Library Links: Spring 2019

A Publication of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Spring 2019 • Volume 27 • Issue 2

Introducing the Library Foundation’s new Writer-in-Residence

Hurricane-hit school receives books from Cincinnati

Vintage Creole recipes from a historic Library cookbook

Jessica Strawser’s novels are a favorite among book clubs. Now she’s sharing her writing and editing expertise with you!

An Anderson Township woman answers the call for help thanks to the generosity of Library volunteers.

Dig into the archives for tasty concoctions to celebrate Mardi Gras.

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Director’s Message PAULA BREHM-HEEGER Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director

2018 was another amazingly successful year for our Library! For the sixth consecutive year we were recognized as a Five-Star Library by Library Journal.

We were one of only five libraries nationwide in the $30+ million expenditure category to receive this rating.

Meanwhile, the Public Library Service (PLDS) Statistical Report shows our Library was third in total circulation in the United States, behind only New York Public and King County (Seattle) library systems. We expanded weekly open hours at the Avondale, Price Hill, and Walnut Hills branch libraries. And last spring, our community voted to approve a new 1-mill levy to pay for improvements to our buildings.

Looking ahead, we intend to build on our long tradition of success. A major focus for 2019 will be our facilities.

While we will not see additional funding from our newly approved levy until April, we are currently moving forward with two major initiatives around facilities improvements.

We have three locations which are not currently handicapped accessible: Madisonville, Price Hill, and Walnut Hills. During our levy campaign, we told you that accessibility was our No. 1 priority and that remains true. Planning for accessibility is underway with local architectural design firm FTC&H doing initial work on the Price Hill Branch Library. A portion of the ceiling fell in this past summer and that building remains closed in the interest of safety. We are offering Library service out of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission site in Price Hill while gathering community input to plan for improved Library space, services, and resources in Price Hill.

Likewise, in Walnut Hills and Madisonville, we will begin focused outreach and feedback efforts for Library facility planning purposes.

In 2019 we will also start the important, strategic work of a Facilities Master Plan. The planning principles confirmed by our Board of Trustees in August 2018 will guide the development of the Facilities Master Plan. Those principles are: transparency, maximized access, customer focus, operational sustainability, inclusion, diversity, excellence, and industry-leading service.

We have engaged the services of a design firm with experience in public library planning to lead the development of this plan. This will be a road map the Library can follow when re-envisioning how best to serve the county through our 41 locations. The Library Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning. Their approach is open and collaborative–they’re experts at asking the right questions to make sure the community’s needs and wants are met.

It is anticipated that the Facilities Master Plan will be completed in approximately 12-18 months. After that, improvement work at branches will happen in phases.

A timeline will be developed and shared with you. In the meantime smaller improvements such as new furniture and technology will be purchased as needed and as funding is available.

I look forward to talking with our staff, community, and stakeholders throughout this process to make the best decisions possible for our community today and in the future.

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Library News “Early childhood learning has always been a passion of mine,” said Fender, who served as the Library’s director from January of 1999 until her retirement in June of 2018. “We know that children who engage in early learning activities early in life are more likely to succeed in school. And we know that children love to have fun. I see these backpacks as a way to ensure the future success of a new generation of Hamilton County students.”

Sprout Backpacks at the Library make early learning portable and fun There is a new way to get kids excited about learning available at the Library. Families can use their Library cards to check out take-home backpacks full of early learning activities.

Sprout Learning Backpacks are designed to set kids up for success in school in a fun, engaging way.

The backpacks were purchased thanks to a generous donation from the former Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director Kimber L. Fender.

The backpacks help kids develop problem-solving, math, science, and social and emotional skills. Each backpack has a theme, like Colors All Around and Going to the Market.

There are also tips for parents and caregivers to making learning at home easy and fun. Best of all: kids can take the backpacks everywhere, meaning they can learn something new anywhere at any time.

Sprout Backpacks are physically located in the Children’s Library at the Main Library and at our Avondale, Forest Park, Groesbeck, and Walnut Hills branch libraries. The backpacks can also be put on hold and sent to any branch location. Just search the words “Sprout Backpack” in our online catalog at CincinnatiLibrary.org.

Public Library named as prestigious Five-Star Library

by Library Journal for sixth consecutive year “I love the library because it’s so easy and convenient to get all the things I want to read, watch, and listen to in the format in which I want them,” raves Nanette Bentley in a recent email to the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Bentley and other Library cardholders know they’ll receive top-rated service at their branch. The library field’s leading professional publication, the Library Journal, recognized the Library —for the sixth year in a row — by designating it as a Five-Star Library.

The Library Journal’s Index of Public Library Service is a national ranking system comparing U.S. public libraries on the quantities of services they deliver based on per capita statistics for library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet use.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is among the top two libraries in the country in the $30+ million expenditure category.

The Library is one of only five libraries nationwide in its category to receive a Five-Star Library rating.

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New services now at the Main Library

Library hires company to put together Facilities Master Plan A design firm with experience in public library planning will lead the development of a Facilities Master Plan. The Facilities Master Plan will serve as a guide for using funds from a 1-mill levy approved by Hamilton County voters in May 2018. The Library Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Group 4 Architecture, Research +Planning (Group 4) at a meeting Dec. 11, 2018.

Group 4 is based in San Francisco. They’ve done extensive work with the Dayton Metro (OH) Library, Multnomah County (OR) Library, Johnson County (KS) Library, Jefferson County (CO) Public Library as well as libraries in Carlsbad, Calif., and San Francisco. The Library and Group 4 will work with local groups Design Impact and FTC&H to gather ideas from the community.

For more information about the facilities project, please visit CincinnatiLibrary.org and click on “About Us” or call 513-369-6900.

Cardholders who visit our Main Library will notice many new features in the Atrium of the South building. We’ve installed a 24-bay remote book locker near the Vine Street entrance. You can have your holds put into the locker. You just need your Library card and PIN to open your locker. When you do that, your books will automatically be checked out to you—no waiting! You can also return books to the locker and have them checked back in automatically. Right now, the lockers are available for use when the Main Library is open but in the future, we hope you can use them even when the Library is closed.

We’ve also installed a new laptop kiosk in the Main Library Atrium so you can check out a laptop to use anywhere in the building.

And we’ll soon have pop-up activities in the Atrium including a business center and homework help! You’ll also find more featured sections of the collection in the Atrium.

You can always see what we’re up to and ask about new features by visiting us on social media. You’ll find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @CincyLibrary.

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Author Spotlight New Writer-in-Residence named for 2019; program celebrates its fifth year Jessica Strawser has spent the entirety of her career writing and editing the work of other authors. So her new role as the Library Foundation’s Writer-in-Residence for 2019 is a natural fit for her.

Strawser is a graduate of Ohio University’s prestigious E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

She’s the editor-at-large of Writer’s Digest and the author of two novels, Almost Missed You and Not That I Could Tell. Her new novel, Forget You Know Me, was released in February.

She lives in Loveland with her husband and two children.

Strawser made her first public appearance as the Writer-in-Residence Jan. 30 at the Main Library. In this role, Strawser will conduct a series of writers’ workshops, speak at community events, host a podcast, write a blog, and participate in Library promotions. The Writer-in-Residence program is made possible through the generous support of Naomi Tucker Gerwin and the Library Foundation. You can follow Strawser’s blog, podcasts, and scheduled events by visiting CincinnatiLibrary.org/WriterinResidence.

Why did you want to be the Library Foundation’s Writer-in-Residence?

This role combines so many of the passions that have fueled my literary career: outreach to fellow writers, real-life interactions with readers, and a chance to give back to the library community, which has enriched my mind and spirit since childhood. It’s an honor as well as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m humbled and thrilled to have been selected.

What advice would you give a writer who is just starting out, or one that is feeling discouraged?

In starting out, give yourself permission to take your writing seriously—even if no one around you seems to. Carve out the time and the space in your life; it isn’t easy, but it is worth it. And when

the doubts and frustrations creep in, hold tight to what you loved about the craft in the first place. That is what will help you persevere.

What do you love most about being an author? What’s the most challenging thing about it?

There’s not much that beats the high of a good writing day, when the words are flowing and the pieces of the story you’ve been puzzling together start to fall at last into place. The biggest challenge, I think, is how lonely the work can sometimes be, particularly when it isn’t going quite so well.

Why do you think the Cincinnati writing community is unique?

Having been a staff writer and editor for various locally-based publishing venues in addition to my authorial

work, I know how few degrees of separation there seem to be between virtually anyone with a similar job title in town. Beyond those close-knit circles, we’re fortunate to have thriving independent bookstores, first-class libraries, and the annual Books by the Banks festival bringing a steady stream of visiting authors; those literary experiences are here and accessible for most anyone who wants them.

What makes a good piece of writing?

In the simplest terms, a good piece of writing pulls you in with a unique voice or hook, and compels you to keep reading until the end. Whenever something reads effortlessly, I can appreciate that it very likely required a great deal of effort and skill to get it there.

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International award-winning novelist Nnedi Okorafor Okorafor is best known for her stories of African-based science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism. She’s the author of ten books including The Book of Phoneix, Chicken in the Kitchen, the Akata series, and Who Fears Death, as well as Marvel’s Black Panther comic series. The New York Times calls Okorafor’s imagination “stunning.” Watch CincinnatiLibrary.org for more information.

Hyde Park woman visits all 41 Library locations Diane Wright is one of only a handful of people in Hamilton County who can say they’ve visited every single one of our 41 Library locations at least twice! Wright just completed her second tour of all the Library locations and, although it took her eight months, she says she made some wonderful memories.

“During the summer months, I was especially impressed by the way the staff provided a safe, welcoming environment to so many children in our community,” said Wright. “Several branches were completely full of children. Symmes Township is just such a powerhouse of a library. The day I visited, almost every quiet study space was full, and as I walked through the building, there were people tutoring, reading poetry, coaching chess, and making fantastic use of all the space.”

Wright began her tour in March and ended in August.

She took photos of every branch and spoke to staff at each stop. “At a number of the branches, my breath was taken away by the beautiful details,” recalled Wright.

Wright’s first complete tour of the Library system was in 2005. “I was a mom and a social worker, so I was looking for things I could do for free with my young son,” said Wright. “We loved going to our local library, so I started wondering about the other branches. Just for fun I gave myself a target of seeing them all over the course of a year.

It was an amazing way to see our larger community, and to get to know parts of the city I had never visited.”

“Libraries have always been a place of peace and quiet and safety for me,” said Wright. “The older I get the more I appreciate their importance. It’s the only place you can go and spend time without money or documentation.”

To see Wright’s favorite photos from her tour of the Library locations, visit Cinlib.org/DianeWright.

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Happening at the Library

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Friday, March 15 at 11:45 a.m. at the Main Library

Celebrate Irish heritage with exciting performances! This traditional holiday event features music by Dark Moll and a performance by the famous McGing Irish Dancers.

Reserved seating is available for Friends of the Public Library members by calling 513-369-6035.

Women’s Health Fair Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Main Library March is International Women’s Month, and the Library wants to provide the women of Hamilton County with information and vital health resources during this free event. We’re partnering with the YWCA, Women Helping Women, Planned Parenthood, La Leche League, Caracole, the Homeless Coalition, and more. Take free classes during this event including a beginner’s yoga class, a breastfeeding class, and a women’s self-defense class. Visit CincinnatiLibrary.org for more information.

Cincinnati’s Historic Architecture On display through April 28 in the Main Library’s Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room

Since Cincinnati’s founding in 1788, buildings have played a major role in the story of the city’s growth. While iconic structures such as Music Hall, City Hall, and Union Terminal are fine examples of widely known historic buildings in the region, countless other structures quietly continue on as vital reminders of our collective past. Explore Cincinnati’s architectural heritage through this exhibit and see images online at Cinlib.org/HistoricCincy.

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Back row from left: Dr. Gary Zola, Director of the American Jewish Archives; Cassaundra Hooks; Nina Jackson; Dr. Martha Viehmann; Dr. Ericka King-Betts, Vice President; Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Library Paula Brehm-Heeger; Desiré Bennett; Christina Brown; Robin Lee; Louise Lawarre Front row from left: Lois Shegog; Frances Canty; Barbara Gomes; Vivian Rodgers; Dr. Nancy Savage

Thank you to Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition The Library Board of Trustees and the Library administration would like to thank the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition for their donation to purchase books, audiobooks, and DVDs for the Library’s collection relative to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the people who were part of the movement for freedom in the 1950s and 1960s.

Demand is high for online coding course at the Library The Library offers a free online coding course and demand is high.

Treehouse offers “tracks” on a variety of advanced technology related topics including coding, web design, and app creation.

Tracks are self-paced and progress can be tracked and saved over time.

Right now the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is the only library in the state of Ohio to offer Treehouse. We have 150 seats available for six-week sessions. Since the Library debuted the service in April of 2017, more than 1,100 cardholders have taken Treehouse courses.

Treehouse licenses are supported, in part, from a generous contribution from The Johnson Foundation. To register for Treehouse, visit Cinlib.org/Treehouse.

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Library Foundation welcomes new board members The Library Foundation welcomed six new board members.

Jeanette Altenau currently serves as the Director of Community Relations for TriHealth. Jeanette currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Ballet, Interact for Health, Marvin Lewis Community Fund, and Spirit of Cincinnatus.

Jeanette has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Dedication Award by the Northern Kentucky Branch of NAACP; the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau Spirit of Cincinnati Champion Award; the Cincinnatus Award, and The Friars Award. She is also a two-time Emmy nominee and in 2012, and was recognized as one of the “100 Minds – Thought Leaders in the Greater Cincinnati Region”.

Laura Mitchell is the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools and has extensive experience with fundraising, partnerships, facilities planning, and grants. She was featured in the Learners and Leaders video series produced by the National Association for Elementary School Principals and served on the Governor’s Commission on Leadership Collaboration.

Kate Rippe is a Cincinnati native and the founder of Rippe Financial Group, specializing in planning for businesses and business owners. She has previously served as the committee chair of DM2030 for Association for Corporate Growth and is currently serving on the Community Advisory Committee for UC Health.

Casey Ruschman is a products and services manager for Duke Energy. Ruschman was part of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2018, a YWCA Rising Star 2017, and was named in the “Next Generation of Community Leaders” by Venue Magazines in 2017.

Noah Stern is a partner at the law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. He specializes in healthcare law and tax law, with additional expertise in corporate governance.

Noah often consults nonprofits on matters ranging from unrelated business taxable income issues and excess benefits transactions to mergers and acquisitions. He has been named one of the Best Lawyers of America for tax law eight years in a row.

Diane Cunningham Redden is currently head of CBRN & uniform sales for the LION Group Inc. She’s served on numerous boards and committees including the Ohio Governor’s Council on Aging Advisory Board. She is also the Honorary Chairwoman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and is serving as a member of the Library Board of Trustees.

Libraries are so much more.

More information on the Library Foundation and its board can be found: Foundation.cincinnatilibrary.org/WhoWeAre/FoundationDirectors.

Thank you...

The Library is deeply grateful for the generosity of our community and welcomes gifts of all sizes. Your donations are essential to ensuring delivery of excellent Library services and the availability of the widest possible range of informational resources for all ages.

For inquiries regarding contributions, please contact Staci Dennison, Thomas W. Jones Executive Director, at (513) 369-4595.

The following gifts were received between Jan. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2018. For more information about donating to the Library Foundation and to see Pet Memorials and Memorial Tributes, visit our website at CincinnatiLibraryFoundation.org.

GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY AND FOUNDATION $100,000+ The Estate of Patricia M. Allen

Borcherding Heck Family Fund Jeremy Briggs

The Estate of Patricia C. Winans

Champlin Architecture

$25,000+

Joseph Dehner and Noel Julnes-Dehner

Duke Energy Foundation

$10,000+ Kimber L. Fender William Hueneke Foundation, Huntington Bank Trustee

Cord Foundation

Ellen T. and Dr. Stewart B. Dunsker Designated Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation GE Foundation Jennifer Holt-Harris

$500+ Anonymous John Bambrick Battoclette Family Foundation of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thomas J. Breed and Annette DiGirolamo James H. Brun Ruth Brunsman John Byczkowski

The Johnson Foundation

Kenneth A. Horne

Mr. and Mrs. John LaMacchia

Cincinnati Inc. Charitable Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Huenefeld

Margaret and Joseph Conway

Hamilton County Genealogical Society

Tom Cottrell

$5,000+ The Kroger Company Community Rewards

Richard H. Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Pichler

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Kiefhaber

Western & Southern Financial Fund

Monica Donath Kohnen and Ralph W. Kohnen

$2,000+

Daniel Luther

Anonymous Bruce Family Charitable Foundation

Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition

Doug W. Cutshall Louis Dauner Downtown Residents’ Council Friends of the Public Library Don Hild Douglas Packer

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Moran

Jennifer Pinson

Energy Alliance, Inc.

H.C. Buck and Patricia Niehoff

Sylvia S. Johnson

Scott M. Richards and Holly Varley

OrangeBoy, Inc.

The Kroger Company

Barbara R. Seiver

Sara Pearce

Preston Cates Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Doug and Kathy Spitler

Ellen Rieveschl

St. Cecilia Church

Justine Sacco

David Smolin

Dr. J. Tracy and Mrs. Sally Schreiber

Lisa Staggenborg and Fred Yaeger

Dynegy

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Trauth

$1,000+ Anonymous Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Skidmore Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Stern

Ann C. Regan

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Staubach Margaret L. Straub The Samuel and Susan Varghese Charitable Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis B. Worthen, Ph.D.

$250+

Lakeshore Women’s Club Karen E. Larsen Mrs. Patricia Leikhim

Carl Allison

Phillip and Whitney Long

Yolanda M. Alvarez Anonymous (3)

Dr. and Mrs. Fred V. Lucas

Kathy Bach

Dan McKenna

Ausma Balinkin

Catherine L. Mitchell

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin A. Bedree

Mr. and Mrs. Duncan M. Moir

Patricia Beresford

Monfort Heights White Oak Community Association

Paula C. Brehm-Heeger Thomas, Jr. and Mary Clare Brennan Jacklyn and Gary Bryson Dr. John and Ms. Erin Campbell Amy and Ranjit Chima Mary Carol Clark Elizabeth H. and James R.Cornwell Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Susan and Jay Cranley

John Muhlhauser Nicholas Otto Dr. Manisha A. Patel and Dr. Michael G. Curran Prince Telecom, LLC Laura S. Randall Ann C. Regan Alesha Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Paul G. Sittenfeld

Wanda Crawford

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas S. Skidmore

Caitlin Crusham

Patricia W. Slavey

Matt and Melinda Davis

Martha A. Stimson

Tom Gardner

Dr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Striker

Jeff Gerrein Julia Hawgood

Dr. Alan and Shelley Tarshis

Ms. and Mr. Linda Heineman

Marjorie Ullman

Keith Hock Christopher C. Holt Kevin and Pamela Hubert Dr. Robert Keith and Ms. Kathleen Thornton James Keith Kiwanis Harvest Home Fair Association

Nathaniel Washatka Mark A. Watkins Tim Whalen Thomas Pohl

$100+ 3B Book Club AmazonSmile Howard Ammons

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Dolores Angel Anonymous (14) Applied Imagination Ltd Andrew and Renee Arken Keith Armour Anthony Auston Antone Baioni Ellen Harte Baker

Jeff Davis and Rina L. Saperstein Kate Denier Staci and Jason Dennison Kim and Rosemarie Dietrich Anthony and Tracey Dow Nancy Doyle

Ashley Barnhill

William Dreyer and Sue Wettstein

Ron Beathard

Janet and Richard Dubroff

Maria C. Blake, Ph.D.

Donald and Mary Dufek

Mary Blagdon

James P. Edmiston

Harry B. Blaine

Melanie Elkin

Sandra C. Bolek

Michelle L. Elliott

Donna Booker

Ervin Cable Construction, LLC

Aaron J. Borden and Family Dr. and Mrs. Gregory G. Boren Robert Brackenbury and Linda Parysek Stephanie and Reed Breneman Mr. and Mrs. Lee Brewster Diane Breyer Matthew Brown Rachelle Bruno Carol Burnett Ervin Cable Dr. Dustin Calhoun Kathleen and Chris Carr Cincinnati Master Plumbers Association Ray Clarke James W. Clasper and Cheryl C. Albrecht Communications Construction Group, LLC Susan Conway Nancy Cooley Beth Cooper Kassy and Jeff Corken Dr. Cynthia Crown and Dr. David C. Flaspohler Diane Cunningham Redden Janet Davenport

Jennifer J. Faber Robert C. Faelten Mark and Elaine Fay

Bertha Hertz Lynn Himburg Reverend Patricia S. Hobson Sue W. Hoel Larry Holt Kathy Holzderber Sarah Howison

Madisonville Roundtable Book Club Mr. and Mrs. Charles Margolis David Mason John McHugh and Janet Self Jeff and Lori Miller

Kathy Huebner

Miniature Society of Cincinnati

Mary Elizabeth Huey

Philip Moore

Walter C. Hulon

John Morton

Angela Hursh

Navaro Family Charitable Fund

Lucinda Hurst

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry W. Schoen George Schober Rebecca Seeman and David Wood Nathaniel Sempsrott Maria A. Sferra Ann Shinkle David B. Siders

Caroline IdinopulosVigran

Tracey Nowlin

Betty Ann Smiddy

Mickey O’Brien

Tara Smith

Greg Ionna

Rhonda and James O’Reilly

Sogetsu Cincinnati Branch

Jason Palmeri

Gerri S. Strauss

Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Jackson

David and Patricia Pedersen

David K. Johnson

Megan Pfaltzgraff

Carla Kampschmidt

April Piatt

Marjorie Fox

Dr. Marcia Kaplan and Dr. Michael Privitera

Eileen Pieczona

Elyse French

Mary Kartal

Craig Froehle

Jill Keller

Jonathan Garrison

Marie Ketterman

Mrs. Suzanne E. Geier

Roberta Kittell

Alana Gerson

Linda Klump

H. Drew Gores Dr. and Mrs. Steven Gores

Forest Park Women’s Club

Jenna Schmitz

Patricia Simmons

John F. Jaeger and Faye A. Jaeger

Floyd-Scott, CPA & Associates, Inc.

Kenneth Scheffel

Mary T. Naylor

Mark Patterson

Jeanne Fischer

Krystie Salyers

Janice Huy

Mary Jacqmin

Daniel Findley

Leslie Salka

Mary Ann Rack Sue and Jerry Ransohoff Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Bret and Tonja Specht Robert Strub Lenore O. Stulbarg Kathy Taylor Susan Taylor Carolyn Thielen Florence E. Thompson Janet Todd Esperanza Tovar

Ken Reeder

TCS Communications, LLC

Anthony J. Rein

Nadja Turek

Sharon Koenig

John R. Reusing

Ann Turner

Lisa Krain and Michael Goldberg

Christopher Rice

Brittany Ulrich

Sarah Rice

Rosalie van Nuis

Janet L. Kramer

Susan Ridgway

Karl Gussow

J K Krupp

Tina M. Riehle

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vaughan

Carolyn Gutjahr

Ms. Shirley Kruse

Priscilla G. Haffner

Judi Anton Lapp

Steve and Helen Rindsberg

Albert Hallenberg

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Lapresto

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ripp

William J. Walls

Rene Robers

Jeffrey P. Waltz

Bea Larsen

Wolf Roder

Paul and Jo Ann Ward

Richard and Tracie Laughlin

John and Cheryl Rogers

Herman J. Weber

Lynn Rogers

Jennifer Weikert

Deborah Roney

Sharon Welte

Monique Rothschild

Thurman B. Wenzl

Jennifer Rusche

James Wesner

V’Ann Ryther and Linda Norwell

Dr. and Mrs. David Wiltse

Judith Green and Tom McDonough

Lisa Hamrick Dr. and Mrs. William D. Hardie Kyla Hardin Harriett W. Hart Ned Heeger-Brehm Trisha Herbers Andrew and Neeru Hershey

Kate Lawrence Dr. Duane Lewis Leigh E. Lies Judith W. Lindner Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lower

William W. Victor Jennie Vose

Dan and Carol Young

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Under $100

Michael E. Broyles

James Dell

Mary L. Ginn, Ph.D.

Deborah M. Hull

Chandra M. Abrams

John Bruggen Jennifer Burden

Mrs. and Mr. Enid T. Ginsburg

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw

Sharon Adair

Delta Kappa Gamma Society

Dianne Miller Adamore

Emily Burkot

Holly and Todd DeRosa

Karen Glink

Rick C. Addison

Michael Cahir

James DeWitt

Becca Gober

John Ahlrichs

Annie Calico

Patricia A. Dissett

Brett Goodson

Jeff’s Drive Thru & Carry Out

Teresa Ahrenholz

Hillary R. Canan Copsey

Shirley Duff

Madeleine Gordon

Robbie Jennings Michels

Tasneem Aijaz

Linda S. Cardamone

Helen S. Dupree

Becca Grober

Eva S. Johnson

Louise Allen

Lindsay Cavagnaro

Justin Dutro

Lynn Groh

Stacey Johnson

Adriana Alvarez

Katie Chao

Carolyn Dwyer

Mr. and Ms. Ricky D. Johnson

Jennifer Alvis

Amy Charley

Phylllis and Mark Gronauer

Heidi Cheek

C. Richard Groth

Joanne Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Amato

Anne Chimenti

Jeffrey T. Grothaus and Stephanie M. Kovalcik

Adeline Johnson

Anonymous (36) Lisa Arnett

Michael R. Christian-Budd

Cathleen Arnold

Cincinnati Marathon, Inc.

Susan P. Atherton

Dr. Louis E. Clayborn and Kathy Friedman Clayborn

Rosa Eakins Joanne Earls Janice M. Easterling Erica Eastman Tara Eaton

Kristen Gruber-Greene and Chris Greene

Shannon Eck

Marilyn Gunn

Kathy Edelen

Gabrielle Hallenbeck

Inez Clayton

Ted Ellington

Michael Haller

Karen A. Clumpner

Edith Elmore

Jennifer Hammonds

Janet Banks

Dr. Terence Cody

Tricia and Ben Erickson

Elizabeth K. Hardy

Kimberly Baranowski

Susan Cohen and Rob Schmuelling

Sheridan Easterling

John Harward

Mike Fair

Lucy Hattemer

Shawn Farrell

Dr. Thomas Hayes and Margaret Ann Gajus

Gabriel Baker Charlene BandurragaHole

Jonathan Barber Steve Barlage Elizabeth Batie Corey Beilstein

Mark and Sue Cohen Carolyn Coldiron Mary Coleman

Daniel Bellomo

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Connelly

Cynthia Benesch

Andrew Cook

Alice Beresford

Stephanie Cooper

The Berlings

Mary V. Cormier

Carrie Bernard

Valerie Costello

Mrs. and Mr. John L. Biederman

Julie Courtney

Gregory Fasig Janet Fatika Joan Fatika FC Cincinnati Community Partnership Program Nancy Feller Raymond Fellinger

Eugene and Nancy Jacob Stephanie Janssen

Angie Jones Ann Jordan Mary Ellen Kelley Donald Kelm Kathy A. Kennedy-Brunner Linda Ketchum Sue M. Kircher Judy M. Kirzner Aimee Kirzner Richard Kissing Mr. and Mrs. Gary Kline

Herbert Hayes

Kolar Design

Pamela A. Healy

Nicole Koschmeder

Fredrick M. Heath

Kate Kraus

The Honorable Sylvia and Robert G. Hendon

Ashok Krishnamurthy

Gene J. Hessler

Cynthia Kuhr

Randolph Krumm

Corey Ferguson

Kelwin Hester Stephanie Hicks

Covedale Branch Library

Michael J. Fischer and Suzanne G. Fischer

Linda Hilgeman

Ann Cox

Joe Flanders

Mary Hilvert

Lakota Retired Teachers Book Club

Ronald and Betty Bollinger

Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius X. Coyle

Rhea D. Floyd

Quoc Hoang

Billy Lane

Kelly Boudreaux

Mary Coyne

Eric Franke

Caitlin Hoffer

Janet Langhorst

Martha L. Bourgeois

Joan and Ralph Crawford

Anita L Freeman

Florette B. Hoffheimer

Pamela A. Lape

Jessica Bowman

Cathi Dahl

Ron and Elaine Friday

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Hoffheimer

Richard Lautenslager

Teresa Boykin

Betty Dandrea

Andrea Hoffmeister

Adrienne Brandicourt

Kathleen Dannemiller

Ms. and Mr. Heidi Leugers

Colette Brehm

Teryk Darks

Loretta Brenkert

Shaun Davidson

Kerry F. and Couper G. Gardiner

Stephanie Bricking

Karen Davis

Garibay Family

Marisue Briede

Kristin Davis

Melanie Garner

Michelle Brockmeyer

Kimberly Dechert

Brenda Gatti

Ms. and Mr. Vicki Brown

Joan Deener

Patricia Gayle

Hudson Family Fund

Joanna Brown

Barbara Deering

Chuck Brown and Linda Seiter

The DeFosse Family

Sally Giannella and Danielle Minson

Isabelle F. Hugo

Birthroots, Inc Ms. Kelly Blair

Sara Friedrichsmeyer Bill Frietsch Virginia S. Gandy

Shirley Gibson

Patricia and Michael Hollstegge Sheila R. Homan Edwin Hopping Anna Horton Steven Horwatt Joanne Huelsman

Stacey Kutish Catherine Labmeier

Harry Leigh Edward Levy Patti and John Lewis Barbara Lewis Angie Lewis Mort and Barbara Libby Laura Lindenschmidt Robin Lippelman Catherine Lippert Derek Longmire, Sr.

LIBRARY LINKS // SPRING 2019 // 013 Rose Mary Lower

Lindsay Nichols

Joshua Roth

Bethany Spencer

Louise Watts

Oliver H. Loyd

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Norton

Mary Jo Rottmueller

Judith Spillner

Mary Anne Wehrend

Marlene Ryan

Angela Stapleton

Lacey Wehrle

Marcia Sachs

Patricia Stavovy

Sarah Wiechert

Ms. Donna J. Salmon

Beth Stone

Jenny Weikert

Holbrook Sample

Mr. Thomas Storey

Delana Sanders

Barbara Stough

Nancy and Howard Weinberg

Dr. Richard S. Sarason

Carol Strathman

Kristyn Saroff

Sharon B. Stuard

Nancy D. Sauer

Alice Suckow

Claire Pancero

Mrs. and Mr. Robert W. Saul, Jr.

Mary Sunderhaus and Jen Holthause

Leslie Pavelka

Kathleen Sauer

The John Sutter Family

Barry Whitton

Julie Payne

John Savage

Andy Sutthoff

Tom Wilkinson

PayPal Giving Fund

Mary Scheper

Kaylie Suttles

Madelyn Williams

Kayla Peak

Frances F. Schloss Anita Schmidt

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Swank

Nancy Windes

Alvin and Josephine Peck Gwendolyn C. Peerless

John H. Schmitz

Jean McFaddin

Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Perfetti

Kathleen Schneider

Molly McGraw

Glenn Perry

Bevin McLaughlin

Valerie Perry

Casandra L. McLin

Julie Peterson

Scott and Annie McManis

Kathleen L. and Nancy Phelan

Elaine Luchi and Darin Ladd Mr. and Mrs. David Lundgren Brittney N. Malmgren Karen L. Mandel Terrance Mangan Kenedy Manuel Raymond Martell Sara Mathews Dave and Linda Mathews Elissa May Cathy and Mark Mayer Sarah McClelland Carolyn McCune Renee McCutcheon Jill McDavid

LeeAnn McNabb Redmond and Leslie McNeill

Jim Nunn Gretchen Nye Nancy O’Connor Saundra Oprea Kelly Otting Whyte Destini Pace Thomas Paff Jerry Palermo

Lorenzo Pollard Clint Powers

Ruth Schneider William Schorr Claire Schroeder Paul Schultz Ray Schumacher Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Schwartz

Kaitlyn Weiss Jennifer Wenger Mary Wernke Paul West George and Dorothy White

Symmes Spanish Club

Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Winrow

Nancy Tanner

Anne M. Wolfer

Laura Temming

Jennifer Woods

Bill and Marilyn Thiemann

Diane Wright

Bethany Thomas

Todd Wright

William M. Thomas

Megan Wurth

Ellen Thomas-Arnold

Joan Wyler

Jenna Thorn

Anthony and Wanda Yachnis

Judi Tipton

Donna Schweikert

Casey Titschinger

Libby Scott

Tri-State Plan Administration, Inc.

Donna Yeager

Donna H. Meakin

Jacob Purcell

Ba Medougou

Jerry Rehage

Vicki Meehan

Justyn Rampa

Marie and Louis Meiners

Linda Ranz

Elizabeth Meiners

Mark Reid

Nancy Melucci

Joyce Reitz

Victoria Mendoza

Bryce Rhude

Hope Metzger

Maria Richards

Barbara and Gerald Shively

Katherine Meyer

Diane Richardson

Lea Shull

Emily Vieux

Virginia Meyer

Hydee Richardson

Marilyn Simpson

Janice Vogeler

Busken Bakery

Jenifer Meyer

Debbie and Ken Richter

Mark Skelton

John Voller

Cincinnati Reds

Steven Middlemas

Glenn Riley

Blanche Voss

Chuck E. Cheese

Angela Mitchell

Jason Rinsky

Joseph Bagby and Barbara Sliter

Kennard M. Waddell

Cincinnati Museum Center

Pama A. Mitchell

Idra Risma

Mr. John Wagner

Sally Moffitt

Mac Risma

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Wahle

Cincinnati Parks - Carol Ann’s Carousel

Mandi Moning

Katelyn Ritchie

Angie Monk

Jan Robinson

Sharolyn Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Waldvogel

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Tom Moosbrugger

Lois Ross

Linda K. Smith

Barbara Wallace

FC Cincinnati

Matthew Morgan

Joseph Ross

Krista E. Smith

Geri Walsh

Gold Star Chili

Rob and Sara Mulhauser

Betsy Ross

Hemmi Song

John Walsh

Vicki Newell

Jewel Rossman

Lisa Soper

Lauren Ngo

Gwen and Joshua Roth

Ms. Elaine Ward and Mr. Craig W. Dietsch

Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park

Abi Seguin Steven L. Selss Stephanie Sepate Chad Shepherd Ed Shernoff

Barbara Smith Robert A. Smith Dania Smith and Kent Lyle

Soukup Family

Ashley Tubb Debra A. Tullius Christine Uhlenbrock DeAnne Vallo Wendi Van Buren Christine M. Van Der Bent

Virginia Warner

Eileen Yeoh Beth Yoke Yohannes Zegeye and Sophia Tsegaye Donna and Charles Zimmer Andrea Ziser and Sharon Zumwalde

In-Kind Gifts American Sign Museum

Taft Museum of Art United Dairy Farmers

LIBRARY LINKS // SPRING 2019 // 014

Friends & ATLA You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

This meeting will happen Friday, May 3, at 11:30 am in the Tower Room of the Main Library, 800 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH. RSVP by April 29 to 513-369-6035 or info@cincylibraryfriends.org.

The Library Friends’ Shop at Main Save the Date for the 47th Annual Friends’ Membership Appreciation Sale June Book Sale | June 1–8 April 15–27 at the Main Library

at the Friends’ Used Bookstore at the Warehouse in Hartwell For details and updates on both of these sales, visit cincylibraryfriends.org.

Hurricane-hit school receives care packages of books from ATLA The journey of a thousand books started with one Facebook post. and Hurricane Florence displaced many of our students. Some of them are living in hotels, campers, and multiple families per home as our community rebuilds. Our school has also grown from 600 students to 1,100 students for the remainder of the school year as we are housing another elementary school that lost their building to the hurricane. They could not bring their library collection so my 12,000 books are being checked out by 1,100 students.”

“The students are gravitating towards these funny, laugh-out-loud titles for obvious reasons. They just need to laugh and be kids.”

Carmen Eldridge, who had recently moved to Anderson Township from North Carolina, heard from her daughter that the librarian at Castle Hayne Elementary in North Carolina, Lori Winner, had put out a call on social media for books for her students.

Winner went on to write that they had to cancel the fall book fair and they don’t have the funds right now to purchase books. She put out a request for books such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, Baby-Sitter’s Club, Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious, and humorous graphic novels.

Winner wrote, “Our school was hit hard by Hurricane Florence. We are a 100 percent free breakfast and lunch school during normal circumstances

“I like to think of the library and reading as an escape from reality for my students,” Winner said.

“I am a retired educator and my husband was transferred here with Duke Energy,” said Eldridge.

“We have a home in Wilmington near Castle Hayne (on the coast of North Carolina) that wasn’t affected by the flood,” said Eldridge. “I transported nine boxes of discards to Castle Hayne when we went for Thanksgiving. I will take more at Christmas. They were ECSTATIC!!!!”

Lori Winner, left, and Carmen Eldridge with the “Thank You” poster made by students at Castle Hayne Elementary.

Enter Eldridge, who is a new Anderson Township Library Association volunteer. She shared the request with the ATLA group and they gathered books that were discards (frayed, written or colored in or just too many copies of a specific title) but were still readable if not sellable.

LIBRARY LINKS // SPRING 2019 // 015

Thank You, Friends of the Public Library Friends’ members play a critical role in our ability to support The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Members are ambassadors, advocates, volunteers and much, much more. All 2,267 Friends’ members are important—their gifts allow us to fund Library programming and promote literacy. Space prohibits us from listing all of you, but we recognize your generosity and salute your community-mindedness.

Thank you especially for those Friends at the below membership levels. Learn more by visiting cincylibraryfriends.org.

Benefactor

Patron

Margaret Straub

Mr. and Mrs. Duane V. Keller

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Aft

Mary Ellen Addison

Carlos Teran

Victor T. LeGrand

Mr. and Mrs. John Betagole

Thomas P. Atkins

Janet Todd

Lorraine Lukens

Mr. and Mrs. James DeWitt

Ellen Harte Baker

Paula Troup

Kristen McCartney

Kim and Bob Fender

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Bedree

Ted Twyman

Gretchen B. McCormick

Nancy Gilman

Allen W. Bernard

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Vaske

Dan McKenna

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Gold

Mary R. Burger

Robert C. Vitz

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McNally

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hawkins

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Connelly

Jeffrey Waltz

Victoria A. Montavon

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Joyce, III

Marjorie E. Davis

Dr. and Mrs. Donald R. Welti

Christine S. Moran

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kuhnen

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Eagen

Sponsor

Julie Nettleton

Mr. and Mrs. John P.LaMacchia

David Edmundson

Dr. and Mrs. Marc A. Alexander

Mr. and Mrs. John T. LaMacchia

Sandra Faith Hall

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Anderson

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lauf

Hamilton Co. Genealogy Society

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Bazeley

Dr. G. Franklin Lowe

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory L. Hand

Elizabeth Bazell

Don Nerswick

Consuelo Harris

A. Eugene Bertke

Mr. and Mrs. Buck Niehoff

Mr. and Mrs. William Hawkins

Carol Brandt

Douglas Packer

Barbara Heldman

Dr. and Mrs. George Callard

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Paulsen

Patricia Henley

Debbie Campbell

Dan Reigle

Rosemary M. Huhn

James Cheng

Ronda A. Rose

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Kalla

Civic Garden Center

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rouse

Cheryl A. Keller

Dr. and Mrs. Carey Costantini

Society of the Transfiguration

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Keslosky

Mrs. Lee S. Cowan

Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Stern

Mr. and Mrs. Lionel King

Louis Mark Dauner

Philip Stuebbe

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Kohrman

Dr. and Mrs. Stewart Dunsker

Mark Watkins

Luke T. Lavin

Sylvie Falk

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wayne

Mrs. Redmond McNeill

Barbara Feldmann

Don Weiss

Thomas Moorman

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Geren

Susan Wendel

Mr. and Mrs. Randall D. Olson

Jason T. Hampton

Samuel S. Wilson

Ann C. Regan

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Horne

Mariam A. Zabel

John R. Reusing

Kim Juran

Kenneth P. Scheffel

Janice Kagermeier

Janet K. Schenk

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kappes

Janet Neumann Alice T. Palmer Deborah Palmisano Claire Pancero Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Petersen Daniel R. Pfahl Jane Pohlman Mary C. Pulliam Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Raterman Marilyn E. Rebholz Debbie Ridenour Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rindsberg Mr. and Mrs. Ed Shernoff JoEllen Spitz Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stevie Greg Swartz Florence E. Thompson Kathy Toner Mr. and Mrs. A. Shannon Womer Mr. and Mrs. Jim Yunker Mary Rose Zink

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TALES FROM THE ARCHIVES

Let the good food roll with Creole recipes from Lafcadio Hearn Mention Mardi Gras and people automatically think all things Cajun in New Orleans. However, the Creole people of the city also contribute to the holiday’s culture. This fact was highlighted back in the 1800s by a one-time Cincinnati writer.

Greek-born Patrick Lafcadio Hearn immigrated to Cincinnati at the age of 19. He worked as a reporter for the Cincinnati Daily Enquirer and The Cincinnati Commercial, and briefly as private secretary to the Cincinnati Public Library’s Director at the time, Thomas Vickers. Upon leaving Cincinnati, Hearn moved to New Orleans, then Martinique, and finally settled in Japan in 1890. He died in Tokyo in 1904.

Hearn always wrote about the diverse cultures and lifestyles he witnessed. While living in New Orleans he penned the first cookbook documenting the Creole

cuisine. La Cuisine Créole was published in 1885 and is a collection of recipes from leading chefs and noted Creole housewives who helped make New Orleans famous.

Here are some recipes from the book:

Louisiana orange flower macaroons Take a coffee cup of the freshly gathered petals of the orange, cut them with a pair of scissors into two pounds of dry, sifted white sugar; this keeps their color fresh.

Beat the whites of seven eggs to a stiff froth, and add to the orange flowers and sugar. Drop this mixture on white paper in small cakes, and bake in a slow oven; do not let them brown.

Eggs, au gratin, for Lent Boil the eggs hard, peel and cut them in slices, and lay them in a deep dish in close circular rows. Make a sauce of a tablespoonful of butter, the yolks of four eggs, a little grated cheese and half a cup of sweet milk. Stir this over the fire until it thickens, pour it over the eggs, strew some bread crumbs on the top, and bake for about ten minutes; then send to table hot.

To read Lafcadio Hearn’s Creole cookbook online, visit Cinlib.org/Creole. You can also search the Digital Library for Hearn’s book Gombo Zhèbes: A Little Dictionary of Creole Proverbs, as well as his other books and writings.

ALL LIBRARY LOCATIONS WILL BE CLOSED Sunday, April 21, for the Easter holiday and Monday, May 27, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.