Ohio Council to Honor Daniel as Librarian of Year

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Ohio Library Council will honor Heidi M. Daniel, executive director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Oct. 7 as Ohio Librarian of the Year.

The council is the statewide professional association that represents the interests of Ohio’s public libraries, trustees, friends and staff.

Said Daniel in a written statement, “I’m surprised, honored and grateful. The award is really a reflection of the incredible work of my team and our great community. No one does notable work alone and I recognize all the amazing people around me, both at the library and in our community, who made this award possible.”

The award will be presented at the council’s convention in Cincinnati.

The council website notes the award “honors a librarian whose recent accomplishments have impacted the library profession and/or library service to the community” based on five criteria:

• Exhibits distinguished service in the library community.
• Demonstrates evidence of professional achievements.
• Develops and implements new services.
• Creates partnerships within the community to provide innovative services.
• Active involvement on the local and state level.

Among Daniel’s innovations: the pop-up library, which reaches people where they are gathering outside of a library, such as schools and community events; a series of new library cards tailored to the needs of different groups of people; and the READ and TEEN cards that forgive fines so children and teens are not blocked from using a library.

During her three-year tenure, Daniel has kept the library debt-free, even during two construction projects, the Tri-Lakes library and the Canfield library, a library spokeswoman noted. And she reduced the millage sought in the last general election, helping ensure its passage at no loss of services.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.