OhioNet Library Facilities Summit Agenda
We are excited to share an overview of the sessions and presenters at our upcoming Library Facilities Summit on October 28! Special thanks to our sponsor, Bibliotheca, and to all of our speakers for contributing their work and sharing their experiences with fellow OhioNet members.
OhioNet Library Facilities Summit Agenda
8:30-9 a.m. — Coffee & Tea
9-9:05 a.m. — Opening Remarks
Katy Mathuews, OhioNet
9:05-9:45 a.m. — Featured Speaker
Wendy Tressler, Columbus Metropolitan Library
9:45-10:30 a.m. — Lessons Learned!
Joining a Renovation Project in Progress – Julia Warga, John Carroll University
The Cost of Later – Suzanne Johnson-Varney, Shawnee State University
In the Aftermath of a Building Closure – Dee Peterson, Ohio Wesleyan University
10:30-10:45 a.m. — Break
10:45-11:15 a.m. — Vendor Demo
Designing the Modern Library: Smart Spaces the Empower Patrons and Staff — Lynn Yandell and Molly Haines, Bibliotheca
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. — Managing Change with Limited Resources
Intentional Facilities Planning for Small Libraries – Kari Siders, Wilmington College
Transforming on a Shoestring Budget – Sarah Thomas, Ashland Theological Seminary
12-12:45 p.m. — Lunch
12:45-1:15 p.m. — Featured Speaker
Ryan Burley, State Library of Ohio
1:15-2 p.m. — Facilities Design
Renovating for Collaboration and Change at OSU Health Sciences – Erika Losey and Alice Henry, The Ohio State University Health Sciences Library
Using Student Feedback to Inform Library Spaces – Tina Franks, The Ohio State University
2-2:15 p.m. — Break
2:15-3 p.m. — Facilities Toolkit
Low Tech Climate Assessment – Nathanael P. Davis, Cedarville University
Simple Wins in Accessibility – Michelle Hahn, Ohio University
3-3:10 p.m. — Closing Remarks
Hannah Rosen, OhioNet
About Our Featured Speakers:
Ryan Burley, State Library of Ohio
Ryan Burley is the Deputy Director of State Library Operations at the State Library of Ohio. Ryan oversees the Library Services Division, ensuring the seamless functioning of various critical areas such as Facilities Services, Circulation & Special Services, Research & Catalog Services, Resource Sharing, and the Talking Books Program.
In August 2023, Ryan joined the State Library as the Research & Catalog Services Manager after a notable 17-year tenure at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, where he served in various capacities, including two years as the manager of the New Albany Branch. His career began in Youth Services, where he quickly demonstrated his aptitude for leadership and was promoted through increasingly responsible managerial roles.
Ryan’s dedication to team building, effective project and program management, and his unwavering commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences have all contributed to his record of successful leadership. As part of the State Library of Ohio, he continues to leverage his extensive background to foster a thriving library environment.
Wendy Tressler, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Wendy joined Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) in 2001 as the library’s Training & Development Manager. Throughout the past two decades, she has worked in a variety of leadership roles at CML. Wendy was promoted to Planning & Strategy Officer (PSO), joining the Executive Leadership Team, in March 2025. In the PSO role, she oversees Strategy, Capital Planning & Construction, Lean/Operational Excellence, Technology Projects, and the Marketing & Communications departments.
Prior to serving in this role, she served as the Director of Capital Planning & Project Management, leading construction, facilities, technology, and lean/operational excellence projects for the library’s 24-building system. In this role, Wendy led the library’s over $300M building program that included the replacement or significant renovation of 19 buildings to date. Her expertise and consultation have been shared widely; presenting and serving on numerous local, state, regional and national panels for the library, architecture, and construction industries.
Wendy holds an undergraduate degree and a Master of Education degree from The University of Toledo, as well as a Master of Library & Information Sciences degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a graduate of the Leadership Columbus signature program Class of 2023. Wendy was elected to serve as the President of Core, a division of the American Library Association for the 2023-2024 term. Wendy was recently elected to serve on the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Library Design Section (formerly Library Buildings and Equipment), her term is August 2025-2029.
In 2023, Wendy was honored with the Service Excellence Award by the Ohio Library Council. Wendy has one son, Jack, a college senior at The Ohio State University.
Please Note: This is an in-person event hosted at OhioNet’s Town Hall meeting space in Westerville, Ohio. Registration includes coffee and tea in the morning, light snacks, and a full lunch. As this is a live, in-person event, sessions will not be recorded or available in OhioNet’s Training Archive.
Have questions or need help with registration? Email our team at [email protected].
