Public Library awarded grant from Celebrating Ohio Book Awards and Authors

MOUNT VERNON — Ohio has much to be proud of in its rich heritage of literary talent, and patrons seeking to read more Buckeye State fiction writers will find an expanded collection of offerings at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County this spring. The library was one of the last selected for a Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors Library Services and Technology Act grant, and will receive $1,035.

The grant will allow the library to acquire multiple circulating copies of novels that won the prestigious Ohioana Book Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize or the Anisfield-Wolf Award. The Celebrating Ohio award selections include books by Ohio authors Erin McGraw, Carter Sickels, Jacqueline Woodson, Anthony Doer, Celeste Ng and Thrity Umrigar. Copies of texts will be available at the main library and branch libraries in Danville, Fredericktown and Gambier.

In support of Celebrating Ohio’s mission to “connect Ohio readers to Ohio authors and Ohio book-award winners,” the main library will showcase the grant-funded books throughout 2023. Events begin on Wednesday, March 29, with a Book Tasting of all 15 Celebrating Ohio titles, and on the library’s popular “What Are You Reading?” podcast. 

April’s adult book discussion will feature Doerr’s "Cloud Cuckoo Land," followed by Jesmyn Ward’s novel "Sing, Unburied, Sing" in May. On May 16, the Ohio Writers Series will host McGraw for a reading and discussion of her novel "The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard" at Knox Memorial’s Veterans Hall. More author visits, adult book discussions and podcast events will be announced in the coming months. 

Librarian Christie Smith is leading many of the activities. "We are so excited to be a recipient of the Library Services and Technology Act grant," Smith said. "This gives the library an opportunity to share more of the tremendous literary talent of Ohio authors with our patrons and community." 

The Library Services and Technology Act offers many grants and programs to libraries affiliated with the State Library of Ohio, enabling "libraries to build or expand a collection of books by Ohio authors and books recognized by Ohio-based book award programs,” according to the State Library of Ohio website.

“By highlighting the library’s collection of COBAA books throughout our 2023 programs, we hope to deepen patrons’ connection to Ohioana’s legacy during and long after the grant period ends,” Development and Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher said.

For more information, visit the library’s website at knox.net, call 740-392-BOOK or stop by the Main Library at 201 N. Mulberry St., Mount Vernon, during library hours.