Director’s Desk – Winter 2024

This time of year prompts us to reflect with gratitude and to set our intentions for the new year. I am thankful for the OhioNet staff who center member needs in their work every day, and I am grateful for the wonderful members who make OhioNet a vibrant community.

This quarter has been a time of rich connection, discussion of our successes and challenges, and planning for the year ahead. With that in mind, I’m excited to share several updates –

Strategic Planning –

Many thanks to those who participated in our recent member survey which will inform our 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. A total of 122 members shared their successes, challenges, and input for ways OhioNet can best support the Ohio library community.

It may come as no surprise that many of us are challenged by resource constraints. Limited budgets make staffing, facilities management, purchasing necessary resources, and planning events, among other priorities, a challenge. Considering how to evolve OhioNet’s services to enable our members to thrive in the face of these challenges will be central to our strategic plan. I look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.

ADEI Assessment Report –

Another important component of our strategic plan will be to enact recommendations made in the ADEI Assessment Report authored by Janice Jaguszewski and Pamela Espinosa de los Monteros. We are excited to share the full report with our members so that you may consider how to enact change in your libraries.

Together, we can reflect on the stories, data, and recommendations in the report to inform action plans that build an inclusive library community. I invite you to join us for an online session on January 15, 2025 to hear directly from Janice and Pamela and to continue the conversation.

Member Connections – 

I have enjoyed connecting with many OhioNet members in a variety of ways this quarter. In fact, there were so many wonderful libraries and library organizations to share about it’s inspired its own “Member Connections” section in our Winter 2024 Newsletter.

Board News – 

The results of the 2025 Board of Directors election are in! We are excited to welcome back Shannon Simpson, Scholarly Instruction Librarian at Kenyon College and Chris Robinson-Nkongola, Reference and Instruction Librarian at Bowling Green State University for a consecutive term. We would also like to welcome new member, Shelby Stuart, Electronic Resources Librarian at the Cleveland Clinic Floyd D. Loop Alumni Library.

Katy Mathuews, Executive Director & CEO

P.S.: View the rest of our Winter 2024 Newsletter here.