Director's message - Summer 2024

The Library is popping with adventure this summer!

Our new Pop-Up Library, which made its debut at our community breakfast in April, is ready to roll to a community event, park or neighborhood gathering near you!

Fully funded by the Friends Foundation of Worthington Libraries, the Pop-Up Library is an outreach vehicle that allows us to bring library service, including Wi-Fi, books and other items available for checkout, to people where they are.

If you haven't seen it yet, we'll be walking alongside the Pop-Up Library in the Memorial Day Parade. It will also be at our summer movie series at Northwest Library, summer reading club kick-off parties and at upcoming community events like the downtown Worthington Farmers Market and Sunday Fundays.

Outreach is such an important and growing part of library service as we know not everyone has the time and ability to get to a physical library location. By delivering library service to people where they are already living, working and gathering, we improve information access and make a positive-- maybe even life-changing-- impact on our community.

If you're interested in booking a visit from our Pop-Up Library, please contact Gabrielle Rathge, our outreach services coordinator, at grathge@worthingtonlibraries.org. And if you see us driving through your neighborhood, give us a wave and consider joining the Friends Foundation of Worthington Libraries, which made the Pop-Up Library possible.

What else is cooking? So much! Our summer reading club, which runs May 23-July 28, has adventure as its theme and we have so many programs planned that offer just that, from zoo animals to jugglers, from magicians to Broadway drama, there's something for everyone to get excited about this summer. Check out the calendar for all the details and get ready for the most fun ever.

In other news, devoid of adventure (and that's a good thing!), I am pleased to report that Worthington Libraries has once again been recognized with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for our 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by the Library and transparency in how library funds are managed. I'd like to thank Chief Financial Officer Jeremie Stevens, Interim Chief Financial Officer Monica Baughman, Finance Manager Sabra Lowe and Finance Specialist Barbara Jarosick for all of their diligence and careful stewardship of public funds.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful and adventure-filled summer!