Join State Senator Bob Peterson (OH District 17) and State Representative Mark Johnson (OH District 92) for a National Library Week Virtual Town Hall with library director James Hill on Wednesday, April 7 at 2 p.m. The conversation will focus on the library’s community partnerships. Other guests include Julie Bowen, Executive Director of Ross County Community Action, Adrienne D’Souza, President of the Ross County NAACP, Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney, a representative from the Ross County Health District, and more.

“The theme for National Library Week this year is ‘Welcome to Your Library.’ That may seem like an odd invitation during a pandemic, but it actually highlights the fact that the library is more than a physical location,” says James Hill, director of the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.  “Wherever you go, there the library is, too–in all stages of life, in all matter of interests, in every corner of the county. Especially during the pandemic, services have been extended to meet the needs of the community. Whether virtually or in person, the library has opportunities for everyone to explore.”

The Town Hall will be live streamed on the library’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/crcpl) and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/crcplibrary). The archived video will be available for later viewing.

“The library has a long standing reputation for community partnerships and for sharing resources,” Hill continues. “The library is a trusted institution and we’re often reaching out to the same populations as Community Action or the public schools. It makes sense to work together rather than duplicate efforts.”

Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library has nine locations. The Main Library, Northside, and Mt. Logan are all located in Chillicothe. County branches include Richmond Dale, Kingston, Frankfort, and Bainbridge. Two libraries are located inside schools:  Buckskin Elementary in South Salem and Huntington High School. For more information about hours and addresses, visit www.crcpl.org.

Since 1958, National Library Week has celebrated the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. For more information, visit the American Library Association at www.ala.org.