INFOhio Community

The State Library of Ohio Board recently appointed Beverly Cain as Interim State Librarian beginning April 29, 2024. Beverly retired from the State Library on March 30, 2020, following ten years as Agency Director and State Librarian of Ohio. 

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to once again work with the State Library staff and board during this time of transition” expressed Beverly. “While much has changed since I retired from the State Library four years ago, the dedication of State Library staff to helping libraries across the state is as strong as ever.  I look forward to doing all that I can to support them, as well as the Ohio library community, as we prepare for Ohio’s next State Librarian.”

As State Librarian, Beverly led both innovative and needs-based initiatives and positioned the State Library as a leader and exemplary partner in collaborations with Ohio’s libraries and library organizations. She implemented a strategic plan with a vision of a Smarter Ohio, focusing on improving access to collections and use of meeting rooms for state government employees, growing statewide library resource sharing and collaboration, and using federal IMLS funds for special Ohio Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants to encourage collection development of books by award winning Ohio authors and illustrators and assist libraries with joining an existing library consortium.

Beverly guided the formation of Regional Digitization Hubs and steered the Ohio Digital Library, SEO Consortium, and Statewide Delivery through exponential growth during her State Library leadership service.

She has over 34 years of library experience in Ohio, having served as the Director of the Portsmouth Public Library System from 1997 to 2010 and Branch Manager at the Upper Arlington Public Library Lane Road Branch from 1992 to 1997. Prior to that, Beverly worked at the Medina County District Library from 1986 to 1992, first as a Reference Librarian and then as a Manager of Reference and Adult Services.

Beverly Cain earned a Master of Public Administration degree in 2009 and a Master of Library Science degree in 1986 from Kent State University. She also has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Akron. Beverly received the Diana Vescelius Memorial Award from the Ohio Library Council in 1992, the Friend of the Year Award from the KSU School of Library and Information Science in 2012, and she was a member of the COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies) Legislation Committee and Research and Statistics Committee.

Ms. Cain served as President of the Ohio Library Council, was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Scioto County Law Library Resources Board, and has served as a member or chairperson to numerous local, state, and national committees.