Lynn A. Grimshaw appointed to State Library Board
The State Board of Education of Ohio has appointed Mr. Lynn A. Grimshaw to the State Library of Ohio Board. Mr. Grimshaw currently serves on the Portsmouth Public Library Board of Trustees and has a strong background in public service to his community, board experience, and an ardent supporter of libraries. Mr. Grimshaw will resign his membership to the Portsmouth Public Library Board and is expected to be sworn in at the September 27, 2007 State Libary Board meeting.
Dianna Clark to lead SEO Library Center in Caldwell
The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce the promotion of Dianna Clark to the Director of SEO (Serving Every Ohioan) Library Center in Caldwell, Ohio beginning July 23.
Over a distinguished career of 23 years at SEO, Dianna has held a number of positions. For the past eight years her work and contributions have been critical in the development and expansion of the SEO Consortium.
According to State Librarian Jo Budler, “Dianna has built a solid reputation by providing outstanding customer services to the member libraries and helping libraries all across the state provide ever-improving library service to their users. I look forward to the ongoing close collaboration between the Columbus and Caldwell locations of the State Library as we continue to provide important services to the library community through SEO.”
Prior to SEO Dianna worked at the Caldwell Public Library from 1976 to 1984. No stranger to the Caldwell Public Library, Dianna used to go there after school to help her grandmother (who happened to be the librarian) shelve books.
The SEO (Serving Every Ohioan) Library Center is a branch of The State Library of Ohio. Located at 40780 Marietta Road in Caldwell. SEO administers a library automation consortium for 65+ library systems, provides interlibrary loan and back–up reference services, and manages one mobile computer training lab that travels throughout the state.
Former Director Chris Tucker retired in June after eight years working for the State Library of Ohio at the SEO Library Center.
July 6, 2007
Dr. George Paulson elected as State Library of Ohio Board President
The State Library Board has elected Dr. George Paulson as President and Mary Vesper Schwetschenau as Vice President. Dr. Paulson has served on the board since 2001. He is Emeritus Professor of Neurology at OSU, and founder and former Chairman of the Department of Neurology, as well as former elected Chief of Staff of University Hospitals. He served on the Rare Book Committee at OSU, was for a decade Chair of the Medical Library Board for the OSU Medical Center, and is at present the Chair of the Medical Advisory Board for the Medical Heritage Center of the Prior Health Sciences Library at OSU.
Mary Vesper Schwetschenau is serving her first term on the State Library board. She is an active volunteer in her Clifton (Cincinnati area) community in the schools and library. Mary is married and has four children. She is involved in health organizations and foundations on the local and state levels and is a founding member of the Clifton Community Fund.
According to State Librarian Jo Budler, the State Library of Ohio is currently in the third year of a 5 year business plan. The plan targets three groups of State Library customers: state employees, libraries, and residents. "Improving opportunities for collaboration and increasing resource sharing among all types of libraries is a priority for this year. The Ohio Library Partnership Summit was an important step toward reaching the goal of greater collaboration."
The State Library is governed by a five member board. The Board members are appointed by the State Board of Education and each member serves a five year term of office. Under the Ohio Revised Code, section 3375.01, the State Library Board is responsible for the State Library of Ohio and a statewide program of development and coordination of library services.
Established in 1817, the State Library of Ohio has three priorities:
- To lead and partner in the development of library services throughout Ohio;
- To promote and enable resource sharing among libraries and library networks; and
- To provide access to information for Ohio's state government.
All of these priorities lead to one end: to ensure that all Ohio residents, rich or poor, rural or urban, receive the best possible library service and are able to engage in lifelong learning which strengthens the economic health of Ohio.
