INFOhio Community

It is with mixed emotions we announce that after nearly four years of devoted service, State Librarian Wendy Knapp has resigned and accepted a position at Dayton Metro Library as Huber Heights Branch Manager. Her last day at the State Library is April 26, 2024.  

“The State Library Board is most grateful for the leadership of State Librarian Wendy Knapp,” stated Board President Janet Carleton. “Knapp has overseen significant growth and responsibilities for the past several bienniums with a primarily flat budget, successfully keeping with the State Library tradition of supporting state residents, state employees, state agencies, and public and other libraries for more than 200 years.”

During Wendy’s tenure there was tremendous growth in the LSTA grants program, Ohio Digital Network, Ohio Digital Library, SEO Consortium membership and services, and use of library consultant services. There were also technology upgrades for staff, visitors, and meeting rooms, as well as the launch of a new State Library website on the Innovate Ohio Platform.

"It was a great honor to serve as State Librarian for the last few years and it was a pleasure to work with the exceptional and dedicated State Library staff,” expressed Wendy Knapp. “I appreciate the collaboration with and support from leaders and members throughout the Ohio library community. 

Wendy led the library through an extraordinary time of challenges and achievements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, state funding budget reductions, upheaval and subsequent vendor change in statewide delivery, exponential growth in demand and potential for digital resources, and innovations in library services and management.

She began her role as head of the State Library in June 2020, when the agency and most state and local government entities had closed their facilities. It was months, and in some cases over a year, after her start-date before in-person activities began to resume. Wendy successfully led State Library staff through innovative technology and administrative process changes for safe, productive, and collaborative work on location, at home, and for hybrid schedules at both the Columbus location and SEO in Caldwell.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Congress passed two separate acts that provided federal funds to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for libraries. Once awarded to the State Library, Wendy successfully spearheaded use of these funds to help Ohio libraries meet the needs in their communities through grants and statewide programs such as:

• In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Grant provided IMLS with federal funds to help libraries prevent, prepare for, and respond to Coronavirus-19. The State Library used its allotted federal funds to award 322 Mini-Grants totaling $966,000 to public, academic, school, and special libraries, as well as library support organizations, in 80 of Ohio’s 88 counties. LSTA CARES Act Grant funds were used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and library fixtures, and to expand digital network access, purchase internet accessible devices, and provide technical support services.

• In 2021, IMLS provided $4,547,789 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding for Ohio libraries. Use of these one-time funds included $1,000,000 to offset the cost of Statewide Delivery Service for participating libraries; $2,306,129 in Outreach Grants, $150,000 to develop the Ohio Collections Analysis Initiative; $403,679 to update technology at Ohio Digital Network (ODN) DigiHubs; $60,000 to the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) to purchase licenses and provide statewide access at all Ohio public libraries to Northstar Digital Literacy; and $100,000 to OhioLINK to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) e-book collection with unlimited access for its member libraries.

Wendy led initiatives to strengthen the State Library’s engagement with state government agencies, boards, and commissions, state agency librarians, and residents in the Columbus area and throughout the state. She steered innovative adaptations in response to the pandemic despite limited state funding to raise awareness and ensure access to vital library resources and services for Ohio residents and state government employees.

The State Library Board has appointed former State Librarian Beverly Cain to serve as Interim State Librarian beginning April 29, 2024.