President’s Report

Posted on June 30, 2026 by anitaslack
Paul Campbell, Vice President/President Elect

Happy Summer, ALAO! I hope that you can carve out some time this summer to relax and rejuvenate. So, consider this your reminder to open your calendars and start blocking time off.

I would like to start off this update with thanking you for letting me be your president for the last year. This will be my last newsletter update as president, and I wanted to express my gratitude for this extraordinary opportunity. Serving as ALAO President has taught me a great deal about leadership and communication while offering me a unique perspective on academic librarianship on a grander scale than my own practice. Serving as your president has been one of the most meaningful, yet challenging, professional experiences of my career. Thank you for your dedication, your ideas, and your commitment to supporting academic libraries across Ohio. I am excited to see where the organization goes next under its new leadership.

In the last year, we have accomplished a great deal. I would like to emphasize the WE in this last sentence. These are some of the things that happened during my tenure as president that I am most proud of:


• Advocacy Committee: Brea McQueen & Beronica Avila worked hard to adapt to the current political environment by merging the Diversity Committee and Advocacy Chair. This change removes language viewed as being controversial and helps eliminate some of the barriers to participating in this important work.


• ALAO 2025: Last year’s conference continued to be highly attended and received very positive reviews. I am proud that we were able to highlight some incredible Ohio librarians with Ione Damasco as our keynote and Hanna Schmillen as the Pre-Conference facilitator.


• Community Conversations: Thanks to Mira Scarnecchia and Cara Calabrese, we are piloting quarterly, informal conversations focused on topics that matter to our library community. These discussions are intended to create a welcoming space for colleagues across Ohio to share experiences, exchange ideas, and talk openly about the challenges and opportunities they are encountering in their own libraries.


• ACRL 2031: The board unanimously endorsed my letter of support to the ACRL Site Selection Committee for Columbus, Ohio as location for the 2031 conference.


• ACRL Chapters Council: The ALAO Board met with Gary Marks from the ACRL Chapters Council in our April meeting. This was a great conversion with him about the work we are doing across ALAO. We got some ideas from him and are looking forward to reading through his report discussing common challenges other chapters are facing and ideas for overcoming them.


• ALAO Strategic Plan 2025-2030: I would like to thank Sara Klink for her work on updating our strategic plan. By rooting our organization’s work in at least one of the three focus areas will help make us stronger and more responsive to our members’ needs.


• PR Coordinator: We have been working on updating this position for the last year. Removing unrelated responsibilities, we hope that this position will be focused on social media and other avenues of promoting the work of ALAO. I am thankful to Sara Klink and Diane Schrecker for their willingness to take a one-year appointment as co-PR Coordinators to fully flesh out the revised position and create templates for whomever takes this role in the future.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate our newly elected leaders from the spring 2026 election. It takes courage and dedication to run for office, and I want to sincerely thank all the candidates who participated in this election. Although not everyone was elected, your willingness to serve and contribute to ALAO is deeply appreciated. I really hope that those who did not win will remain engaged because your voice matters and your positive impact on our organization is real.

Wishing you a restful, rejuvenating, and joyful summer!

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 2 (June 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

2026 Election Results-Past President’s Report

Posted on June 30, 2026 by anitaslack
Sara Klink, ALAO Past President

As chair of this year’s Nominating Committee. I am excited to announce the newly elected members of the 2026-2027 Executive Board!

Congratulations to:

• Vice President/President Elect: Mira Scarnecchia, Columbus State Community College
• Secretary: Marsha Miles, Cleveland State University
• Membership Chair: Laura Birkenhauer, Miami University
• Treasurer: Don Appleby, Retired (University of Akron)

Board Members-at-Large:
o Melissa Bauer, Kent State University at Stark
o Stephanie Founds, The Ohio State University
o Miriam Intrator, Ohio University

We look forward to welcoming everyone at the July Executive Board Retreat.

I would also like to extend thanks to the 2026 Nominating Committee for running a seamless election:

• Melissa Bauer, Kent State University at Stark, Committee Member
• Ryan Scott, Columbus State Community College, Web Manager
• Laura Birkenhauer, Miami University

Let me also offer my sincere appreciation to all who appeared on this year’s ballot! The willingness to serve as ALAO leaders is truly commendable. If you would like to participate in ALAO interest groups, committees, or other activities, please make sure to let us know!:


 ALAO volunteer form
 Interest Groups
 Committees


As I begin my final month serving on the ALAO Executive Board, I would like to take a moment to reflect on my experience with ALAO. As a community college librarian working on a two-person staff, I never imagined I would take on a board position with such a significant commitment. Yet I did—and I am so glad I did.


Serving on the board has been an incredibly meaningful experience. Along the way, I have built lasting friendships and had the opportunity to give back to an organization that has played such an important role in my professional career. It has truly been a worthwhile and rewarding experience.
For anyone considering getting involved, my advice is simple: do it! You will gain valuable experiences while making meaningful connections.

Posted in Uncategorized, Vol. 45 no. 2 (June 2026) | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Vice President’s Report-Conference Planning Update

Posted on June 30, 2026 by anitaslack
Cara Calabrese, ALAO Vice President/President Elect

The ALAO Conference Planning Committee has been working hard on the annual conference. Our theme for this year is Preserving the Past, Empowering the Future: Ohio Academic Libraries. The Conference will take place on Friday October 30th at the OCLC Conference Center in Dublin, Ohio, with Preconferences on Thursday the 19th. We are working on building a schedule that tries out some new things and incorporates your feedback. The conference will feature a keynote, lightning talks, posters, exhibits, discussions, and presentations with hybrid offerings.

For those who have submitted proposals you should be hearing about acceptances soon and be on the lookout for updates to the website, schedule, and registration to open next month!

Thank you to the committee for promoting and managing the call for proposals, info session, creating the logos, and giving great input thus far. I’m excited to see our planning coming together. Also thank you to everyone for submitted proposals, I’m always impressed with what our members are working on and really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge!

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Membership Report

Posted on June 30, 2026 by anitaslack

The current membership of ALAO includes a total of 270 members consisting of 236 regular members, 6 retiree members, and 28 student members. We are excited to welcome new members who joined between March 5, 2026 and June 9, 2026.

Chad Boeninger, Ohio University


Rebecca Daniels, Mercy College of Ohio


Charissa Fitzpatrick, Wittenberg University


Rachel Hyde, Ohio University


Nat Lenington, Cleveland Institute of Art


Casey Mazzoli, The Ohio State University


Tricia McEldowney, Denison University


Melissa Moreau, University of Cincinnati


Charli Muszynski, University of Cincinnati


Stephanie Nesper, Mercy College of Ohio


Hannah Pearson, Cleveland State University


Gina Prokopchuk, The College of St. Joseph the Worker


William Summers, Methodist Theological School in Ohio


Christy Taylor, Mount Vernon Nazarene University


–Laura Birkenhauer, Membership Chair, Miami University

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 2 (June 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Interest Group News

Posted on June 30, 2026 by anitaslack

PROMIG (Programming, Outreach, and Marketing Interest Group) News


Here is the latest news on activities of the promotion/marketing/outreach interest group:
The recent Snapshots of Success, held on June 3rd, supplied a variety of appealing presentations. Thanks to all our participants and all who attended!


• Emily Henderson, Columbus State Community College, talked about a successful crafting event involving creating reusable tote bags.


• Jackie Mayse and Vivian McCallum, both from Cleveland Health Sciences Library at CWRU, shared how they introduced medical students to graphic medicine.


• Michelle Sweetser and Jennifer Long Morehart of Bowling Green State University, with Cecilia Seibert from the Ohio History Service Corps, described how they reached out to student volunteers to assist with transcribing historical documents written in cursive handwriting.


• Judy Carey Nevin, from Ohio University Lancaster, presented the process and benefits of a comfort dog program at her library.


• Jerry Natal, of The University of Toledo, provided examples of how hobbies and passions of library employees can become successful library outreach events.


• Diane Kolosionek and La’Metria Carlton, both of Cleveland State University, demonstrated how the academic library can serve as a place of care, connection and belonging.


To get information about future events like our Community Chats with themes such as wisdom for social media managers in academic libraries and shared processes for creating and publicizing library events, sign up for the PROMIG listserv:


Send an email to: promig+subscribe@alaoweb.org
OR
Go here and subscribe: https://groups.google.com/a/alaoweb.org/d/forum/promig/join


Also, consider the Resource Roundup to discover 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.


Anyone interested in joining PROMIG, has ideas for programming, or who would like to know more about our activities, contact us at promig-chairs@alaoweb.org.


Stay tuned for the next PROMIG event!


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

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


TEDSIG welcomes new co-chair Marcie Boutwell, Electronic Resources and Discovery Librarian at Miami University, who will serve the 2026-2028 term.


Nominate a colleague for the TEDdy Award


The TEDdy Award recognizes distinguished service by an ALAO member in the fields of Technical, Electronic, and Digital Services. It recognizes an individual’s significant contributions to their colleagues and to the field. Such contributions may include, but are not limited to: sustained service to the community, pioneering innovative practices, influential publications or presentations, or demonstrated leadership to the profession.

The TEDdy Award is awarded annually at the ALAO Conference, and includes two waivers to any future TEDSIG event, along with the well-deserved fame and recognition amongst your colleagues.
To nominate a colleague for the TEDDY award, please send a brief nomination rationale to TEDSIG-chairs@alaoweb.org.


Nominees must be current ALAO members, who have worked in, or are currently working in, an Ohio academic library in the area of Technical, Electronic, or Digital Services. If you’re not sure if a potential nominee is an ALAO member, feel free to ask us (TEDSIG-chairs@alaoweb.org).


The deadline for this year’s nominations is September 11, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact the TEDSIG Co-Chairs via email at TEDSIG-chairs@alaoweb.org.


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

New Advocacy and Support Committee Call for Participation


The ALAO Executive Board has approved a proposal to merge our Diversity Committee and Advocacy Chair position into a single, collaborative unit: the Advocacy and Support Committee. Recognition of the political nature of diversity related initiatives and the expanding workload of the Advocacy Chair to keep pace with political developments affecting libraries were the basis for this decision. Additionally, we believe this new name could eliminate potential barriers to committee participation while still preserving the mission and spirit of the original committee’s charge. This new structure brings together two closely aligned efforts so we can better coordinate communication, share the workload, and more effectively support members across Ohio’s academic libraries.

The committee will be led by two co-chairs: an Advocacy Co-Chair appointed by the Board and a Supporting Co-Chair filled via volunteer interest. The co-chairs will work together to ensure cohesive collaboration, while also serving as points of contact for advocacy initiatives and member-facing resources, education, and support.

We are recruiting members now, especially someone interested in serving as the Supporting Co-Chair for a two-year, staggered term.


● The committee charge: share timely resources; offer education/programming; advise ALAO and help cultivate equitable, collegial professional environments; and support advocacy for diverse human experiences across race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, LGBTQIA identities, ability, and age.


● We are looking for: members interested in communication, programming, professional development, and/or advocacy; anyone who wants to help ALAO respond thoughtfully to issues affecting academic libraries and higher education in Ohio.


● Supporting Co-Chair responsibilities: co-lead meetings and planning; coordinate member-facing communications and resources with the Advocacy Co-Chair; help shape programs and educational opportunities; and attend and participate in ALAO Board meetings and the annual Board Retreat.

To express interest (or to nominate a colleague), please email diversity-committee@alaoweb.org. If you have questions or are curious but unsure whether the chair role is the right fit, we’d still love to hear from you!


–Brea McQueen, Board Member at Large, Miami University

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 2 (June 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

President’s Report

Posted on March 31, 2026 by anitaslack
Paul Campbell, ALAO President

Happy spring, ALAO! I hope that your semesters are going well and that you are enjoying the warmer weather.

This past fall, the ALAO Board passed the updated our Strategic Plan for 2025-2030. I am happy to report that we are making progress toward this new strategic plan. I continue my work on Focus Area 3: Stewardship & Development. I am particularly interested in ensuring that our existing IGs and committees have the membership needed to thrive. I hope you will consider serving in some capacity within ALAO. I encourage anyone interested in serving within ALAO to reach out to me (president@alaoweb.org) or Sara Klink (pastpresident@alaoweb.org) for further information. 

Sustainability

One of key points of our Mission Statement is a commitment to sustainability.  To live up to this commitment, ALAO has partnered with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) for 2026.  With this agreement, ALAO members can request a free 12-month access to the SLI “members only” recourses including their Roadmap to Sustainability, discounted or free eCourse content on Sustainability, and on-demand webinars. Additionally, this agreement includes a discounted rate for their Sustainable Library Certification program. 

I would like to thank Mandi Goodsett and Megan Jaskowiak for their work in getting this agreement together.  I look forward to working with Mandi and Megan in the next several months in promoting four separate webinars from SLI for our members to learn about the Initiative and how they can implement sustainable practices within their own libraries.   

Committee Changes

In the February, the ALAO Board unanimously passed a proposal put forward by Brea McQueen & Beronica Avila that would combine the position of Advocacy Chair with the Diversity Committee. This proposal noted that the responsibilities of the Advocacy Chair and the Diversity Committee significantly overlapped and suggested that combining their efforts within a single committee would be more effective.

Given the current political environment, this change removes language viewed as being controversial and helps eliminate some of the barriers to participating in this important work. Some ALAO members are in more vulnerable positions and institutions than others, and ALAO is committed to eliminating as many barriers as possible while still preserving the work of supporting and advocating for all our members and the patrons we serve. 

ACRL 2031

Columbus, Ohio is currently under strong consideration as the host city for ACRL 2031. With Ohio’s award-winning library systems, strong library consortia, and an exceptional ALAO membership, I believe Columbus would make an outstanding host city for ACRL. Additionally, being steps away from the Columbus Convention Center, the Short North Arts District offers wonderful assortment of venues where ACRL attendees can socialize and enjoy the city’s vibrant arts, dining, and entertainment scene.

To say the least, I am very excited about this possibility! As President of ALAO, I have been asked to submit a letter of support to the ACRL Site Selection Committee. I plan to ask the ALAO Board to endorse this letter at the March 20, 2026 Board meeting.

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 1 (March 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Past President’s Report

Posted on March 31, 2026 by anitaslack

ALAO Board Elections 2026

Sara Klink, Past President

Hello ALAO members!

I’m pleased to share the ballot for the 2026 ALAO Election. 

As always, this year’s ballot features talented and dedicated members who are poised to lead ALAO into the future. Please take a moment to help choose the future of leadership of our organization. A reminder that you must be a current member to vote.  Need to renew your membership?  You can do so here.

Candidate information can be viewed and your ballot submitted in the ‘Members Only’ area of the ALAO website (*login required).  Click on this link to view candidates and submit your votes! https://alaoweb.org/elections2026

Voting is open and will end at 5pm EST Thursday, April 30th.

Many thanks to the Nominations Committee members Ryan Scott, Melissa Bauer and Laura Birkenhauer. A special thanks to web manager, Ryan Scott for his work in creating the ballot and supporting materials. And a special thanks to those running for office!

If you have questions about the process or are having trouble logging in to the member portal, please contact me at pastpresident@alaoweb.org or membership@alaoweb.org.

ALAO Member Opportunities 

And finally, if you are looking for professional development opportunities our neighboring state organization, the Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA) is hosting its annual conference May 6th through the 8th. As ALAO members you are able to register using the member rate through our ALAO-MiALA reciprocal agreement. Just another perk to being an ALAO member!

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 1 (March 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Member Spotlight

Posted on March 31, 2026 by anitaslack

Let’s shine the Member Spotlight on Nicole Martin from Cuyahoga Community College!

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

I am an Adjunct Faculty Librarian with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), dividing my time between the Westshore Campus Library and Metropolitan Campus Library. In my role I assist students with research and locating materials at our reference desk, as well as through our online chat and email, manage a portion of the Metro Library’s liberal arts and humanities collection, assist with leading information literacy classes, and support the Faculty Librarians work however I can.

What do you like most about academic library work?

I love connecting with the students and helping them to feel confident in their academic abilities!  As a first-generation college student myself I know how intimidating college can be, so I enjoy helping to create a welcoming, supportive, and safe learning space where students feel they belong. It is a delight to be part of an institution where intellectual curiosity and life-long learning are so highly valued.

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

I am helping support some great upcoming wellness events for students this spring, including a campus-wide Wellness Fair and our bi-annual Stress Less for Success week programming which occurs the week before finals. These student engagement opportunities are a fun way to connect with students in a new way outside of the library or classroom. I am also really excited to be starting this year as a new member of the ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table Addressing Comics Censorship Committee. This committee works to help library workers prepare for and address bans, challenges, and other forms of censorship to comics and graphic novels in libraries and I am looking forward to being involved in supporting intellectual freedom initiatives.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I am an unabashed horror nerd. I love reading spooky and weird fiction, watching horror films, and listening to horror media podcasts. I’m currently a part-time graduate student with Ohio University, working towards my Master’s in English, and I hope to incorporate my appreciation for this genre into my master’s essay.

Why did you join ALAO?

I spent over ten years working as a public librarian before redirecting my focus to academic librarianship, a career shift I had been interested in exploring for years, so I joined ALAO as a way to learn more about the academic libraries of Ohio, to network with experienced academic librarians, and to participate in ALAO’s professional development opportunities.

–Laura Birkenhauer, Membership Chair, Miami University

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 1 (March 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Membership Report

Posted on March 31, 2026 by anitaslack

The current membership of ALAO includes a total of 278 members consisting of 231 regular members, 6 retiree members, and 41 student members. We are excited to welcome new members who joined between November 25, 2025 and March 4, 2026.

Marcie Boutwell, Miami University

Ken Burhanna, Kent State University

Eden Davis, The Ohio State University

Katie Gable, College of Wooster

Natalie Gut, University of Dayton

Deidra Herring, Ohio State University

Annie Malady, Case Western Reserve University

Bethany Spencer, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Jill Spreitzer, University of Detroit Mercy     

Leah Tabler, Miami University Regionals

–Laura Birkenhauer, Membership Chair, Miami University

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 1 (March 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Interest Groups News

Posted on March 31, 2026 by anitaslack

ALAO 2026 Innovative Instruction Showcase

The Instruction and STEM interest groups of the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) are excited to announce an online instruction showcase this spring. This will consist of a variety of short lighting talks of 7-10 minutes each.

The event will be held on Wednesday, May 13th, from 2pm – 4pm (EST). Stay tuned for the Zoom link.

Our theme is instruction in a very broad sense. We welcome proposals that encompass innovative ideas on a variety of tools and/or topics, including but not limited to:

  • different subject areas
  • teaching and/or learning styles
  • lesson plans or planning
  • self care for instructors
  • distance learning
  • asynchronous learning materials

Proposals that address STEM instruction, distance learning, and/or current issues are particularly encouraged. 

This is a community-driven event, so we want to hear from you. What do you have to share about instruction? We’d love to hear from schools of all sizes, any subject area, those who teach in-person or through distance learning. We welcome ideas great or small in this relaxed atmosphere for library instructors to connect and share ideas.

Presenters do not need to be members of ALAO or work in the state of Ohio. 

Proposals will be accepted through March 31st. Review will take place through April 10th, and notices sent soon after. Proposals can be submitted through this form (https://bit.ly/ALAOShowcase26).


For questions please contact the Instruction or STEM Interest Group Co-chairs at stemig-chairs@alaoweb.org and iig-chairs@alaoweb.org.

–Kristen Adams, STEM IG Co-Chair, Miami University
–Nathanael Davis, STEM IG Co-Chair, Cedarville University
–Tamia Jackson, Instruction IG Co-Chair, Miami University
–Liz Grauel, Instruction IG Co-Chair, University of Dayton

Programming, Outreach and Marketing Interest Group (PROMIG) News

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

Check out the latest Resource Roundup for a selection of 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’s first Community Chat “Wisdom for Social Media Managers in Academic Libraries: Lessons in Strategy, Engagement, Content Creation and More” was held on January 8, and featured Tanner Lewey, social media manager for libraries and higher education institutions. Tanner emphasized making human connections and finding and using elements unique to your library. If you missed the event or would like a recap, here is a link to a recording (pass code: Aqbb!2?6)

PROMIG’s second Community Chat for 2026 featured Katie Rose, Events Coordinator for the University of Toledo Libraries, who shared her processes for creating and publicizing library events. Katie talked about the tools she uses for scheduling and communications, how she manages event spaces, and discussed opportunities for collaboration. Notes from the event can be accessed here.

As always, thank you to all who attend PROMIG 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 to see you at the next PROMIG event!

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

SCAig and TEDSIG to Co-host Virtual Spring Event

Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:30pm – 4:00pm EST

How are ALAO members enabling users and reference/research staff to discover special collections, rare books, and archives materials following OhioLINK’s LSP migration? Join ALAO Interest Groups SCAig (Special Collections and Archives Interest Group) and TEDSIG (Technical, Electronic, and Digital Services Interest Group) for an informal “coffee chat” panel discussion. Three panelists will speak to different aspects of the prompt, and there will be ample time for Q&A and group discussion.

Crissandra George
Digital Collections Librarian, Case Western Reserve University
Migrating digitized collections to Alma’s Specto

Eve Kausch
Outreach Librarian for Special Collections & Archives, Kenyon College
Discovery tutorials for users

Tim Keller
Head,Discovery and Metadata Services, Oberlin College
Troubleshooting bound-with records and EAD-MARC conversions

Don’t miss this opportunity to gather with colleagues from special collections, archives and technical services to learn from changing and continuing practices. We hope this event will build supportive networks for the diverse professionals stewarding and fostering engagement with special collections and archives of academic libraries. We hope to see you there!

This event is free, but registration is required at: https://cwru.zoom.us/meeting/register/WAQaYaYsTTqoxy-TsOcrpQ

Sustainability Interest Group (SusIG)

SUSIG is very pleased to announce that ALAO has officially established a partnership with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. Among the benefits of this partnership for ALAO members is free individual membership to the SLI, a 20% discount on SLI Certification, and a 25% discount if 5 or more libraries work through SLI certification as a cohort. In return, ALAO will share information about SLI with our members and work with SLI to provide training opportunities about sustainability in libraries. More details about this opportunity will be forthcoming!

–Mandi Goodsett, SUSIG Co-Chair, Cleveland State University
–Megan Jaskowiak, SUSIG Co-Chair, Miami University

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

TEDSIG is jointly hosting a Virtual Coffee Chat on Friday, April 24, 2026 with SCAig. Please see the SACig update for details. We always welcome ideas from TEDSIG members about the group and possible activities (tedsig-chairs@alaoweb.org).

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

Posted in Vol. 45 no. 1 (March 2026) | Tagged | Leave a comment