State Library of Ohio

10/20/2026

Serving Every Ohioan (SEO) Library Consortium has selected Clarivate Innovative Polaris as its next library management system. The selection follows a competitive process launched in January 2026. A committee representing libraries of varying sizes evaluated six vendor proposals and selected the system based on vendor reliability, pricing, and technical specifications.

Polaris will provide SEO libraries with modern, web-based technology designed to streamline workflows, improve system access, and support collaboration across the consortium. Key benefits include a user-friendly interface, regular system and catalog updates, and tools to help manage circulation, collections, patron services, and shared resources.

Located in Caldwell, the SEO Service Center is a branch of the State Library of Ohio. SEO supports 104 library systems at 290 service points across 52 Ohio counties through the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN).

Read more at https://library.ohio.gov/new-lms-seo

09/10/2026

We are saddened by the passing of F. Ward Murrey, a former member and President of the State Library of Ohio Board and former Director of the Southeastern Ohio Library Center (now the Serving Every Ohioan SEO Service Center—a branch of the State Library of Ohio).

Ward devoted much of his professional life to strengthening library service across southeastern Ohio. Beginning as a part-time employee at SEO in 1961, he took on increasing responsibilities throughout his career and was appointed its director in 1979. He served in that role until his retirement in 1998.

Ward served on the State Library Board from 2008 to 2012, including terms as Vice President and President. His leadership, experience, and commitment to Ohio’s library community made a lasting impact.

His legacy continues through SEO’s F. Ward Murrey Annex in Caldwell, named in his honor and serving as a training facility for Ohio libraries and state agencies.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Murrey’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all who knew and worked with him. We are grateful for his lifetime of service and the lasting legacy he leaves to Ohio’s libraries.

09/09/2026

We’re honored to be recognized by U.S. Senator Jon Husted for receiving a $146,615 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant through the Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition program!

This federal funding from NEH will support the preservation and digitization of the Arthur St. Clair Manuscript Collection, expanding public access to this remarkable piece of Ohio and early American history.

https://library.ohio.gov/home/news-and-events/all-news/state-library-awarded-neh-grant

09/03/2026

We appreciate the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services funds we receive to help libraries support their local communities.

The Delphos Public Library was awarded a LSTA open grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), awarded by the State Library of Ohio to create a memory lab.

What is a memory lab?

A memory lab is a space where you can convert old analog media, such as VHS tapes and photographs, into digital files. This service helps preserve valuable memories that might otherwise be lost as physical media degrade over time. In a memory lab, you have access to specialized equipment that is often not available at home.

Examples of what you can do in a memory lab:

+ Convert home videos to digital format
+ Scan and save printed photographs
+ Digitize letters, family recipes, scrapbooks, and more
+ Recover digital files from outdated technology
+ Transfer data from older storage devices
+ And much more!

The Memory Lab will be a great new addition to our library, offering everyone the chance to use high-tech tools to preserve important memories and stories. By partnering with other area organizations and hosting community events, the Memory Lab will also boost interest in our local history. This project is about preserving our area's rich past for future generations, ensuring our stories are never forgotten!

09/03/2026

Congratulations! These alphabet tracing boards will be a great for the classroom.

08/31/2026

Be aware, be prepared! Have a plan and know what to do when an emergency happens. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3LImC5h

08/24/2026

Please join us in congratulating Janet Ingraham Dwyerr for being selected as the 2026 recipient of the Ohio Library Council (OLC) Hall of Fame Librarian Award. The OLC Hall of Fame Librarian Award recognizes library professionals whose careers have made an enduring impact on Ohio libraries and the communities they serve. This prestigious honor recognizes Janet’s exemplary career of service, leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and dedication to Ohio’s libraries.

As the Youth Services Library Consultant at the State Library of Ohio since 2009, Janet has played a pivotal role in developing and advancing initiatives that strengthen library youth services and promote early literacy on both state and national levels. She has been a driving force behind numerous programs and initiatives, including Ohio Ready to Read, a partnership between the Ohio Library Council and the State Library; the Collaborative Summer Library Program; library participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program; Choose to Read Ohio and the Floyd’s Pick Book Award; and Building Community-Based Summers. Through her leadership and collaboration, Janet has helped expand opportunities for children, families, and communities across Ohio to engage with libraries and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Read more at https://library.ohio.gov/ingraham-dwyer-olc-award

08/20/2026

Ohio Libraries are invited to submit proposals for a 2026 State Library of Ohio LSTA Competitive Grant requesting up to $50,000 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services funds. All projects must include a 25% local cash match of the total project cost. Submitted proposals must address at least one of the following three focus areas: Library as Community Anchor, Literacy, and Outreach and Engagement.

Applications must be received at the State Library by 11:59 p.m. Sunday October 18, 2026. Read more at https://library.ohio.gov/comp-grants

08/17/2026

Come work with us! Would you enjoy and excel at leading a statewide resource-sharing program? Do you have a passion for supporting libraries as they work to best serve their communities? Do you enjoy traveling throughout Ohio and interacting with library staff? Are you able to convey information clearly and concisely? Do you meet or exceed all the minimum qualifications listed in the Qualifications section for our new SearchOhio Library Consultant position? If so, this position may be for you! More information is available at:
https://shorturl.at/bYTq5