academic librarians for peer-to-peer, inter-generational, leadership, or student mentoring relationships

ALAO Board members:

  • Perform duties described in the Procedures Manual for their position
  • Attend monthly Board meetings
  • Participate in the annual Board planning retreat in July

This year, we will be soliciting nominations for the following elected positions:

  • Vice President/President Elect
  • Secretary   
  • Board Member-at-Large (3 positions)
  • Treasurer
  • Public Relations Coordinator
  • Membership Chair

You can read more about each position here 

Please submit nominations or self-nominations to the online 2026 ALAO Election Nomination Form by Friday, February 27, 2026

ALAO is also looking for volunteers for the following appointed positions to start in July 2026:

  • Interest Group Coordinator
  • Communications Editor
  • Co-chair positions for subject specific interest groups

Please complete the volunteer form to indicate your interest in the above positions or email Sara Klink, Nominating Committee Chair, at pastpresident@alaoweb.org

Questions about the upcoming elections or volunteer opportunities?  Please feel free to contact Sara Klink (pastpresident@alaoweb.org) or Laura Birkenhauer (membership@alaoweb.org)

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Vice President’s Report

Posted on December 22, 2025 by anitaslack
Cara Calabrese, ALAO Vice President/President Elect

Hi ALAO! I’m now coming to you from Indiana. At the beginning of the fall semester, I started a new job as Head of Acquisitions at IU-Bloomington. As I was gearing up for my Vice President year and the 2025 Conference, it felt bittersweet to leave Ohio, but I am so glad that I am an ALAO member and that I got to see so many of you at the conference in November! It was great that we got to explore using a second hybrid track and refine the use of the overall space. 

I’m looking forward to the next year, the 2026 conference, and continuing to support the ALAO community. Right now, I’m still doing some of the PR Coordinator work, but if you would like to try your hand at PR for ALAO please reach out! Diane Schrecker has been making some fabulous graphics for the conference, templates to build on, and has gotten our socials to a good place, so the role isn’t as large or daunting as it has been in the past. I know I’ve had fun making posts and learning new skills.

Now to switch gears, the ALAO 2026 Conference will take place at the OCLC Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio on October 29-30, 2026!  

The call for conference proposals will be coming out towards March of 2026, but we are assembling the conference planning committee now! Please reach out to me (cmcalabr@iu.edu) if you have questions and if you would like to serve on the 2026 Conference Planning Committee (CPC) fill out this form. The form also has additional info on time commitments and such. Conference planning is really fun! Whether this is your 1st committee or you’ve helped plan multiple conferences, I’m excited to work with you!

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Member Spotlight

Posted on December 22, 2025 by anitaslack

Let’s shine the Member Spotlight on Mandy Knapp from the State Library of Ohio!

What is/are your role(s) in libraries?

I’m the State Librarian of Ohio, which means that I am the executive director of the State Library of Ohio. The State Library is a small state government agency that has a research library, does grantmaking for libraries, provides services for libraries and distributes audiobook players for the blind, visually impaired and print disabled.

What do you like most about library work?

Information is the key to good decision making; librarianship is all about unlocking knowledge. It is a privilege to be able to serve others in this way; I love being able to help people.

What are some interesting projects you’ve been involved with lately?

Well, this year has certainly been interesting. Isn’t that a famous curse “May you live in interesting times”? My role is like that of many administrators: dealing with budgets, creating plans and strategies for the future and liaising with stakeholders. Issues at the federal level have made all of those tasks interesting indeed.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

One of my jokes with my coworkers is that I need to become more eccentric. Some of the State Librarians—especially in the 19th century—were real characters. There was one who was obsessed with Abraham Lincoln and followed him around as an “unofficial bodyguard”. He also collected a lot of books on spiritualism and the occult that we still have in the collection today. My favorite title in that collection is “Lives of the Necromancers”, which was written by William Godwin, Mary Shelley’s dad.

Why did you join ALAO?

ALAO is a wonderful organization to connect with other librarians. We get our best ideas when we work together.

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Membership Report

Posted on December 22, 2025 by anitaslack

The current membership of ALAO includes a total of 281 members consisting of 234 regular members, 6 retiree members, and 41 student members. We are excited to welcome new members who joined between September 4, 2025 and November 24, 2025.

Marla Beebe, Shawnee State University

Jonathan Brier, Ohio University

Cassandra Brown, Heidelberg University

Stacy Chaney-Blankenship, Ohio Wesleyan University

Jeeyeon Chun       

Stephanie Diaz, John Carroll University

Hailey Greenwald, Central Ohio Technical College

Harley Hill

Rob Kairis, NEOMED

Ashton Kimbler, Columbus State Community College

Amanda Knapp, State Library of Ohio

Jacqueline Mayse, Case Western Reserve University

Bethany Miller, Lorain County Community College

Dani Owens           

Caroline Pacey, Wright State University

Jeanna Purses, University of Mount Union

Holly Rosby, Cuyahoga Community College

Kellie Tilton, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash

Madison Vasko, University of Toledo

Maureen Walsh, The Ohio State University

Andrew Wrobel, Ashland University

–Laura Birkenhauer, Membership Chair, Miami University

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Interest Groups News

Posted on December 22, 2025 by anitaslack

DIG it! Data Interest Group is ALAO’s New Interest Group

The use of data in academic libraries has been a growing segment for both services, resources and support. From data literacy, to data management planning, to accessing datasets for research…all these are areas of growth for libraries. The Data Interest Group (DIG) brings together library professionals who share an interest in advancing and learning about data literacy, data culture and data services. As academic institutions increasingly rely on data from everything from decision-making, research, and teaching, academic libraries play a crucial role in supporting responsible and effective use of data across disciplines. Our hope is that DIG provides a collaborative space where librarians and library professionals can share expertise, develop best practices, and strengthen their capacity to engage with data in meaningful ways.

DIG’s mission is to foster a community of practice that promotes data services and  information sharing among its members. The group is designed to support discussions and professional development around a wide array of specialized topics, including:

  • Data Curation: Best practices for ensuring data quality, usability, and long-term preservation.
  • Data Visualization: Techniques and tools for effectively communicating complex data insights.
  • Data Management: Strategies for creating, storing, accessing, and retaining research data throughout its lifecycle.
  • Data Repositories: Understanding and managing institutional, disciplinary, and general-purpose data archives.
  • Ethical Data Use: Discussions on privacy, intellectual property, and responsible data governance.
  • Emerging Technologies: Exploration of new tools and methodologies relevant to data science and library support.

Since this is DIG’s first year of existence, the group is initially looking to have new members join, establish our meeting frequency and discuss some possible future ideas for professional development. For more information or to join our interest group, please email dig@alaoweb.org or visit the DIG group site.

–Hector Escobar, DIG Co-Chair, University of Dayton
–Michael Hawkins, DIG Co-Chair, Kent State University

PROMIG News

Here is the latest news on activities from the promotion/marketing/outreach interest group:

Check out Resource Roundup vol. 7 for relevant articles, webinars, CFPs, meetings, and more related to programming, outreach, and marketing. We welcome your contributions to the Roundup–just send an email to promig-chairs@alaoweb.org.

PROMIG partnered with ALAO’s sustainability interest group SUSIG for the October 16, 2025, Community Chat, “Sustainability in Action: Library Swag & Programming.” Mandi Goodsett and Evan Meszaros provided excellent thought-provoking examples of sustainable practices for libraries and led discussions on sustainable programming, recycling, collaborative efforts, and challenges of incorporating sustainability into our work in the areas of programming, outreach and/or marketing. If you missed it, here are the Presentation Slides.

PROMIG is offering the free webinar “Wisdom for Social Media Managers in Academic Libraries: Lessons in Strategy, Engagement, Content Creation and More” via Zoom on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET.  Speaker Tanner Lewey will share her passion and experience as social media manager for libraries and higher education institutions. To register: bit.ly/PROMIG-Lewey

Thanks to all who participate in our events. If you are interested in joining PROMIG, have ideas for programming, or would like to know more about our activities, contact us at promig-chairs@alaoweb.org.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

–Laura Birkenhauer, PROMIG Co-Chair, Miami University
–Jerry Natal, PROMIG Co-Chair, University of Toledo

STEMIG News

STEM Interest Group – Open Discussion Hours

We welcome STEM librarians and those who liaise with STEM departments to join us for informal conservations. Driven by the group, the discussions cover all aspects of STEM librarianship, including instruction, collections, budgets, staffing, recent conferences and other professional development opportunities, AI and other hot topics, and the semi-recent ILS migration across OhioLink. 

We meet on the second Friday of the month, from 11-12 Eastern time. Please join us when you can, there’s no pressure to attend every month. Zoom Link is the same link for each date. The spring 2026 dates below.

  • January 9
  • February 13
  • March 13
  • April 10
  • May 8

If you have questions, or would like to join the STEM-IG mailing list and receive calendar invites to the discussion hours, please email the co-chairs, Kristen Adams and Nathanael Davis, at stemig-chairs@alaoweb.org. 

Technical, Electronic, and Digital Services Interest Group (TEDSIG) News

Two TEDdy Awards, for distinguished service by an ALAO member in the fields of technical, electronic and digital services, were presented at the ALAO annual conference.

* The 2025 TEDdy Award was awarded to Lauren Marshall (John Carroll University).

* The 2024 TEDdy Award was presented to Frank Bove (University of Mount Union). 

–Mike Monaco, TEDSIG Co-Chair, The University of Akron
–Rebecca Belford, TEDSIG Co-Chair, Oberlin College

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

People & Library News

Posted on December 22, 2025 by anitaslack

John Carroll University News—Job Opportunity

Job Title: Librarian for Instruction and Faculty Engagement (#F219P)

Tenure Information

John Carroll University’s Grasselli Library and Breen Learning Center seeks an experienced and enthusiastic Librarian for Instruction and Faculty Engagement – Professor of Practice (POP). Unlike tenured faculty who focus on research, the POP focuses on teaching and working with students through a practical, hands-on approach. The successful candidate should have significant experience teaching and instruction in an academic library. POPs are expected to engage in service work for the university and the library.

Summary

Reporting to the University Librarian, this position will lead the library’s teaching and instruction program. This includes responsibilities for designing, developing, delivering, and assessing instruction across the curriculum and the university, focusing specifically on critical thinking, information literacy, and generative AI. Success in this role requires a deep understanding of best practices, current trends, and new technologies in library instruction. This position will also develop and lead library outreach initiatives tailored to faculty and staff.

Deadline

Priority consideration has been extended to January 5, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The hire start date is Summer 2026. Summer librarianship work is available and includes additional compensation. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.jcu.edu/offices-and-services/human-resources/.

–Stephanie Diaz, John Carroll University

Wright State University Libraries News

Wright University Libraries welcomes three new Librarians:

Brenna McNulty, Student Success Librarian

Danni Grottla, Instruction and Research Librarian for the Social Sciences

Caroline Pacey, Instruction and Research Librarian for Engineering, Science, and Math

–Phil Flynn, Wright State University

Posted in Vol. 44 no. 4 (Dec. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

President’s Report

Posted on September 30, 2025 by anitaslack

2025 ALAO Executive Board Retreat

Paul Campbell, ALAO President

First, I would like to thank Sara Klink for her leadership as ALAO President during a particularly challenging year for academic libraries.  She provided invaluable leadership during the transition to a new conference venue, oversaw the celebrations for ALAO’s 50th Anniversary, and took the initiative to have meaningful conversations with stakeholders regarding our strategic plan.  Additionally, Sara and I established a new tradition of biweekly meetings between the President and Vice President to strengthen communication and guide decision-making. I have already continued this practice with our new Vice President/President-Elect, Cara Calabrese.

On July 18, 2025, the ALAO Board held its annual retreat. In the morning, we discussed the need to update ALAO’s Strategic Plan.  Earlier in 2025, Sara Klink had engaged in valuable conversations with many of our IGs and Committees about how we should approach this work, especially given the current political pressures.  Drawing from these conversations, Sara and I drafted new broad Focus Areas for the updated plan.  The ALAO Board will continue refining this work, with the goal of finalizing a new strategic plan later this fall.

In the afternoon, the Board reflected on our accomplishments under the 2019–2024 Strategic Plan, celebrating successes while identifying areas for continued growth.  We then used these growth opportunities as a lens to create individual goals tied to our specific Board positions for the year ahead.  I hope this focused approach will guide our efforts and strengthen the organization as we move forward.

If you have interest in volunteering in our organization, please let me know.  For me, ALAO has been a bedrock of support over the many years that I have been involved.  Getting to meet colleagues from across the state, sharing ideas, and creating space for each other are only some of the benefits.  

Annual Conference Update

Speaking of creating community, please join us for the ALAO Annual Conference taking place November 6 & 7, 2025 at the OCLC Convention Center in Dublin, Ohio. Registration is now live. Note that early bird rates will end on September 19, 2025. (Presenters will be sent out a separate link for registration.) 

Social Event at Gateway Brewing: Get dinner with friends from any of the many great restaurants in the Bridge Park Area of Columbus and then join us at Gateway Brewing from 6-9pm to catch up with old friends and make new ones. 

Keynote Speaker Ione T. Damasco (they/them), Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Organizational Development at the University of Dayton Libraries. The title of their keynote is, Dialogue, Encounter, Imagination: Practicing Critical Hope in Times of Challenge. There will be an additional discussion session with Ione scheduled immediately after.  

Pre-Conference Workshop This year’s Pre-Conference workshop will be facilitated by Hanna Schmillen (she/her), Assistant Dean for Research and Education Services at Ohio University Libraries. Join us for Launchpad to Systematic Reviews: Evidence Synthesis Crash Course for Your Library, a hands-on workshop designed to equip academic librarians with the foundational knowledge and practical skills to support and lead evidence synthesis projects at your libraries, at your pace. 

Conference Grant Opportunities 

ALAO is committed to supporting professional development and encouraging participation in its annual conference.  2025 Conference grant program opportunities include:

  • New Member & First Time Attendee Grants have been made possible by our keynote speaker, Ione Damasco, covering registration costs for up to 10 library workers who have joined ALAO within the past 12 months or will be attending the ALAO Conference for the first time.
  • Two award opportunities for our Student Conference Grant

Please email the Conference Planning Committee at program@alaoweb.org with any questions you may have.  

Posted in Vol. 44. no. 3 (Sept. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Past President’s Report

Posted on September 30, 2025 by anitaslack

Call for Nominations: Jay Ladd Distinguished Service and Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Awards

Sara Klink, ALAO Past President

The ALAO Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award and the Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Awards.

The Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who has:

1.  Been an Academic Library Association of Ohio member for at least 5 years

2.  Promoted academic libraries and librarianship on their own campus and within the state 

3.  Provided sustained leadership in the promotion of Academic Library Association of Ohio, e.g., committee service, interest group chair, position on the Executive Board

Additional information about the Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award is available here. Please submit nominations for the Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award through the 2025 Jay Ladd Award Online Nomination Form.

The Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Award recognizes an individual who has:

1.  Demonstrated excellence as a mentor to a librarian, library worker, or library science student

2.  A sustained record of effective mentorship, as demonstrated by activities that may include but not be limited to advising, developing, coaching, sponsoring, advocating, guiding, and/or supporting librarians, library workers, or library students

Additional information about the Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Award is available here.

Please submit nominations for the Kathryn Venditti Mentoring Award through the 2025 Kathryn Venditti Award Online Nomination Form. 

NOTE: You may nominate more than one person for each award! Your reasons for nominating your candidate(s) will be especially valuable to the Awards Committee so please be as detailed as possible.

Please submit your nominations by Friday, October 10, 2025.

Awards are given out at the ALAO Annual Conference. 

Get Involved! ALAO Has Open Positions!

PR Coordinator

We are looking to fill the position of PR Coordinator. This position does social media, creates marketing content and supports our many events.

Web Manager

We are looking to add another web manager to our existing team of two. You do not have to have any specific website experience for this position.

Both of these positions are positions on our executive board. If you are interested or would like more information please contact Sara Klink, ALAP Past President at pastpresident@alaoweb.org

Thank you!

ALAO has connected with other state organizations to create a statement of support for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Protect Federal Support for Ohio’s Libraries, Museums, and Communities 

American libraries and museums are trusted institutions that are essential to fostering literacy, supporting education, preserving culture, and strengthening communities. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a federal agency dedicated solely to supporting all types of libraries and museums through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Through IMLS, Ohio receives vital funding for library services across the state, benefiting citizens in all 88 counties. IMLS also offers critical grant funds to museums across Ohio, providing support to programs and initiatives that communities rely on.

Eliminating federal funding streams that empower Ohio’s libraries to serve millions of residents every year would seriously harm Ohio’s library infrastructure, curtail essential programs, and diminish opportunities for education, innovation, and economic growth. 

In Ohio, $5.4 million in federal funding from the IMLS “Grants to States” program awarded to the the State Library funding supports:

  • The State Library of Ohio, including $5.4 million annually in “Grants to States” funds.
  • The Talking Book Program, serving Ohio’s blind and print-disabled veterans and residents.
  • The Ohio Digital Library, offering free eBooks, audiobooks, and media to all Ohioans.
  • Libraries Connect Ohio, providing equitable online access to high-quality educational and research resources.
  • Summer Reading Programs, which served nearly 400,000 children and families in 2024 alone.
  • Serving Every Ohioan (SEO) Library Center, a consortium supporting 103 largely rural library systems.
  • Digitization efforts through the Ohio Digital Network, preserving and providing public access to Ohio’s historical and cultural collections.
  • Grant for libraries for initiatives such as Celebrating Ohio Book Awards, Conservation and Preservation, Guiding Ohio Online, Summer Library Programs, Literacy, and Outreach and Engagement. 

Beyond libraries, IMLS also supports Ohio’s museums, historical societies, and archives, providing approximately $1.77 million annually in grants that help preserve Ohio’s rich cultural heritage.

Through IMLS funding, Ohio’s libraries and museums also:

  • Foster early literacy and grade-level reading success.
  • Provide access to high-speed internet, critical for education and employment.
  • Support telehealth spaces for veterans and underserved populations.
  • Offer STEM programs and workforce development training.
  • Help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive.
  • Serve as community anchors in times of crisis and recovery.
  • Provide essential educational support and curriculum-based student programs. Without IMLS support, Ohio would lose vital services that promote lifelong learning, strengthen communities, and fuel local economies particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Libraries, museums, and archives translate just 0.003% of the federal budget into more than 1.2 billion patron visits annually. These institutions offer an extraordinary return on investment, ensuring equitable access to information, education, and culture for all Americans.

The potential loss of IMLS funding would harm the aspirations and everyday needs of millions and rural communities would feel the impact most acutely.

We urge Ohio’s elected leaders at every level to stand up for museums, libraries, and the communities they serve. We call on Congress to fully fund IMLS and preserve the federal commitment to education, access, and opportunity.

We encourage all Ohioans who value reading, learning, history, and community to reach out to their elected officials and speak up for Ohio’s libraries, museums, and archives. Attend library board meetings, engage with your local museums, contact lawmakers, and Show Up for Our Libraries and Museums because the future of our communities depends on it.

Collectively, we, the undersigned, stand together to protect Ohio’s libraries, museums, and archives.

Posted in Vol. 44. no. 3 (Sept. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment

ALAO Mentoring Program Seeks Mentees-Closes October 7th!

Posted on September 30, 2025 by anitaslack

ALAO Librarian Mentoring Program

The Academic Library Association of Ohio’s Professional Development Committee (ALAO PDC) is pleased to announce the call for participation in the 2025–2026 ALAO Library Mentoring Program.

Program Purpose
The program fosters supportive professional relationships that encourage growth, share knowledge, and help both mentors and mentees advance in their careers.

Mentees may include:

  • Library school students
  • Recent graduates
  • Experienced librarians seeking additional support

You do not need to be an ALAO member to participate, though membership is encouraged.

Program Overview
The Professional Development Committee reviews submissions and pairs mentors and mentees to create the best matches. The program runs through October 2026.

Matching Process

  1. Review mentor bios and identify three preferred mentors.
  2. Complete the Mentee Application and rank your top three choices.
  3. ALAO PDC will confirm the match and notify both parties.
  4. Before the first meeting, guidelines will be shared to help start strong.
  5. If attending the 2025 ALAO Conferencehttps://www.alaoweb.org/conferences/2025/about, there will be an opportunity to meet your mentor in person.
  6. Mentoring pairs typically meet at least four times over several months, depending on availability.
  7. At the conclusion, both participants will be asked to complete a program evaluation.

Questions?
Please contact:

Posted in Vol. 44. no. 3 (Sept. 2025) | Tagged | Leave a comment