INFOhio Community

Westerville, OH (June 18, 2024) – OhioNet is excited to announce the appointment of Katy B. Mathuews, MLIS, PhD, as the organization's new Executive Director and CEO. With a career spanning 20 years in the library sector and a background in various roles within library and higher education settings, Mathuews brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.

"As a lifelong Ohio library user, I am thrilled to join the innovative staff at OhioNet in our mission to serve the Ohio library community," said Mathuews. "I look forward to connecting with members to understand their unique needs and leveraging the talents of the OhioNet team to support our shared success."

Prior to joining OhioNet, Mathuews served as the senior director of administration at Ohio University Libraries in Athens, where she was a member of the libraries' executive leadership team. She has also previously held roles in library instruction, circulation, research services, collection management, subject liaison services, assessment, institutional effectiveness, budgeting, grants management, and strategic planning.

In addition to her work in libraries and higher education, Mathuews has published over 25 articles and book chapters and delivered over 60 presentations on a variety of topics, including library assessment, makerspaces, and strategic planning. She is the co-author of two books published by Libraries Unlimited, Academic Library Makerspaces: A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation (with Daniel J. Harper, PhD) and most recently, Creating a Staff-Led Strategic Plan: A Practical Guide for Libraries (with Ryan Spellman, MLIS).

Mathuews has also served as a member of the Academic Library Association of Ohio's executive board and the Scioto County Public Library board of trustees in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Molly Meyers LaBadie, OhioNet Board Chair and Deputy Director at Delaware County District Library, expressed her enthusiasm for Mathuews’ appointment: "We are looking forward to Katy joining the OhioNet team. Her passion for strategic planning and enthusiasm for engaging with the Ohio library community herald an exciting future for OhioNet and our members."

LaBadie also acknowledged the contributions of Interim Executive Director Andrew Whitis, who has temporarily filled the role since September 2023. "We are deeply grateful to Andrew for his outstanding leadership during the interim period. His dedication ensured the continuation of critical initiatives and services at OhioNet, setting a strong foundation for Katy’s arrival in August,” LaBadie noted.

Mathuews will officially assume her role as Executive Director and CEO of OhioNet in early August and will lead the organization in its mission to support libraries and information organizations in Ohio and beyond.

About OhioNet –

OhioNet was formed in 1977 around the novel idea that libraries of all types and sizes share one important similarity: they all want to strengthen their communities and give their patrons their very best. With this thought at the center of our mission, OhioNet began a period of expansion, welcoming libraries of all types – public, academic, corporate, and otherwise – to pool resources, share skills, build partnerships, and discover commonalities that would strengthen and uplift the communities we serve. For more information, visit www.ohionet.org.