Celebrating 200 years of making A Smarter Ohio

Posted by Darlene Kaskie on August 3rd, 2017 Posted in: Blog, From the GMR, News from the Region

The book and tablet depict the mission to build and manage quality collections and provide hands-on service to state government. Each page of the book changes in form and color to represent new discoveries, forward movement, responsiveness, and transformation.

Congratulations to the State Library of Ohio, a Greater Midwest Region member organization. On Friday, August 4th, the library hosts an Open House to celebrate 200 years of providing excellent service to the state of Ohio: its government, librarians, and Buckeye residents.

Governor Thomas Worthington established the library in 1817 with a 509-book collection to be used by the state legislator. During its longevity, the library has restructured, remodeled, and reorganized several times. In early June, I had the pleasure of touring the library at its current location, 274 East First Avenue, Columbus. The historic Jeffrey Mining Manufacturing building has been transformed into an expansive, state-of-the art facility with space for rare and valuable collections, six public meeting rooms, and offices for the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science Columbus Program.

For several months, the library staff has worked tirelessly preparing for the birthday party. Several exhibits of special collections and memorabilia are on display. Not to be missed is the Traveling Libraries, the first “bookmobile.” I encourage you to learn more about the State Library of Ohio and its Bicentennial Celebration and to visit.

Thomas Harper, the first State Librarian of Ohio, created this original accession register on December 25, 1817. The register begins with the 509 books Governor Thomas Worthington purchased to establish the library.

Traveling Libraries Display. Horse-drawn wagons carried latch-door wood boxes filled with books to remote regions of the state.

ABOUT Darlene Kaskie
Darlene Kaskie, M.L.S. is Community Engagement Coordinator for Region 6 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. She connects communities to training, engagement, and funding to improve access, use, and understanding of health information. Advancing health literacy and digital skills training helps people make informed decisions about their health. She earned her Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) from the Medical Library Association.

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