[OPLINLIST] NEO-RLS News: Nominations for 2026 Star Awards Are Now Open!

Wed May 6 13:17:42 EDT 2026

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[Canva drop-in for all. June 9. ONline via Zoom.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530562751&mm=155032514823>

[Ragan Headshot]

A Note from the

Executive Director

Nominations are now open for the NEO-RLS Star Awards, an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work happening in your library and community. Whether it’s an exceptional colleague, a dedicated volunteer, or an inspiring leader, your nomination shines a spotlight on the meaningful impact libraries make every day.

You can access the submission form on our Awards Page<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530563973&mm=155032514823>, along with Tips for Writing a Strong Award Nomination<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530565195&mm=155032514823>, to help you get started.

Winners will be selected by a panel of representatives from the NEO-RLS membership, the Board, and the State Library of Ohio. Nominees are evaluated on a 1–5 scale across three areas: impact on the community, impact on the library, and impact on the profession. Combined scores determine the final winners.

2026 Award Categories:

Rising Star – Less than 5 years of service

Shooting Star – 5 to 20 years of service

Super Star – More than 20 years of service

Submission Deadline: June 30, 2026

Want a second set of eyes before you submit? I’m happy to help. Send a draft of your nomination to ragan.snead at neo-rls.org<mailto:ragan.snead at neo-rls.org> by June 15 for feedback to ensure it’s clear, complete, and as strong as possible.

Take a moment to recognize someone making a difference, nominate a star today!

Ragan

Exciting Events & CE You Can’t Miss!

May

High-Impact Programs that Bring Families Back to the Library<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530566417&mm=155032514823> (I)

5/12/2026

Adult Services Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530567639&mm=155032514823>

5/13/2026

How Images Manipulate Us<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530568861&mm=155032514823> (F)

5/14/2026

June

Guided Reading Roundtable (GRRT): Intro to Cozy<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530570083&mm=155032514823>

6/2/2026

Special Libraries Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530571305&mm=155032514823>

6/3/2026

Facing Challenges, Embracing Change: A Day for Collection Management and Technical Services (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530572527&mm=155032514823>

6/4/2026

Human Resource/Fiscal Officer Networking Meeting - In-Person<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530573749&mm=155032514823>

6/5/2026

Human Resource/Fiscal Officer Networking Meeting - Via Zoom  <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530574971&mm=155032514823>

6/5/2026

Canva Drop-In For All<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530562751&mm=155032514823>

6/9/2026

Community Care for Burned-Out Library Workers<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530576193&mm=155032514823> (F)

6/11/2026

Personalized Reference vs. Standardized Reference: When to Use the Right Reference Skills<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530577415&mm=155032514823> (I)

6/17/2026

July

Opening Doors Online: The Basics of Web Accessibility, Innovation, and Laws (F)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530578637&mm=155032514823>

7/14/2026

NEW! Supporting Immigrant Patrons and Understanding 4th Amendment Rights in the Workplace (F)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530579859&mm=155032514823>

7/22/2026

August

Guided Reading Round Table (GRRT): Cozy Sci-Fi & Fantasy<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530581081&mm=155032514823>

8/4/2026

Managing Change Fatigue (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530582303&mm=155032514823>

8/5/2026

NEW! Strengthening Staff Communication Across Generations (F)  <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530583525&mm=155032514823>

8/26/2026

View Full Calendar<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530584747&mm=155032514823>

[Guided Reading Round Table (GRRT): Intro Cozy. June 2.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530585969&mm=155032514823>
[https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/pub/8ziy/om4q4zpg/w1d/6ti/pek/NewStateLibrary_1.png]

Borrow our NASA@ My Library Kits to Enhance Summer Programming at Your Library

Did you know that the State Library of Ohio offers four NASA@ My Library Space Science–themed programming kits for libraries to borrow? These kits are perfect for enhancing your summer programming and can help bring engaging, hands-on space science experiences to your community. Public libraries can request them at any time. Learn more and submit your request on the State Library of Ohio’s website<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530587191&mm=155032514823>.

[Adult Services Active Learning Community Meeting. May 123. ONline via Zoom.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530588413&mm=155032514823>

[OhioNet Logo]

Submit your presentation for the Ohio Library Employees Institute by May 19!

OhioNet invites presentation proposals for the upcoming Ohio Library Employees Institute (OLEI) on August 11-12, 2026.

This two-day event, hosted in-person at OhioNet in Westerville, is a reimagination of the Ohio Library Support Staff Institute (OLSSI). OLEI will honor OLSSI’s original mission of creating a space for library employees to experience professional growth, social networking, and community building.

We are looking for individual presentations that highlight the following, or similar, topics:

  *   Promoting healthy workplace culture (workplace communication skills, engagement, retention)
  *   Working with patrons (reference skills, de-escalating situations, addressing hot topics, and more)
  *   ILS management (this could include public or academic systems, skill building, ILS functionality, and more)
  *   Basic preservation (general collection/item repair, skills for non-specialized staff)

Submission Deadline: May 19, 2026

Submission Instructions:?Please submit your proposal using this form<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530589635&mm=155032514823>. Selected speakers will be notified by June 5, 2026. Meals and complimentary registration will be provided to all speakers during the summit.

[Here's what happened in April: 11 Events Provided; 404 Registered for Live Events; 415 Registered for Archived Webinar Library.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530590857&mm=155032514823>

[Library Spotlight]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530592079&mm=155032514823>

Mansfield Richland County Public Library Opens New Creation Lab

Congratulations to Mansfield Richland County Public Library for the opening of their new Creation Lab! The new Makerspace includes 3D printers, an embroidery machine, a Cricuit, and more.

Learn more about this exciting endeavor here.<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=530593301&mm=155032514823>

Email our Marketing & Engagement Coordinator Jill at jill.grunenwald at neo-rls.org<mailto:jill.grunenwald at neo-rls.org?subject=Library%20Spotlight> if you have a story from your library you want to share.

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