News

It’s Banned Books Week! BBW is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings ... Read More

Although autumn doesn’t officially start until September 22nd, it certainly already feels as if the seasons have changed. The chilly, rainy weather of this past week might bring to mind thoughts of changing leaves, pumpkin pie and shorter days. Here at Ohioana, it also reminds us of the myriad of literary events that happen around the state during the autumn. ... Read More

It’s hard to believe summer is almost over! Though the calendar says there are still a few weeks left, many Ohio schools are already back in session. With Labor Day marking the unofficial end of summer, we thought we would take a look at some great books to enjoy during these final “dog days” of summer. Most people tend to ... Read More

It’s true: all the best movies come from good books. Writers know what they are doing: they create conflict and plot and characters that readers love, and then Hollywood options the work and reaps the reward. Another reaper-of-rewards is author and Ohio native Ernest Cline. Born in Ashland, Ohio (home to a really cool hot air balloon festival every summer!) ... Read More

Ohioana lost a very dear friend this week: former librarian Barbara Meister. She loved books as much as any human on the planet. Barb starting working at Ohioana back when it was downtown on the river. And because Ohioana moved during her tenure, Barb is the one who moved the books. She personally handled each and every volume in the ... Read More

Poet Dave Lucas! For the second time in Ohio’s history, a poet laureate has been named. Serving a two year term is Dave Lucas, a native of Cleveland, award-winner (including an award from Ohioana in 2012), published writer and teacher. It is of course a great honor to the individual, but it’s also a great benefit to the people of ... Read More

  One of the highlights of every holiday season is the release of new films – how many of this year’s crop have you seen? Studios release their biggest and most important films at year’s end not only to draw huge audiences, but also to get the attention of the major awards competitions. Of course the granddaddy of all movie ... Read More

It’s never too late to buy Yuletide/Holiday/Christmas presents. Even if you were to be abducted by aliens on December 24 and not released from the Mother Ship until December 26, you can always apologize to those on your Christmas list. They’ll understand, especially if you take a tip from the Wise Men and arrive bearing a gift. And what gift ... Read More

If you look up the word “pathos” in the dictionary, you’ll find The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. Not really. But we consider that an oversight to be corrected. Some people consider the story comic, what with the twist and all: the married couple each giving up something cherished in an attempt to give one another a significant ... Read More

December is National Read a New Book Month, and there’s still plenty of month left if you haven’t started yet. We’d like to suggest the latest from Jennifer Chiaverini. The Enchantress of Numbers is the story of Ada Byron Lovelace, the inventor of computer programming. At a recent sold-out book signing event sponsored by Gramercy Books in Bexley, Jennifer answered ... Read More