March Member Highlights: Becker Gallery at Courtwright Memorial Library

Each month, our Member Highlights features the outstanding work and initiatives of OhioNet member libraries across the state.

Library Meets Gallery: Art at Courtwright Memorial Library

The library staff recognizes art as an important component of the space we provide for our users. We approach art in two primary ways: a permanent collection and a gallery space with a rotating collection.

The Becker Gallery is a small area at the base of the stairs on our lower level. The space can hold 14 to 20 two-dimensional pieces. In 2011, we decided to use this area as a gallery, as it was an ideal use for the space. This has allowed us to feature alumni artists every semester. For example, this semester we are featuring works by Adam Kolp, a 2002 graduate who is an art teacher in New Albany. By working with the alumni office, we provide a space for alumni to showcase their work. This gives them the opportunity to add a solo show to their résumé, which can be particularly useful for new graduates.

We take two approaches with our permanent collection. Since 2014, we have actively purchased student art for the library. Usually, we attend the graduating senior shows and identify pieces we’d like to add to the collection. Two library staff members review the artwork. We have a dedicated, though limited, budget, so most years we purchase one to two pieces.

The permanent collection includes works regularly featured in the library. Technically, all of these pieces are part of the university’s permanent collection, but a few have always remained in the library. However, because the university maintains a larger collection, we can rotate in new pieces. Recently, we identified a figurative piece from this collection by local artist April Sunami. This work aligns with a student survey in which students requested art that represents them. We have also worked to provide a brief biography and photo of our permanent collection artists on our LibGuide to give more context to the works we display.

Submitted by Allen Reichert, Electronic Access Librarian at Otterbein University  

Additional Member Updates –

• Call for Proposals: Present at OhioNet MakerFest in June — OhioNet invites library professionals to submit presentations for MakerFest: A One-Day Summit for Library Makers + Makerspaces by April 7, 2025. This in-person event, hosted at the State Library of Ohio on June 18, 2025, will explore the ways libraries can establish, maintain and enhance making programs or makerspaces in their institutions. Please submit your proposal in our MakerFest Proposal Submission Form, or see our blog post with full details and submission guidelines.

We love hearing from our members! Share news or highlight a recent project from your library in OhioNet’s monthly member highlights email – contact communications manager Jillian Tuttle at [email protected] for more information.