A Note from the
Programs and Services Associate
Did you know one of the first story hours in the United States happened right here in Northeast Ohio? In 1904, Caroline Burnite Walker became the Director of Children’s Work at Cleveland Public Library and by 1906 was advocating for regular story hours at branches across the city. Nearby communities quickly followed suit and for over a century now, the region has led the country in storytime excellence!
As a children’s librarian, leading storytime was one of the highlights of my week. Many studies have shown the positive impact of reading to babies and toddlers on language acquisition and social-emotional development. Storytime is a place to celebrate stories and books, but it is so much more. As anyone who has led or attended a storytime knows, the benefits of these regular gatherings extend to the whole community. It is a place for new parents and caregivers to connect with each other, a place for families to sing, laugh and play together, a safe place for the community to gather and learn. Storytime is a village, a third space, a microcosm of everything that is wonderful about libraries.
In recent years, youth services librarians in our community have continued to innovate, and respond to the needs of their patrons. Storytimes for babies, toddlers and school agers happen every day of the week in the Children’s Departments across Northeast Ohio. There are musical storytimes for the movers and shakers, adapted storytimes for those who prefer a quieter environment, storytimes with visiting service animals, storytimes with hands-on activities, storytimes in beautiful outdoors spaces, storytimes with visiting and local authors, and more. Youth services librarians offer so many unique and engaging storytime programs, inviting our community’s youngest members to join in the library fun and start the journey of a lifelong learner.
To celebrate and support this great work, NEO-RLS is offering a series of Storytime Webinars this Fall/Winter. Beginning with Introduction to Storytime: Planning for Success on Tuesday, 9/23/2025 at 2:00 PM, we will dig into the skills and practices essential to planning an outstanding storytime. In November, we’ll go Beyond the Basics and hear from local and international youth services librarians about techniques to tailor storytimes for different audiences. Whether you are new to leading storytimes, or a seasoned pro looking to refresh your approach, there will be something for you in the NEO-RLS Storytime Series.
By the way, if you are a current storytime leader with a unique approach or special skill you’d like to share with the NEO-RLS community, reach out to me at Hillary.brown@neo-rls.org, to be featured in future webinars and skillshares. Thanks youth services librarians for all that you do to make our community a fun place to read, learn and grow!
Happy reading, Hillary |
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| Notary Training Scheduled Notary training has been scheduled for the following locations. More information and registration to come shortly. Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - Canfield Library
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - North Canton Public Library Thursday, October 16, 2025 - Shaker Heights Public Library |
Support the MHFA Mission – Please Sign the Petition
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) has removed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training from its budget, ending five years of vital support. A petition has been launched to advocate to bring MHFA funding back to Ohio. Your signature can help make a real impact to the countless individuals who would have benefitted from MHFA training and resources. Sign the petition here.
The Demand is Still Growing Even After 30,000 Trained - Our teen and older adult programs are at full capacity.
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Over 1,200 people are on a waiting list for training.
- Colleges have been limited to just five classes due to budget constraints.
What’s at Risk
Without funding, we lose momentum in expanding a statewide network of trained mental health responders like you.
Since 2021, NEO-RLS has proudly hosted seven Mental Health First Aid sessions for adults and three Youth Mental Health First Aid sessions—all at no cost to our organization or the libraries that participated. The feedback we receive is overwhelmingly positive, with libraries consistently sharing how impactful this training has been in equipping staff to better support their patrons.
To ensure this vital funding continues, we strongly encourage you to sign the petition. Your support will help NEO-RLS keep bringing this important training to our libraries and communities. |
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| 2025 Buckeye Children’s and Teen Book Awards Voting is Open
Ohio students can start casting their votes for their favorite Buckeye Book Awards nominees! Voting for the 2025 awards is open from September 1 through November 10 at https://bcbookaward.info/ How can you participate? -
Collect votes at your library or school. Teachers and librarians may collect student votes and submit them in bulk.
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Set up a book display. Showcase current nominees and past winners in your spaces.
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Promote the Buckeye Book Awards. Post on your social media and share in newsletters and announcements to encourage student votes.
Lists of the nominated titles in each grade band are on the student and teacher/librarian ballots. All these titles were nominated exclusively by Ohio students.
About the Buckeye Book Awards
The Buckeye Children’s and Teen Book Awards, established in 1981, is Ohio’s readers’ choice award program for students in grades K-12. It is proudly sponsored by the Ohio Educational Library Media Association, Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, Ohio Library Council, the Kent State University School of Information (iSchool), the Ohio Literacy Association, and the State Library of Ohio. It's Ohio’s children and teens, not adults, who make all the nominations and decide the winners. Let’s celebrate their creativity and choices! |
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| Submissions for 2025 Innovations Initiative Are Now Open The 2025 Innovations Initiative is officially open! This is your opportunity to showcase the creative strategies, groundbreaking programs, and bold ideas that are transforming libraries and shaping the future of our field. We’re excited to see the incredible work your team has accomplished.
Submit your entries by Friday, October 17, 2025. All active ULC member libraries are invited to participate, and winners will be announced in December! Top Innovators will receive a trophy, regular features across all of ULC's channels and programming, and a discounted registration for an upcoming ULC event or course.
Don’t miss your chance to highlight your library’s impact! Submit your best work here. |
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| Virtual Lunch and Learn – The Impact and Legacy of American Indian Boarding Schools In observance of Orange Shirt Day, the Cleveland Public Library Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) Department and the Culture Diversity Employee Resource Group are hosting a virtual lunch and learn on September 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET.
Deidre Whiteman, Meskwaki, Dakota, Ojibwe, Hidatsa, and an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, will lead an insightful discussion on the history of American Indian Boarding Schools and their lasting impact on Indigenous communities. Thursday, September 25, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 260 402 437 183 5
Passcode: qN7ty3Re |
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| Sandusky Library Wins Northern Ohio Libraries Battle of the Books
On Saturday, September 6, fourteen teams and over 70 students from local libraries gathered at BGSU Firelands for the 10th annual Northern Ohio Libraries Battle of the Books. After 26 rounds of play, Team Sandusky Library was named the champion of the 2025 tournament. Congratulations to all participants!
Email our Marketing & Engagement Coordinator Jill at jill.grunenwald@neo-rls.org if you have a story from your library you want to share. |
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