Library Links: Spring 2020

A Publication of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

It’s Time to Build the Next Generation Library The first projects are starting this year! We’ll share details inside.

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CONNECTING PEOPLE

Life in 1920s Cincinnati See the hidden treasure in the Library that led to improved living conditions for the city’s most vulnerable residents. PAGE 5

CINCINNATILIBRARY.ORG

Spring 2020 • Volume 28 • Issue 1

New Book Recommendations at the Library Details on the back page.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

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There are thousands of Hamilton County residents who appreciate the value of the Library. And the library field’s leading professional publication, the Library Journal, agrees. PAGE 4

Our Library holds millions of books, from rare antiques to the latest New York Times bestsellers.

But did you know there are many treasures in our collection that aren’t books? PAGE 5

The King Me series, created in 2016, is dedicated to the lives of black males and features photographs of black boys and men wearing a crown. The message is “What you see is what you become.” PAGE 6 This newsletter is a publication of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. It is mailed quarterly to the Friends of the Public Library as a benefit of membership. If you have comments or questions regarding material in this newsletter, contact the Marketing Department at the address below or call 513-369–6900.

DOWNTOWN MAIN LIBRARY 800 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202–2009 CincinnatiLibrary.org

Find us on all your favorite social media platforms @cincylibrary

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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE As we enter a new year and a new decade our Library remains one of the most respected and heavily used in the country. For the third consecutive year we were on the list of top circulating public libraries in the United States, ranking third in total circulation in the U.S. behind only the New York Public Library and the King County Library System in Seattle. Our use shows no sign of slowing down as 2019 was one of our busiest years on record!

We were again named a Five-Star Library by leading industry publication Library Journal. This is our seventh year in a row to be designated as such, one of only three library systems to hold that honor seven times consecutively.

The Urban Library Council also recognized us as an honoree in their latest round of Innovation Initiative awards. More than 260 top libraries across North America submitted award applications and our work to improve communications with our staff across our county-wide system was selected as an Honorable Mention in the category of Organizational Change and Strategic Management. I know it is our hard-working and dedicated staff members who make our success possible so this honor was particularly gratifying to receive.

There is no doubt that the service we provide to our community is truly outstanding and continues to evolve. Nowhere is this more evident than in the pages of our recently released Facilities Master Plan. This plan, designed to support our Building the Next Generation Library initiative, was created after more than a year of community feedback from more than 3,000 Hamilton County residents at 90 listening sessions and meetings, 15 focus groups, and online surveys.

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PAULA BREHM-HEEGER Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director

At their regularly scheduled December meeting the Library Board of Trustees voted to accept the plan. You can read more about this on page 7.

The Next Generation Library also relies on effective and userfriendly technology. To coincide with improvements in our brick-and-mortar facilities, we also are enhancing our online presence. We heard loud and clear at our community listening sessions how essential the Library’s online catalog is to many customers, particularly those in the western part of the county where the concentration of Library branches is more dispersed.

Many users consider the Library’s website a “virtual branch.”

A new product we are implementing in 2020 offers intuitive searching for items that more closely mirrors modern Web searching than our current catalog. It also makes it easier to display eBooks and eAudiobooks in the catalog. Best of all, this new software means users need to “register” or sign on only one time to use all functionality.

"In the coming decade, I look forward to leading the collaborative efforts that bring together ideas, input, and hard work from our staff, stakeholders, and community members to create a sustainable Next Generation Library that honors our past excellence and tradition while moving us into the exciting future of 2020 and beyond!"

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PUBLIC LIBRARY NAMED A PRESTIGIOUS FIVE-STAR LIBRARY BY LIBRARY JOURNAL FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR “The Library has been a gift to our family,” said Allison, a cardholder from Loveland. “Growing up poor, with parents that had to work long hours, the Library offered entertainment, education, air conditioning and heat, and a safe and nurturing place to learn and play after school and on school breaks. The Library helped shape me into the person I am today.”

There are thousands of Hamilton County residents who appreciate the value of the Library. And the library field’s leading professional publication, the Library Journal, agrees.

The publication recognized the Library, for the seventh 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-plus expenditure category. The Library is one of only five libraries nationwide in its category to receive a Five-Star Library rating.

“We pride ourselves in the number of services, events, and resources we provide to our customers,” said Paula BrehmHeeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Library.

“Being named a Five-Star Library just cements the idea that our community values us and what we offer them.”

We want to thank the community for supporting us. We promise to continue to provide the value, service, and help you’ve come to expect from the Library.

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HIDDEN TREASURES

BETTER HOUSING LEAGUE LANTERN SLIDES REVEAL MUCH ABOUT LIFE IN CINCINNATI IN THE 1920s Our Library holds millions of books, from rare antiques to the latest New York Times bestsellers. But did you know there are many treasures in our collection that aren’t books?

One of our favorite examples are lantern slides. Invented in 1839, lantern slides are photographs that were printed on glass slides. The slide would fit into a special lantern. A candle or an electric bulb would project the image onto a wall or screen.

The Better Housing League, founded in 1916, advocated for clean and safe housing in the city’s industrialized neighborhoods, where tenement residents often endured crowded and substandard living conditions. And the Library holds a collection of lantern slides used to document the League’s extensive housing study, conducted in 1921.

Nearly 6,000 housing units were inspected during the study. By documenting the horrifying living conditions of many in the city, the Better Housing League drew awareness about the realities surrounding tenement life. The group used the slides to demand change like emergency exits, lighting, and sanitation improvements. With the help of these startling photos, the League was instrumental in rallying support for policies that held negligent landlords accountable, banned unsanitary bathroom lavatories, and alleviated overcrowding.

More than a century later, the Better Housing League lantern slides offer a window into the everyday lives, homes, and communities of Cincinnati residents. You can view all the lantern slides in the Library’s collection by visiting the Digital Library at cinlib.org/lantern.

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PHOTOGRAPHER TRADEMARKS NEW BUSINESS IDEA WITH HELP FROM THE LIBRARY

King Me is a photo-art series by artist and photographer Nina Wells, known in the art world as “ninamdot.” The series, created in 2016, is dedicated to the lives of black males and features photographs of black boys and men wearing a crown. The message is “What you see is what you become.”

Wells said she received a lot of suggestions when she released the series. Fans thought she should sell T-shirts or release a book. “But I wanted to do something that everybody could be involved in,” said Wells. “Everybody drinks water so I wanted to branch out and do King Me water.”

Wells knew it was important to get all the brand elements associated with King Me water protected.

But she didn’t have a budget for a trademark lawyer.

So, she went to the Downtown Main Library and sought the help of Linda Kocis, a Reference Librarian.

“She wanted to protect her intellectual property,” said Kocis. “She had found out that we have patent and trademark assistance here. So, she came to ask questions about how she would take the next steps.”

Kocis introduced Wells to the Trademark Office and gave her access to a series of videos that explain every step of how to go about the trademark application process.

“Nina had already created a very strong trademark on her own,” said Kocis. “She really had the hardest part of that process down and just needed help with the nuts and bolts of how to make that application go through.”

“The Library has always been one of my places,” said Wells. “I don’t know everything that the Library has to offer but I know that it’s a place of resource so I was not surprised.”

“We’re offering a service for free that you really can’t get anywhere else without paying,” said Kocis. “It was great of her to come back and show it to me in the database. It was awesome.”

For more information on King Me water and the King Me traveling exhibition, visit Facebook.com/KingMebyninamdot.

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IT’S TIME TO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION LIBRARY

WE’VE SPENT THE PAST YEAR WORKING ON OUR FACILITY MASTER PLAN. IT WILL SERVE AS THE ROADMAP FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT ALL 41 LOCATIONS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. NOW, IT’S TIME TO PUT THAT PLAN INTO ACTION. “This multi-year project is part of our commitment to work with the community to make your public library better than ever,” said Robert Hendon, member of the Library Board of Trustees. “The project will be primarily supported with funds from a 1 mil levy, which the taxpayers of Hamilton County approved in 2018.”

The Library held community listening sessions at every Library location. We heard from more than 3,000 residents and Library users. We are committed to contributing to the overall health and vibrancy of the community by crafting a collaborative vision to Build the Next Generation Library.

Our No. 1 priority is to make sure everyone has access to the Library, including people living with mobility issues. We’ll also be adding features to our branches which were specifically requested by the community, such as better parking options, upgraded restrooms, more meeting and study rooms, quiet areas, spaces that work for different age groups, and more thoughtful and active outdoor spaces. No branches are planned for consolidation or closure in the 10 year plan.

The Library has identified five key projects that we want to get started on right away.

“Having grown up in Cincinnati, I visited the Main Library many times before I started working here,” said Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Library. “I can personally confirm that the feeling of our Vine Street plaza has never been as inviting as it should be. This entrance suffers from a less than ideal design.”

DOWNTOWN MAIN LIBRARY

This is the largest facility in our Library system and houses nearly half of our total public space. During community listening sessions, we heard many people ask us to reconfigure the Vine Street entrance to create a more welcoming space.

The Vine Street Plaza Redevelopment Project lowers the plaza to street level and adds an open entrance featuring multiple pathways to the door.

We’re starting this project sometime in 2020.

RENDERING

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DESIGN PROJECTS

PRICE HILL BRANCH LIBRARY

A partial ceiling collapse closed the branch in July of 2018. Library service moved to the nearby Cincinnati Recreation Center location.

But we’re eager to reopen a renovated and expanded space for this neighborhood.

Warsaw The Price Hill Branch Library is one of the oldest in our system and is not accessible to people with mobility challenges. We’re adding an accessible entrance, expanding the branch, and adding new features like study rooms and meeting rooms, at the request of the community. We expect to break ground on this major renovation early this year and be finished by the end of the year.

CAPITAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

College Hill, Elmwood Place, and Madeira are the focus of our first Capital Maintenance Projects. We’ll be giving each branch a makeover by adding new furniture, fresh paint, and carpeting.

& Purcell

STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS PROJECTS

Reading Branch Library Price Hill Library Renovation Expansion is getting tech upgrades

WALNUT HILLS BRANCH LIBRARY

This also is one of the oldest buildings in our Library system and it is in-accessible for people with mobility challenges. The Library purchased the lot adjacent to the current branch. That gives us room to do a major expansion. We’re working on plans now, using your feedback to make sure the space supports modern library services for this and neighboring communities.

including a laptop kiosk.

Cardholders can borrow one laptop at a time to use for as long as four hours inside the branch.

SIX PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS: MAXIMIZE ACCESS, CUSTOMER FOCUS, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, INDUSTRY-LEADING EXCELLENCE, OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY.

cincinnatilibrary.org/NextGenerationLibrary

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FAMILY CELEBRATION FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY PLANNED AT DOWNTOWN MAIN LIBRARY Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little early with a family-friendly tribute to Irish heritage. The 38th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration of Song and Dance starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, in the Atrium of the Downtown Main Library. This celebration features music by Foley Road and a performance by the world-renowned McGing Irish Dancers. The event is free and open to the public with no registration needed. For more information, visit cinlib.org/stpatrick.

CITY OF CINCINNATI TRAINING LANDLORDS, TENANTS AT THE LIBRARY The City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections, in partnership with the Cincinnati Police Department, the Cincinnati Fire Department, and the Cincinnati Law Department, is offering free training for both property owners and tenants. Sessions are being held at various Library locations throughout 2020.

Training for landlords includes information on property maintenance, the importance of a preventive maintenance schedule, avoidance of fair housing issues, and prevention of building code violations. For renters, the sessions include information on tenant rights and responsibilities.

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You must register for these sessions. To learn more about training for landlords, visit cinlib.org/landlords. To learn about training for tenants, visit cinlib.org/tenant.

GENIUS OF LIBERTY: THE LONG STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN’S EQUALITY The Downtown Main Library is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution with an exhibit. This landmark amendment states that the right of citizens to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Genius of Liberty: The Long Struggle for Women’s Equality is curated by Reference Librarians Christopher Smith and Diane Mallstrom with independent scholar, former Miami University faculty member, and author of Genius of Liberty podcast Katherine Durack.

This exhibit shines a light on some of the high notes of the suffrage movement and its individuals, drawing local connections to activists from Greater Cincinnati that helped shape the future of equality for women in America. The exhibit is on display in the Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room on the third floor through April 26.

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SAVE THE DATE FOR TWO GREAT SUMMER BOOK SALES TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY! Friends of the Library 48th Annual June Book Sale May 30-June 6 Used Book Store at the Warehouse in Hartwell 8456 Vine St. More information at cincylibraryfriends.org or call 513-369-6035.

Anderson Township Library Association June Used Book Sale June 19-21 Nagel Middle School 1500 Nagel Road More information at CincinnatiLibrary.org/ATLA.

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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 January 1 and December 30, 2019. For more information about donating to the Library Foundation, visit our website at CincinnatiLibraryFoundation.org.

GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY AND FOUNDATION $50,000 +

Charles H. Dater Foundation, Inc. Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee The estate of Jane M. and Charles N. Wall

$25,000 - $49,999

David N. & Ann Early Foundation Gilman Family Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation The Harold C. Schott Foundation Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation Stern Family Charitable Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

$15,000 - $24,999

Duke Energy Foundation H.B., E.W. and F. R. Luther Charitable Foundation The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust

$10,000 - $14,999

Ruth J. & Robert A. Conway Foundation L&L Nippert Charitable Foundation LaMacchia Family Foundation Frederick B. Schroeder, II William Hueneke Foundation, Huntington Bank, Trustee

$5,000 - $9,999

Jamey Aebersold The Andrew Jergens Foundation Best Buy Paula Brehm-Heeger and Ned HeegerBrehm Bruce Family Charitable Foundation Joseph A. and Susan E. Pichler Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation The Kroger Company Michael W. Williams Trust

$1,000 - $4,999

Amber and Wes Anastasi Anonymous (2) Anonymous Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation The Borcherding Heck Charitable Fund Jeremy Briggs J.B. Buse, Jr.

$1,000 - $4,999 (Continued)

Champlin Architecture James Cheng Cincinnati Incorporated Charitable Foundation Cord Foundation Trust Melinda and Matt Davis Annette DiGirolamo and Thomas J. Breed Downtown Residents' Council Ellen and Stewart Dunsker Kimber L. Fender GBBN Janet Grisco and Bruce Lever Jill Grisco Kenneth A. Horne Cathy and Thomas E. Huenefeld Elizabeth Hylton J. Tracey and Sally Mck. Schreiber Gift Fund Sylvia Johnson Noel Julnes-Dehner and Joseph Dehner Monica Donath Kohnen and Ralph W. Kohnen Paul Laverty LOTH, Inc. Daniel Luther Karen and John Martens Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition Mitchell Family Fund Mary and William Moran Ohio Library Council OrangeBoy, Inc. Patricia and H.C. Buck Niehoff Norfolk Southern Foundation Sara Pearce Francie and John Pepper Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church Preston Cates Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Ann C. Regan S&P Global Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Skidmore St. Saviour Parish Mary Beth and Tom Sundermann TriHealth Holly Varley and Scott M. Richards Cedric Warren Whitmer & Co. The Estate of Catherine Withrow

$500 - $999

Anonymous (3) Battoclette Family Foundation of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Walter B. Blair Sandy C. Bolek Beth and Brett Bonfield James H. Brun Anita Buck and Stephan Pelikan John Byczkowski The Honorable Steve Chabot and Mrs. Donna Chabot Helen Cheng Margaret and Joseph Conway Cool Guy Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Sean Crowe Doug Cutshall The Dennis B. and Patricia L. Worthen Fund Staci and Jason Dennison Dr. Alberto Espay Sharon Freyhof Christopher C. Holt Richard H. Jones Barbara and Timothy Juenke Kendall Family Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Barbara and Paul Mellon Pepper Family Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Douglas Packer PayPal Giving Fund Thomas Pohl Eugenia Riddick Ellen Rieveschl Casey A. Ruschman The Samuel and Susan Varghese Charitable Fund Barbara Seiver Lisa Staggenborg and Fred Yaeger Laura and Paul Staubach Noah J. Stern Sandra Swanson Carolyn VanDyke Wilson Family Charitable Fund

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$100 - $499

3Bs Book Club Rick Adams Virginia and Richard Adams Cheryl C. Albrecht and James W. Clasper Alexandra and Cole Ollinger Fund Paula and Jeffery Alford The Estate of Patricia M. Allen Marcia Alscher Jeanette Altenau Carol and Yolanda Alvarez AmazonSmile Semion Androne Dolores and Victor Angel Anonymous (20) Keith Armour Patricia Ash Kathy Bach and Rick Boyd Anne B. Bain Gail Bain Ellen Harte Baker Jonathan Barber Ashley Barnhill Terry Barnum Mary Jo and Frederick Bazeley Patricia Becker Kathleen K. and Melvin A. Bedree Julia Beers Patricia Beresford The Bergund Family Marlene and Doug Black Mary Blagdon Kelly J. Blair Maria C. Blake, Ph.D. Donna Booker Thomas Bosarge Linda and Robert Brackenbury Tobie Braverman Mary Clare and Thomas Brennan Robert Brewster Diane Breyer Brown County Genealogical Society Joanie Brown Andrea and Nate Brown Matt Brown Rachelle and Stephen Bruno Jacklyn and Gary Bryson Sharon and Ronald Buhr Carol and Eugene Burnett Erin and John Campbell Natalie and Harry Cappel Kathleen and Chris Carr Joan Cholak Mary Carol Clark William Clark Karen Clumpner Charles Coffaro Joleen Coffaro Melissa and Joe Coffaro David Collins Robert L. Collins Christy and Michael Connelly Susan Conway Queen Zoaya Counts Susan and Jay Cranley Mrs. Phyllis Crawford Joseph Cronin Dr. Cynthia Crown and Dr. David C. Flaspohler

Caitlin Crusham Beth Crutchleo Dan and Carol Young Family Fund Louis M. Dauner Eric Davis Karen Davis Catherine and William Defoor James Dempsey Kate Denier JoAnn and Mike Dickman Michelle Donaldson Karen Dowling Kathy Downey Nancy Doyle H. Richard Duval Michelle Elliott Elizabeth E. End Mary Ann and Robert Faelten Angela S. Farmer Fraternal Order of Eagles; Ladies Auxiliary 449 Terri and Bret Ferree Jeanne Fischer Nancy and Robert Fluharty Forest Park Women's Club Marjorie Fox Anita and Dave Freeman Dr. Craig Froehle Pamela and Barry Fury Thomas Gardner Cecil Garrison Dr. Jonathan Garrison Brenda Gatti Patricia Gayle Barbara Gehrig Jeff Gerrein Mrs. Barbara Glueck and Dr. Charles J. Glueck Dr. and Mrs. Steven Gores The Honorable Don and Mrs. Marsha Grant Judith B. Green and Tom McDonough Carolyn Gutjahr Elissa Habib Priscilla G. Haffner Albert Hallenberg Hamilton County Genealogical Society Lisa and Joseph Hamrick Peter E. Hannishin Jennifer and Bill Hardie Kyla Hardin Kelly Hartman Lucy Hattemer Hawthorn Club The Honorable Sylvia S. and Mr. Robert G. Hendon Joseph Hengle Janet Decker Hess Herbert Nancy Herbert Marjorie Hirt Florette Hoffheimer Lawrence R. Holt Laurie and Thomas Holubeck Kathy Holzderber Richard W. House Stephona Hubbard Pamela and Kevin Hubert Mary Elizabeth Huey Angela Hursh Caroline Idinopulos-Vigran Indian Hill Historical Society

Nancy Inskeep Susan and Howard Jackson Mary Jacqmin Kasie Janssen Timothy Jette Christine Johnson Cassandra Jones Margaret Jula Dr. Vasudha Kale Carla Kampschmidt Dr. Marcia Kaplan and Dr. Michael Privitera Mary Kartal Andrea Kaufman Kathy Kennedy-Brunner Sharon A. Kerns and Mike Birck Mrs. Janice Kiefhaber and Dr. Thomas Kiefhaber King Studios Kiwanis Club of Cheviot-Westwood Cheryl Klink Linda Klump Jennifer Korn Tara Kressler Shirley A. Kruse Benjamin Kuritzky Lakeshore Women's Club Billy Lane Bea Larsen Karen Larsen Patricia Leikhim Dr. Kari Leiting Mary Kay Levesay Dr. Duane Lewis Chad Lewis Heather and Todd Lewis Barbara and Mort Libby Judith Lindner Mrs. Johna D. and Dr. Fred V. Lucas Dana Maher Strauss Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation David J. Mason Elizabeth and Paul Mattingly Ruth and Tom McCormack Denise McElwain Dawn McMillan LeeAnn McNabb Miniature Society of Cincinnati Mrs. Rhoda and Dr. Richard A. Meyer Lori and Jeff Miller Catherine L. Mitchell Rosalind E. and Duncan M. Moir Robert J. Mooney Dennis Morand Vivian Morgan Andrew Morgan Nancy Morris Ella Mulford Mary Naylor Alia Nazeer Calena Neal John Nester Julie A. Nettleton Jan M. Neumann Tracey Nowlin Sharen Ogier Mary Lee and Don Olinger Deniz Osman Dr. O'dell Owens Alice T. Palmer Marguerite and John Panyko

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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.

GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY AND FOUNDATION ( continued from page 12) Dr. Manisha A. Patel and Dr. Michael G. Curran Mary Patka Donna and Mark Patterson Drew Pearson Patricia and David Pedersen Nanette and Mario Pellegrini Ron Penick Anna Petersen April Piatt Richard Posey Esther Power Willets Prosser Joseph Raterman Mrs. Mary Rath and Dr. Ranjit Rath Marilyn Rebholz Diane Cunningham Redden Ken Reeder Robert C. Reifsnyder Anna Rengering Chris Rice Debbie Ridenour Susan Ridgway Tina Riehle Helen and Steve Rindsberg Karen and Robert Ripp Rene Robers Hyangsook Rodenberg Wolf Roder Cheryl and John Rogers Deborah Roney Eugene Saenger, Jr. Krystie Salyers Carla and Holbrook Sample

Anne Sawyer Kenneth Scheffel George Schober Ann and Jerry Schoen Robert Schultz Libby Scott Scripps Howard Foundation Stephanie Sepate Derek Setters Maria A. Sferra Freda Shamma Mary Shukairy David Siders Kristin and David Skidmore Judith and William Skyllingstad Patricia Slavey Barbara E. Sliter Christopher Smith Janet Smith Tara Smith Lisa Soper Elizabeth Spear Jo Ellen Spitz Elizabeth and Joseph Stewart-Pirone Beth Stone Gerri S. Strauss Gordon Strauss Carol and Theodore Striker Tarshis Family Fund Kathy Taylor Laura and Gregg Tepe The Honorable Greg Terhune Florence E. Thompson

Ms. Kathleen Thornton and Dr. Robert Keith Ruth and Joseph Titschinger Janet Todd Aaron Toney Ann Turner Brittany Ulrich Rosalie van Nuis Amy and Robert Vaughan William W. Victor Donn Vidmar Barbara Wallace Walmart Foundation Jeffrey P. Waltz Barbara and Herman Weber Jennifer Weikert James Weiler Joan and Doug Welsh Sharon Welte James Wesner Sue Wettstein and William Dreyer Lois and Buzz Widlansky Gwendolyn Williams Chris Wilson Russell Winters Lothar Witt Martha J. Wolf David H. Wood Diane Wright Beth Yoke Alison and James Zimmerman

The following gifts were received between October 1 and December 30, 2019. For more information about donating to the Library Foundation, visit our website at CincinnatiLibraryFoundation.org.

MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES

Alford Allred, Bette Berryman, Joseph Cronin, Sandra Gaines, Emily Guskin, Paul Laverty, Donna Lell, Cynthia and Robert Lusby, Rebecca Lynn Medford, Sara Moerlein, Natacha Smith, Alan and Jenn Whisman, and Cynthia Zeiss in memory of Rae and Sylvan Grisco designated for the Madisonville Branch Library Anne Bain, Gail Bain, J. Baughman, Bergund Family Living Trust, Barbara Bok, Sharon Byrnes, Jayne Close, H. Duval, Amanda Lang, Cynthia Lewis, Rita Reichert, Mary Tenoever, Carolyn VanDyke in memory of Martha “Nanny Jane� Bates designated for the Blue Ash Branch Library

Patti Anderson in memory of Betty Weber Antone Baioni in honor of Dave and Holly Poissant

Pierce Cunningham, Mary Ann Meanwell and Jo Ellen Spitz in honor of Naomi Gerwin

Melvin Bedree in memory of Jerome B. Kernan

Raymond Fellinger in memory of Bonnie Fellinger

Daniel Bellomo in honor of Lanaya

Bree Ferguson in memory of Pamela Jo Runion

Nate and Andrea Brown in memory of Carol Ebert designated for the Pleasant Ridge Branch Library Phyllis Crawford in memory of Richard Crawford

Robert Flanagan in memory of Janet Flanagan Anita Freeman in honor of The Brett Schatz Family and in honor of The Paul Linden Family

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MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES (Continued) Sharon Freyhof in memory of Shelia Freyhof

Gerald Skidmore and William Victor in honor of Charles W. Anness

Susan Spoon in memory of Susan Spoon's beloved pet Abby

Barbara Gehrig in honor of Pamela Riggt

Barbara Sliter in memory of Joseph Bagby

Barbara Stough in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Roch's beloved pet Dutchess Rooch

Don and Marsha Grant and Cathy Wagner in honor of Jennifer Grant and Elizabeth "Liz" Wilson Judith Green and Tom McDonough in memory of Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Pateresa Jacyszyn in memory of Mr. Charles Wm. Smith, Jr. Shirley Kruse in memory of Betty Dolle Mary Lasonczyk and Norma Mann and the Chat & Chew Book Club in memory of Pauline Devaux Richard Lautenslager in memory of Jo Ann Lautenslager Melissa Linder in memory of Ralph Holtman Sue Lumb in memory of Arthur C. Lumb Karen Miller in memory of Inge Meyer Drew Morgan in honor of Chapter One Book Group Letricia Najoli in memory of Harry R. Downing, Sr. designated for the Covedale Branch Library

Marie Spreen in memory of Maria Oliveira Abby Strietmann in honor of Gail Strietmann Katie Sullivan in honor of Charlie D. Harper Katie Syroney in honor of her children Doug Welsh in honor of Joan Walsh Diane Wright in memory of Beverly Blose Downing

PET MEMORIALS

Jennifer Alvis in memory of Kim Manning's beloved pet Zuko Corey and Beth Beilstein in memory of Cherri Prince's beloved pet Velvet Karen Deye in memory of Patrick and Heather Black's beloved pet Lional Elaine and Ron Friday in memory of Mary Ann and Hugh Dodman's beloved pet Emma

Jennifer VanLandingham in memory of Jill Stone's beloved pet Cornflakes Diane Wright in memory of Kim, Chris and Zoa Strobel's beloved pet Mei Mei

BEFRIEND A BRANCH

3Bs Book Club designated for the Symmes Township Branch Library Anonymous designated for the Norwood Branch Library Charlene Bandurraga-Hole designated for the Pleasant Ridge Branch Library Donna Booker designated for the Anderson Branch Library Jeremy Briggs designated for the Green Township Branch Library Rachelle Bruno designated for the Clifton Branch Library John Campbell designated for the Loveland Branch Library

Virginia and Pam Gandy in memory of Bernadean Clark's beloved pet Spookie

Alan Darnowsky designated for the Main Library

Maureen Ohara in memory of Nancy Brickwood designated for the Anderson Branch Library

Kristen and Chris Gruber in memory of Bob and Kathy Gruber's beloved pet Fulton

Robert Faelten designated for the Genealogy & Local History Department

Ron Penick in honor of Ms. Alice designated for the Monfort Heights Branch Library

Carolyn Gutjahr in memory of The Farrington/Montague Family's beloved pet

Susan and Joseph Pichler in honor of Joe and Mary Stern

Brenda Gatti designated for the Blue Ash Branch Library Robert Hadden designated for the Blue Ash Branch Library

Rose, in memory of The Holmes Family's beloved pet

Joseph Hengle designated for the Loveland Branch Library

Mr. Dowbiggin, in memory of The Buck/ Savage Family's beloved pet Wally

Norman Kattelman designated for the West End Branch Library

Barbara and Mort Libby in memory of Joan and Dennis Tirman's beloved pet Lily

John, Marguerite, Leo and Oliver Panyko designated for the Sharonville Branch Library

Donna McMullin in memory of Michelle Andrews's beloved pet Jazz

Manisha Patel designated for the Deer Park Branch Library

Sally Schneider in honor of Nancy Hurst

Francie Morrison in memory of Janice Kiefhaber's beloved pet Max

John Ray designated for the Green Township Branch Library

Ruth Schneider in memory of Roberta Devin

Ann C. Regan in memory of Jeff and Jess Colarossi's beloved pet Isaac

Robert Ripp designated for the Madeira Branch Library

Stephanie Sepate in memory of Isaac Franklin, Kim Wessendarp, Patricia Lynn Musick, and Peggy Kite

Gwen Roth in memory of Pamela Hickey's beloved pet Rally Hickey

St. Saviour Parish designated for the Deer Park Branch Library

Cheryl Selby in memory of Kathy Taylor's beloved pet Penny

Joan Wyler designated for the St. Bernard Branch Library

Joyce Reitz in memory of Diana Reitz Rene Robers in memory of Marion Brunelle designated for the Oakley Branch Library David Rosenthal in memory of James Hoel Glenn and Kitty Schaaf in memory of Deann L. Schaaf

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Writer-in-Residence Dani McClain talks about the power of story Recently journalist and author Dani McClain sat down and talked with Library staff about being a writer and being named the 2020 Writer-in-Residence by The Library Foundation. To watch the full video, go to CinLib.org/MeetDani.

What book or story struck a spark in you and made you want to become a writer?

I think there were so many depending on how old I was. The writers and books that spring to mind are Virginia Hamilton’s The People Could Fly, anything a teacher would read to us at a young age and then when I was old enough to read books on my own, James and the Giant Peach. I’m a huge Roald Dahl fan. And Madeleine L’Engle and A Wrinkle in Time. And as I got older, Of Mice and Men. My mom gave that to me as a Christmas present one year. I think that there were many moments as a young person when I thought “I’m really taken by the power of story and if I could do this myself I would be happy with that.”

What made you want to apply to be the Writer-in-Residence?

I am a freelance reporter. I write for publications, both print and online, mostly national publications. I’m a contributing writer at The Nation magazine. And Cincinnati’s my hometown; I’ve lived back here since 2015. And the Writer-inResidence program just seemed like a great way to get connected to the local community in a meaningful way. The idea of being an ambassador to the Library is an incredible opportunity. (picture above)

Dani McClain

2020 Writer-In-Residence

What would you like to do this year as the Writer-in-Residence?

Learn more about the literary community here. I think there is a community of writers, and certainly readers, that’s very active. This is an opportunity just to connect with the Library, obviously, and other literary institutions in the city and people that frequent and feel connected

to those institutions. I want to do a workshop that really encourages people who parent to write and reflect on their experiences as caregivers. My goals are to just to figure out how to share some of what I do every day with Library-goers.

What books are you reading right now?

I’ve spent a lot of time in the past couple of years reading about mothering. Right now, I’m doing a lot of reading for fun.

I just finished The State of Affairs by Esther Perel. And I just checked out The Library Book by Susan Orlean about a fire that consumed the Los Angeles library. The Yellow House by Sarah Broom which just won the National Book Award in nonfiction. That’s just a handful of the books I’m looking forward to getting into.

A reporter and author whose work has been featured in Time, Slate, and Ebony.com, Dani McClain grew up in Camp Dennison and, after graduating from Indian Hill High School, attended Columbia University for both her undergraduate and graduate work, earning a Master of Science from its prestigious School of Journalism.

She has received numerous awards, including the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism, and awards from the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association. She is the author of We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood and contributed chapters to Killing Trayvons: An Anthology of American Violence and Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. She lives in Northside.

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