A Note from the Executive Director
If your community held elections yesterday, I hope you were able to get out and vote! Many libraries across our region and throughout the state play an important role in supporting this process by serving as polling locations and designated voter registration agencies. This is just one more example of how libraries remain vital partners in civic engagement and indispensable to their communities. I want to extend congratulations to our member libraries whose levies passed yesterday! - Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library
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Oberlin Public Library
- Massillon Public Library
- Tuscarawas County Public Library
- Newcomerstown Public Library
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Henderson Memorial Public Library
- Carnegie Public Library, East Liverpool
Each successful levy represents more than just funding. It reflects the trust, appreciation, and confidence your patrons have in the work you do every day. Through lifelong learning, equitable access, and opportunities for all, our libraries continue to uplift and strengthen the communities they serve. Have a great day! Ragan |
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| NEO-RLS Will Be At ALAO and OLC
Conference season is here, and we can’t wait to connect with you in person! NEO-RLS will be at the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) Conference at Table #1 and the Ohio Library Council (OLC) Convention at Booth #507. Stop by to say hello, learn more about how NEO-RLS supports libraries across the region, and pick up some of our latest resources (and maybe a little swag, too!). |
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Register Now for Continuing Education Cohort Opportunity in Digital Curation
The State Library of Ohio recently announced that the Library Juice Academy Digital Curation Cohort program is returning in 2026. This initiative offers 15 Ohio library staff members or cultural heritage professionals the opportunity to complete coursework and earn a Digital Curation Certificate from Library Juice Academy. Participants will be selected through a competitive application process, with the State Library overseeing their enrollment in the six-course series. The award-winning Digital Curation Certificate from Library Juice Academy is crafted to develop skills in areas such as digitization, digital preservation, metadata creation, and beyond. This program is ideal for individuals interested in this field, regardless of their previous experience.
Applications are available on the State Library website and are due November 16, 2025. Those chosen for the cohort will be informed in December 2025, with classes set to commence in February 2026. All selected members must attend the mandatory introductory meeting on January 8, 2026, at 10 a.m. which will be held online.
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Register now for "How to Recognize and Combat Soft Censorship" on November 18 This webinar will explore the subtle menace of soft censorship, where external pressures, self-censorship, and quiet biases influence the selection, access, and removal of materials in school libraries.
School librarians play a pivotal role in ensuring diverse and inclusive collections, but the fear of controversy, budget constraints, and community expectations can lead to the quiet exclusion of important voices and topics.
This event — led by Tara Cooper, Library Media Specialist at Columbus City Schools — is geared towards a K-12 setting but relevant to all library types. Register using the button link below to attend the webinar live, or view a recording of the event. Register now. |
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| Stark Library Wins Community Partner Award for Seed Bank Project Stark Library recently received the first-ever Community Partner Award from The Ohio State University Extension - Stark County Master Gardener Volunteers. This award recognizes the library’s contributions to the annual Community Seed Bank project, a collaborative initiative between Stark County Master Gardener Volunteers, OSU Extension, the Main Library, and Stark Friends of the Library. 2026 will mark the 13th year of the project, which cultivates learning, growth, and resilience—both in the gardens and Stark County community. Congratulations!
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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