Celebration Summary and Thank-you
Message from Theresa M. Fredericka
May 4, 2004

On behalf of the INFOhio community, I want to join OELMA's Suellyn Stotts and Deb Logan in expressing my appreciation to all those involved in last week's Ohio School Libraries Celebration held in Columbus. So many people were involved to make all the events successful, spreading the message that Ohio school libraries are vital for Ohio's students and teachers to succeed.

Wednesday's legislative reception at the Ohio Statehouse Crypt was sponsored by OELMA and INFOhio, in partnership with ILILE, MCOECN, and the State Library of Ohio. Sirsi Corporation and Sun Microsystems provided financial support, so no public funds were spent on the refreshments or the site. OCLC's Rich Skopin was the official photographer for the reception.

The event began with Greg Paulmann from the Ohio Department of Education, who awarded Innovative School Library Practices Awards to four Ohio library media specialists: Sally Gummere, Ridgeview Junior High, Pickerington Local School District; Lori Guerrini, Chagrin Falls Middle School, Chagrin Falls Schools; Deb Logan, Mount Gilead High School, Mount Gilead Local Schools; and Suellyn Stotts, Grizzell Middle School, Dublin City Schools. Greg's remarks set the right tone for the evening's events. Congratulations to all four award recipients!

Susan Bodary, executive assistant for education in Governor Taft's office, read a proclamation from the Governor that recognized the role of school libraries in Ohio's K-12 curricula and the positive results of the Ohio Research Study.

The Ohio Research Study was the focus of the reception's keynote address from Ross J. Todd, School of Communication, Information & Library Studies at Rutgers, lead researcher and author of the study. Dr. Todd summarized the study findings, quoting some of the 13,000 comments from Ohio students that demonstrate the importance of school libraries to our customers. Todd challenged Ohio school library media specialists to use the study results to make fundamental changes to the ways library media centers serve our patrons throughout the state. Todd was ably introduced by State Rep. Arlene Setzer, R-Vandalia, a retired teacher whose comments illustrated her appreciation for high-quality school library programs.

Todd's keynote was followed by remarks from four students, each ably relating how their school libraries have helped them: Connery McGuire, third grader from Centerville; Kelly Smith, sixth grader from Hilliard; and Andy Wick and Elizabeth Campbell, high school students from Mount Gilead. All were cool and calm before an audience of almost 200 adults and exemplified the type of student responses garnered by the Ohio Research Study.

The final part of Wednesday's program honored a district representative of the 2,000 buildings automated by INFOhio. Ohio Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, presented a plaque to Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development from southwest Ohio. Representing Great Oaks was Steve Jackson, Senior Vice President; Mike Hockman, Manager of Software and Technology; and Susie Rutkowski, Manager of Special Needs. Hockman's acceptance remarks focused on the benefits of library automation to all types of students. Attending from Huntsville, Ala., Sirsi Corporation CEO Patrick C. Sommers presented a building certificate to Live Oaks Campus Cybrarain Robin Hoelle. Live Oaks is one of four campuses that comprise Great Oaks Institute.

Throughout the two-hour reception several state senators, representatives and their aides dropped by to meet their librarian constituents and enjoy the wonderful refreshments provided by Sirsi Corporation and Sun Microsystems. Cathy Kerner, INFOhio's Office Manager, is applauded for coordinating the venue and refreshments arrangements. OELMA office staff did an excellent job coordinating all aspects of registration arrangements. Suellyn Stotts coordinated the hundreds of student-created bookmarks on display on three huge display boards, an inspiring collection of student artwork and testimony for school libraries.

On Thursday, Dr. Todd summarized the Ohio Research Study for the Ohio State Library Board, the body responsible for funding much of the study by awarding LSTA funds to OELMA for the project. Prior to the board meeting, Todd and Deputy State Librarian Roger Verny facilitated a discussion among key players on how the Ohio Research Study can be used to improve Ohio school library media programs. During the public participation portion of the board meeting, INFOhio Governing Advisory Board co-chair John Myles, Liberty Center Local Schools, presented the State Library Board with a certificate of appreciation for its efforts to fund Ohio school libraries with more than $10 million in LSTA funds for automation and other worthwhile projects. Management Council of the Ohio Education Computer Network CEO Bruce Hawkins also thanked the Board for its efforts on behalf of INFOhio and the OECN DASites.

A remarkable two days, to be sure! And the names of many more people could be added to this message, including almost 100 school library media specialists who attended the reception to explain how what we do is so important to so many. Thanks to everyone who made The Ohio School Libraries Celebration an event that will be hard to improve upon!

Theresa M. Fredericka
INFOhio Executive Director