Worthington Libraries

It's been an adventurous summer!

Now that the Summer Reading Club is officially over, we can't help but reminisce on the great times we had creating, learning and playing with you this season 🌞

Thank you for a fun memories... now let's make some more!

DEADLINE EXTENDED 📢 Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 5!

Teen artists can create an art piece for a chance to win gift cards and to have their work displayed in an exhibit that will travel around Worthington!

Worthington's Olympic connection!

In honor of the start of the Olympics, check out this flashback to when the Olympic Torch was passed at the intersection of High St. and Granville Road in 1996 on its way to the games in Atlanta, GA.

Tired of juggling streaming services just to have your favorite show removed from the platform? Harken back to ye olde video rental days (without the fees) at your local library 📼💿

And don't forget you can stream for free with your library card on Kanopy and hoopla Digital!

THIS FRIDAY is the final screening of the 2024 Summer Movie Series!

Join us for a screening of "Kung Fu Panda 4" in the Northwest Library Backyard on Friday, August 2. Come early for outdoor activities and games before the show! We'll start the movie once it gets dark 🐼

Thanks to Worthington Parks and Recreation and the Friends Foundation of Worthington Libraries for making these events happen!

We had a wild time visiting with animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium at Old Worthington Library 🦥

Don't forget: if you've turned in your completed Summer Reading Club record, you can keep reading to vote for the library's Columbus Zoo and Aquarium sponsor animals! This weekend is your last chance to vote for Amur tiger, Mexican wolf, red panda or Southern hairy-nosed wombat!

Now that's "some pig!"

Artist and signmaker Bill "bc" Collins created this pig statue in 2001 for Pig Iron BBQ on High Street (now Iron Grill). Collins ran his sign business for nearly three decades and was responsible for some of the most iconic advertising art in central Ohio.

Before computers and vinyl, Collins designed and created his signs entirely by hand. He cut letters with a router, made and pounced patterns, projected designs, then finished the job by painting and installing the sign. Collins sculpted this big pig out of high-density urethane on a framework created by Fortin.

For more local history, visit the Worthington Memory online archive ⤵️
🔗 worthingtonmemory.org
Worthington Historical Society

Thanks for being another friendly face!

Sarah left a review for Old Worthington Library:
"Love this location! So many friendly faces and the kids area is wonderful. We have spent a lot of hours visiting for Storytime, community events and book searching. Reserving books is very easy and quick online! Don't forget to check out the lower level!"

Thank you, Sarah!

Think you've got what it takes to out-puzzle the best?

Test your skills at the Family Jigsaw Puzzle Race on Saturday, July 27 at Worthington Park Library. Teams of up to 4 people will race against the clock to finish as many 100-piece jigsaw puzzles as they can in 60 minutes!

📆🔗 worthingtonlibraries.org/calendar/20240727/family-jigsaw-puzzle-race

The adventure is almost over... The last day to fill in your Summer Reading Club record is Sunday, July 28! Don't forget to bring your completed reading record to the library for your completion prize and to enter into the grand prize drawing for a $100 gift card!

What's the best book you read this summer?

Interested in creative writing? Our friends at Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington have some great classes coming up!

We are excited to welcome back the MAC's own Kristin Ku**er and her "Writing for You," an Adult Creative Writing Class!

This 5-session class, open to adults of all skill levels, runs from July 31 to August 28, every Wednesday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer, you’ll learn new techniques to generate ideas, develop characters, and craft compelling narratives.

Our supportive and collaborative environment will encourage you to explore new genres and styles through writing prompts, games, group storytelling, and individual writing. By the end of the class, you’ll have a newfound sense of confidence and excitement about your writing. Join us and discover your creative potential!

Register here: https://www.mcconnellarts.org/classes/

What have Worthington’s residents done to beat (or embrace) the hot weather through the decades? Take a virtual vacation with us to an early Worthington where residents are making the most of their own sunny days 🌞

See more summer fun by browsing this month's Worthington Memory exhibit at worthingtonmemory.org!
Worthington Historical Society

[1] 1892: The Worthington Baseball Team poses for a photo.

[2] 1895: A young woman rides a newly popular mode of transportation, the bicycle, in front of the old Worthington High School, located on East Granville Road.

[3] 1950: Children are shown making paper hats during an activity sponsored by the Worthington Public Library on the Village Green.

[4] July 1972: Children parade down the street on their bicycles, Big Wheels and on foot in the Northwest Worthington Civic Association's annual Fourth of July Bike Parade.

[5] May 1977: A group of children are captivated by a puppet show performed by librarians on the Village Green.

We recommend "A Guest in the House" by E. M. Carroll 📖

"Abby's new husband is recently widowed with a young daughter, and although it’s strange living in the shadow of her predecessor, Abby does her best to be a good wife and mother. The more she learns about her husband's first wife, however, the more Abby starts to wonder if Sheila's death was really by natural causes."

Borrow it here 🔗
worthingtonlibraries.org/borrow/featured/guest-house

Is there anything more "summer" than a movie under the stars?

We had a ton of fun at the latest showing in our Summer Movie Series this past weekend. Fun games, delicious popcorn, a visit from the Pop-Up Library and, of course, a great audience!

There's still one more chance to join the fun-- we'll be watching "Kung Fu Panda 4" on Friday, August 2 in the Northwest Library backyard. See you there 📽🍿

Worthington Libraries is accepting applications for a new Trustee!

For more info, visit:
worthingtonlibraries.org/about/news/2024-07/library-seeks-new-trustee

We're celebrating 10 years of the Let's Dish Cookbook Club! 🎉

Here are our Top Ten favorite cookbooks from the last decade:

▪️ "One Pan Wonders" by America's Test Kitchen
▪️ "Lidia's Commonsense Italian Cooking" by Lidia Bastianich
▪️ "Fiesta at Rick's" by Rick Bayless
▪️ "Chicano Eats" by Esteban Castillo
▪️ "The Columbus Food Truck Cookbook" by Renee Casteel Cook
▪️ "Let's Eat France!" by François-Régis Gaudry
▪️ "The Chinese Takeout Cookbook" by Diana Kuan
▪️ "Simply Julia" by Julia Turshen
▪️ "Bowl" by Lukas Volger
▪️ "Cool Beans" by Joe Yonan

To participate, prepare a recipe from one of the selected cookbooks and, if you're feeling friendly, bring in samples. We'll talk about what it's like to cook by the book!
📆🔗 worthingtonlibraries.org/calendar/20240729/lets-dish-cookbook-club

Who else is ready to get lost in a book this weekend? 🙇

Most of us know what it's like to move house, but this takes it to a whole new level.

At about 1 AM on July 7, 1978, the Old Rectory building, one of Worthington's oldest homes, took a trip down High Street to make way for the construction of Old Worthington Library. After a three-way shuffle between the Library, Worthington Schools and the Worthington Historical Society, the society purchased the building to set at its current location on West New England Avenue. The society restored the original building and it now houses their headquarters, a doll museum and gift shop.

The Old Rectory had moved locations once before, in the mid-1920s. Historically, house moving was common because it was usually less expensive to move the entire house than it was to construct a new building.

For more local history, check out the Worthington Memory online archive ⤵
worthingtonmemory.org

We recommend "Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind" by Molly McGhee 📖

"Offered a literal dream job by the government, self-proclaimed loser Jonathan Abernathy enters the minds of middle-class workers while they sleep and removes the unsavory detritus of their waking lives from their unconscious, soon finding the lines between life and work, love and hate, right and wrong beginning to blur."

Borrow it here 🔗
worthingtonlibraries.org/borrow/featured/jonathan-abernathy-you-are-kind

Special delivery! These letters were left for us in the mailbox in the children's area of the library:

💌 "Yay! Free book and a coupon! I like to do the Summer Reading Challenge program."
💌 "I like to read and check out books."

There's still time to join the Summer Reading Club and get your own free book, coupons and more. Totally great for people of all ages that like to read and check out books 🌈

THIS FRIDAY! The Summer Movie Series continues!

Join us for a screening of "Migration" in the Northwest Library Backyard on Friday, July 12. Come early for outdoor activities and games before the show! We'll start the movie once it gets dark 🦆

Thanks to Worthington Parks and Recreation and the Friends Foundation of Worthington Libraries for making these events happen!

We hope you're having a safe and happy Independence Day! 🎆

From parades to pony rides, take a look at how Worthington residents have celebrated the Fourth of July over the years.

For more local history, visit worthingtonmemory.org
Worthington Historical Society

📯 Calling all artists in grades 7-12! Submissions for the 2024 Teen Art Contest are OPEN 🎨

- Choose any media to interpret the theme, The Places I'll Go
- Artwork must be original and no larger than 18" x 24"
- Submit your entry, with an entry form, to any library location by July 31

All entries will be displayed at each Worthington Libraries location during August in a traveling art exhibit. The top three entries will win gift cards! Winners will be announced on August 8.

Pick up an entry form at the library or download one here:
worthingtonlibraries.org/about/news/2023-06/youll-louvre-art-contest

It's a bookworm summer. What are you reading?

All Worthington Libraries locations will be closed from 6-9pm on Wednesday, July 3 and all day Thursday, July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

We wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July! 🎆

When we say we "got that dog" in us, these are the dogs in question

Our own Chaz Carey was featured in this recent article focusing on being a librarian and part of the LGBTQ+ community. Read the perspective of Chaz and librarians across the country at the link below ⤵️

Pride Month events come at a time when many people who identify as LGBTQ+ say they are facing increasing difficulties at work, ranging from being repeatedly misgendered to physically assaulted.

Gender nonconforming library workers in particular are also grappling with growing calls for book bans across the U.S., with books about gender idenitity, sexual orientation and race topping the list of most criticized titles and making the attacks all the more personal.

Read more: bit.ly/45Jnf7Z

A new library building in the heart of the community? Groundbreaking.

Construction on Old Worthington Library began 46 years ago! The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 4, 1978 and was open to the entire community. Worthington's population boomed in the post-World War II years, and the previous public library building on the Village Green was under increasing stress due to lack of space. City, school and library officials had a hand in breaking ground for the new building that would accommodate our growing community's needs. We've been evolving ever since!

Want more local history? Visit worthingtonmemory.org 🔎
Worthington Historical Society