News

THE BIG REVEAL . . . . It’s with great pleasure and excitement that we’re introducing the official 2024 Ohioana Book Festival poster! The poster was created by Tracy Subisak, one of the authors in our stellar line-up of more than 120 authors and illustrators who will be taking part in the festival at Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Library on ... Read More

Announcing the 2024 Ohioana Book Festival Authors and Illustrators! We’re back! Yes, the Ohioana Book Festival will once again be LIVE and IN PERSON this April . . . and you’re invited!  Join us as we present our 18th annual celebration of Ohio books, authors, and illustrators at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Library on Saturday, April 20, from 10:30 a.m. ... Read More

This historic photograph was taken on December 29, 1930, in what was then the Governor’s Mansion in Columbus. It shows Ohio First Lady Martha Kinney Cooper a year after she founded the Ohioana Library in October 1929. Her vision: to create a special library dedicated to collecting, preserving, and celebrating books by Ohio authors and about Ohio subjects. The 350 ... Read More

It’s that time of year again! The Ohioana Library is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Ohioana Awards, including seven book awards and the Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. First given in 1942, the Ohioana Book Awards are the second oldest, and among the most prestigious, state literary prizes in the nation. Nearly every major writer from Ohio in ... Read More

Ohioana Library is pleased to announce the finalists for the 82nd annual Ohioana Book Awards. First given in 1942, the awards are the second-oldest state literary prizes in the nation and honor outstanding works by Ohio authors and illustrators in five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature, and Juvenile Literature. The sixth category, About Ohio or an Ohioan, ... Read More

Announcing the 2023 Ohioana Book Festival Authors! We’re back! Yes, the Ohioana Book Festival will once again be LIVE and IN PERSON this April . . . and you’re invited! Join us as we present our 17th annual celebration of Ohio books and authors at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Library on Saturday, April 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 ... Read More

First given in 1942, the Ohioana Book Awards are the second oldest, and among the most prestigious, state literary prizes in the nation. Nearly every major writer from Ohio in the past 81 years has been honored, from James Thurber to Toni Morrison. Six of the Ohioana Award winners, as well as the Marvin Grant recipient, were selected by juries. ... Read More

The Ohioana Library is pleased to announce the finalists for the 81st annual Ohioana Book Awards. First given in 1942, the awards are the second-oldest state literary prizes in the nation and honor outstanding works by Ohio authors and illustrators in five categories: Fiction, Poetry, Juvenile Literature, Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature, and Nonfiction. The sixth category, About Ohio or an ... Read More

The 16th Ohioana Book Festival is coming in April . . . and you’re invited! The 2022 festival will be held virtually from April 29 through May 1. As we have done for the past two years, we decided to present the festival in this format to keep everyone safe as the pandemic continues. We’re delighted that we will still ... Read More

The Ohioana Library has been giving awards to recognize outstanding literary achievement since 1942. But 2021’s event was truly special as we virtually celebrated the awards’ 80th anniversary! Ohioana’s Executive Director, David Weaver, served as master of ceremonies, with help from Ohioana board members and representatives of sponsors who introduced the award winners. The award ceremony began with the presentation ... Read More