May 2026 Newsletter
As spring gives way to summer, new opportunities are available to learn, connect, and make an impact across the OhioNet community. Whether you’re discovering new resources or building skills to support your library’s evolving needs, this month’s newsletter offers something for everyone.
Director’s Desk: Connecting with Member Libraries Across Ohio
This time of year typically finds folks planning their summer adventures, whether that’s a beach trip, exploring a new city, or stay-cationing in Ohio. I’m also busy planning to get on the road again (cue the music) to visit member libraries across the state. Read my full reflection in this month’s Director’s Desk.
Katy visited over 30 libraries in 2025, including (left to right) Clark State Library, The Brumback Library, Cedarville University Centennial Library, and Scioto County Public Library. Photo credit: Katy Mathuews.
May Member Spotlight: OhioNet Library Communications and Outreach Summit
On April 22, 2026, library professionals from across the state gathered at OhioNet for our sold-out Library Communications and Outreach Summit. Part of our in-person Summit Series, this event brought together over 40 attendees from a range of roles and institutions to explore how libraries can communicate their value, engage patrons, and build meaningful community connections.
Read the full Member Spotlight on our blog.
Announcing the 2026 Library Leadership Ohio Cohort
OhioNet and the State Library of Ohio are pleased to announce the cohort of library leaders selected to participate in Library Leadership Ohio (LLO) 2026. This year, we welcome 32 exceptional participants to develop transferable leadership skills in our intensive program held at the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center on July 21-23. Check out the full announcement on our blog.
Featured Event
We are excited to share an overview of the sessions and presenters for our upcoming Student Success Summit on June 9! Special thanks to all of our speakers for contributing their work and sharing their experiences with fellow OhioNet members. The full agenda is now available online!
Register for the Student Success Summit here.
Deadline Extended! Call for Proposals for Ohio Library Employees Institute (OLEI)
OhioNet invites proposals from our members to present at the upcoming Ohio Library Employees Institute (OLEI) on August 11-12, 2026. This two-day event, hosted in-person at OhioNet in Westerville, is a reimagination of the Ohio Library Support Staff Institute (OLSSI).. OLEI will honor OLSSI’s original mission of creating a space for library employees to experience professional growth, social networking, and community building. Proposals are due May 25, 2026. Learn more about the event and find instructions to submit a proposal here.
OhioNet Book Club: Flourish by Daniel Coyle
The next book we will discuss is Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment by Daniel Coyle. This book explores how people and organizations can intentionally create environments that support connection, purpose, resilience, and wellbeing. Coyle blends research, storytelling, and practical insight to examine what helps individuals and groups truly flourish. These two book club discussions will take place on July 15 (Session 1) and July 29 (Session 2). Click the dates to register!
Looking for free learning on-demand? Staff at OhioNet member libraries can access the Training Archive, a repository of 100+ past webinar recordings and related resources for learning at your own pace.
May’s featured archived event is Onboarding Strategies for Employee Success!
Log in or create an OhioNet user account to access the Training Archive and earn CE credits for completed trainings. Need help with your account? Reach out to our team at [email protected].
OhioNet Staffing Update
Hannah Rosen, formerly OhioNet’s Director of Strategic Purchasing & Professional Development, has accepted an exciting new position as the Director of Development and Affinities for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. We wish Hannah continued success in this next chapter of her career and thank her for her contributions to OhioNet and our member community.
As we move through this transition, questions related to e-resources, equipment, supplies, and event registration can be directed to Lisa Witmer at [email protected]. For all other inquiries, please email [email protected].
WhoFi Core Suite Offer
We are pleased to announce an extension of our partnership with WhoFi to provide the Core Suite to Ohio’s public libraries. This resource includes the following functionalities:
- Community Calendar
- Question Sets
- Spaces
This bundle is available to all OhioNet members, who will receive a 10% discount off list price for the Core Suite. For more information on this offer, click here.
Bayscan Barcode Scanner System Discounts
For libraries seeking reliable, high-performance scanner solutions, OhioNet offers access to substantial savings through our trusted barcode scanner partner, Bayscan. Whether you need durable wired scanners, flexible wireless models, or specialized scanners designed for driver’s licenses and/or 2D workflows, we can help you select cost-effective options that integrate smoothly with your existing systems.
Bayscan systems come with a savings of up to 35% off list price for OhioNet members. For more information or a price quote, please email [email protected].
Changes to OhioNet Invoicing Process
As part of ongoing improvements to our accounting workflows, OhioNet is updating the timing of invoice issuance. This change aligns invoicing more closely with service delivery and standard accounting practices.
Effective immediately, invoices will be emailed 30 days in advance of service start date. This change applies to:
- Electronic resource renewals
- New subscriptions
- OhioNet membership fees
- Annual library systems support
For more information on this new process, check out our blog.
Note: This article was edited May 28, 2026.
Announcements & Other News
- OhioNet will be closed May 25, 2026 for the Memorial Day holiday.
Member and Partner News
- Calling All ALA Annual Conference Bound Librarians & Library Staff! The Thinking Money for Kids Librarian Summer Camp Pre-Conference Session is happening on Friday, June 26 at 8 a.m. If your library is looking for an effective (and fun) way to offer children’s financial literacy programming at little to no cost, this free ticketed session is one you don’t want to miss. Learn more and register here.
- Critical Hope & Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship, a new course at the University of South Carolina School of Information Science, is now open for registration! Led by Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS, the six-week asynchronous course offers an introduction to the established Critical Hope framework and creates a community-of-practice pathway to reflective and intentional application in the Life-work of library students and practitioners. This course is open to LIS employees at all levels working in any library workplace. The course will run from June 22-July 30, 2026. Learn more here.
- Have news to share with the OhioNet community? Email [email protected] to submit your newsworthy notes (maximum 100 words)!
