A Note From the
Executive Director
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the NEO-RLS Open House yesterday! It was a privilege to connect with library staff from across the region as we celebrated our progress, shared updates, and explored opportunities to engage with NEO-RLS.
One of the highlights of the event was the thought-provoking keynote presentation, Checking Out Despair: Librarians as Gatekeepers of Hope in a Digital Age, delivered by R. David Lankes. His inspiring message challenged library staff to reframe their roles as proactive agents of change, addressing critical societal issues such as isolation, addiction, and economic despair. Attendees left motivated to deepen their impact and embrace their potential as catalysts for hope within their communities. If you missed this incredible session, don’t worry—a recording will be available soon! Stay tuned to the newsletter for details.
For those who couldn’t attend, we encourage you to explore how you can get involved with NEO-RLS. Visit our Board Committees, Advisory Groups, and Network Groups pages for more information. Feel free to reach out to me at ragan.snead@neo-rls.org if you’re interested in participating.
Finally, a big congratulations to all our Star Award nominees and winners for their outstanding contributions to library service:
Rising Star Award Winner: Bryanta Spencer, Social Work Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library
Shooting Star Award Winner: Paula Wagner, Head of Adult Services, Geauga County Public Library
Super Star Award Winner: Mary Anne Russo, Children's Librarian, Hubbard Public Library
Thank you to everyone who made this event a success. We are excited about what’s ahead and look forward to another year of supporting and serving our members across Northeast Ohio and beyond!
Have a great day!
Ragan
