COLUMBUS—Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) has hired Sarah Gormley as director of Marketing & Communications. She officially began her new role on Monday, March 16. Gormley’s prior marketing experience includes senior leadership roles at Adobe, Girl Scouts of the USA, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and IMAX Corp. She received her B.A. in English Literature from DePauw University, and her MBA from the University of Chicago with a focus in operations and marketing. She owns Sarah Gormley Gallery in downtown Columbus and is also the author of The Order of Things: A Memoir about Chasing Joy, which was published in 2024. Gormley lives in Columbus and grew up near Zanesville.

In her new role, Gormley will oversee CML’s marketing and public relations, and will be responsible for shaping the organization’s brand, defining its marketing strategy, and strengthening its storytelling and communications.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to the library,” says CML Planning & Strategy Officer Wendy Tressler. “Her track record leading brand and communications strategy for major national organizations, combined with her deep ties to the Columbus cultural community, makes her uniquely positioned to help us tell the library’s story and deepen our impact.”

The previous director of Marketing & Communications, Gregg Dodd, left CML last fall.

NOTE: Electronic file of headshot available upon request.

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The new Linden Branch has:

• 27,000 square feet of space (increased from 12,700 square feet)
• Three meeting rooms and 10 study rooms for community use
• A larger Children’s area and a separate space for tweens
• A dedicated Teen area with books, computers, and spaces to be creative
• A Learning Center, a dynamic space for programs for all ages
• Public computers and a Business Center for community use
• Commissioned works of public art
• Seating areas to read and relax, including a Quiet Room
• A collection of library materials to meet the community’s needs

The Linden Branch, located at 2223 Cleveland Ave., was built in 2004. The new two-level Linden Branch, built on the same site, has more than doubled its size from roughly 12,700 square feet to approximately 27,000 square feet. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Moody Nolan is the architect.

CML kicked off construction of the new branch with a “wallbreaking” ceremony on April 17, 2024. Its hours of operation are:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.

Ribbon cutters participating in today’s dedication include:

Jennifer Adair – School Board Member, Columbus City Schools
Patrice Allen Brady – Neighborhoods Strategies Manager, City of Columbus Dept. of Neighborhoods
Margo Arnold⁺ – Strategy Consultant and Owner, My Helpmate LLC
Joy Bivens – Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County
Dave Brown – Project Executive, Turner Construction
Matt Brown – Manager, Capital Planning & Construction, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Justin Bumbico – Information Technology Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Matthew Chapin – Project Superintendent, Turner Construction
Janelle Coleman – VP, Community Engagement & President, AEP Foundation
Senator Hearcel Craig – Ohio Senate, District 15
Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer – City of Columbus, District 2
Ava DiMasi – Staff Assistant & Assistant to the State Director, Office of Senator Jon Husted
Abdoulaye Dieng – Field Representative Manager, Office of Congressman Mike Carey
Kym Douglas – Director, City of Columbus – Department of Neighborhoods
Patricia Duckworth – Commissioner, South Linden Area Commission
Kyle Glass – Senior Associate, Moody Nolan
Lauren Hagan – Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Wes Hall – SVP, Philanthropy & Education, Battelle
Charlie Hansen – Chief Public Services Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Ian Hopkins – Project Engineer, Turner Construction
Chad Jester – VP, Corporate Citizenship & President, Nationwide Foundation, Nationwide
Laura Johnson Peace – Linden Branch Manager, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Deanna Jones – Senior Project Manager, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Tom Katzenmeyer* – Library supporter
Zach Klein – City Attorney, City of Columbus
Doug Kridler – President & CEO, The Columbus Foundation
Jamie Lang – Financial Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Mary Leiby – Foundation Program & Operations Specialist, Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation
Kris Long – Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County
Zach McClurg – Project Architect, Moody Nolan
Lisa Merkert – Interior Designer, Moody Nolan
Rep. Ismail Mohamed – Ohio House of Representatives, District 3
Jonathan Moody – CEO, Moody Nolan
Javier Negrete Jr. – Coordinator, One Linden Schools Student Success Initiative
Dr. Tina Pierce – School Board Member, Columbus City Schools
Bernita Reese – Director, Columbus Recreation and Parks
Councilmember Emmanuel Remy – City of Columbus, District 4
Kristen Rost – VP, Nationwide Foundation, Nationwide
Brian Sell – Principal, Moody Nolan
Renée Shumate – President, Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation
Rev. Joseph Stanley – Commissioner, South Linden Area Commission
Kelly Stevelt – Community Engagement Senior Manager, AEP Foundation
Michael Stinziano – Franklin County Auditor
Catherine Strauss* – Managing Partner, Ice Miller
Dr. Londale Towns Sr. – Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LYFE Savers
Wendy Tressler – Planning and Strategy Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Leslie Vesha – Philanthropy Manager, Battelle
Lou Von Thaer – President & CEO, Battelle
David White* – Senior Vice President, RTI International
Diana Williams – Commissioner, South Linden Area Commission
Peggy A. Williams – Secretary, South Linden Area Commission
Shelisa Williams – Commissioner, South Linden Area Commission
Carla Williams-Scott* – Senior Manager, Community Outreach & Strategic Partnerships, The Ohio State University’s Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
Dr. Anthony Wilson – Chief Operating Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Litany Zenz – Project Manager, Turner Construction
Donna Zuiderweg – Chief of Service Design and Engagement, Columbus Metropolitan Library

*Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees Member
⁺Friends of the Library Board Member

Click here to learn more about CML’s Aspirational Building Program.

Click here for additional CML press announcements and media resources.

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Following a highly successful tour to 50 libraries from 2021 to 2023, the touring library exhibition – based on the special exhibition of the same name at the museum in Washington, D.C. – will travel to an additional 50 U.S. libraries from 2024 to 2026, covering wide distances from Hawaii and Alaska to Texas and New Hampshire.

“We are honored to be selected from a competitive pool of applicants from all across the nation to host this important and powerful exhibition,” said CML CEO Lauren Hagan. “It will challenge people to not only ask ‘What would I have done?’ but also, ‘What will I do?’”

Americans and the Holocaust will be on display at CML’s Main Library, along with a series of related special events, from Feb. 5 to March 19.

Members of the media and the public are invited to attend the opening reception at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9. The program will include remarks by CML Trustee Tariq Tarey, who serves as Director of Refugee Social Services for Jewish Family Services, as well as CML leaders and representatives from the Ohio Holocaust & Genocide Memorial and Education Commission.

The 1,100-square-foot exhibition examines various aspects of American society: the government, the military, refugee aid organizations, the media, and the general public. Drawing on a remarkable collection of primary sources from the 1930s and ’40s, the exhibition tells the stories of Americans who acted in response to Nazism, challenging the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about the Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded. It provides a portrait of American society that shows how the Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism shaped responses to Nazism and the Holocaust.

In addition to the traveling exhibition on loan, CML received a $3,000 cash grant to support public programs. The grant also covered one library staff member’s attendance at an orientation workshop at the museum in Washington, D.C.

To learn more about the exhibition, visit ushmm.org/americans-ala.

Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries is an educational initiative of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association. The traveling exhibition began by touring to 50 U.S. libraries from 2021 to 2023; due to widespread interest from libraries and communities around the country, a second tour was developed for 2024 to 2026.

Americans and the Holocaust was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor Jeannie & Jonathan Lavine. Additional major funding was provided by the Bildners – Joan & Allen z”l, Elisa Spungen & Rob, Nancy & Jim; and Jane and Daniel Och.

The museum’s exhibitions are also supported by the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund, established in 1990.

About the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
A nonpartisan, federal educational institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust dedicated to ensuring the permanence of Holocaust memory, understanding and relevance. Through the power of Holocaust history, the Museum challenges leaders and individuals worldwide to think critically about their role in society and to confront antisemitism and other forms of hate, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. For more information, visit ushmm.org.

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

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This announcement comes after CML leaders made the decision earlier this week to delay the grand opening, initially scheduled to take place this Saturday, Jan. 31, due to extreme weather.

Residents, guests, and customers are invited to stick around after the ribbon cutting for a 10:30 a.m. dedication ceremony in the branch meeting room. There will be family fun and activities throughout the day and the following day as well, Saturday, Feb. 7.

The Linden Branch, located at 2223 Cleveland Ave., was built in 2004. The new two-level Linden Branch, built on the same site, has more than doubled its size from roughly 12,700 square feet to approximately 27,000 square feet. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Moody Nolan is the architect.

CML kicked off construction of the new branch with a “wallbreaking” ceremony on April 17, 2024. When it opens, its hours of operation will be:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.

Click here to learn more about CML’s Aspirational Building Program.

Click here for additional CML press announcements and media resources.

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“We are disappointed to share that we need to delay Saturday’s grand opening of our new Linden Branch,” said CML CEO Lauren Hagan. “We want the Linden community to have the celebration it deserves, so we’ll be working hard to make that happen as soon as we safely can.”

CML will share the new grand opening date soon.

The Linden Branch, located at 2223 Cleveland Ave., was built in 2004. The new two-level Linden Branch, being built on the same site, will more than double its size from roughly 12,700 square feet to approximately 27,000 square feet. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Moody Nolan is the architect.

CML kicked off construction of the new branch with a “wallbreaking” ceremony on April 17, 2024. When it opens, its hours of operation will be:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.

Click here to learn more about CML’s Aspirational Building Program.

Click here for additional CML press announcements and media resources.

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• Carla Williams-Scott, Senior Manager for Community Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, The Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, as president
• David White, Senior Vice President of Technology, RTI International, as vice president
• Sandy Doyle-Ahern, President, EMH&T, as secretary

The officer positions are elected every year.

CML’s seven-member Board of Trustees is responsible for guiding major decisions about library strategies, policies, services and budget.

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No library services will be available, however seating, WiFi and restrooms will be available. Those seeking refuge from the cold will need to enter the library via the sliding glass doors facing Grant Avenue and accessible off Library Park North. The building’s other two entryways – its main entrance facing Grant Avenue and its Kaufman Plaza entrance facing Topiary Park – will be inaccessible.

All CML locations will be closed Sunday, Jan. 18 and Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

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The new Canal Winchester Branch has:

• 30,000 square feet of space (increased from 5,400 square feet)
• Three meeting rooms and nine study rooms for community use
• A larger interactive Children’s area
• Dedicated spaces for tweens and teens
• A Learning Center, a dynamic space for programs
• Public computers and Business Center for community use
• Commissioned works of public art
• Seating areas to read and relax, including a Quiet Room
• A collection of library materials to meet the community’s needs

The former Canal Winchester Branch at 115 Franklin St. opened in 2016 as an “express branch” to serve a community that did not previously have close access to library services. The new, standalone Canal Winchester Branch at 123 Groveport Rd. is more than five times the size of the former branch, from roughly 5,400 square feet to approximately 30,000 square feet. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Bostwick Design Partnership is the architect.

CML broke ground on the new branch in summer 2024.

Its hours of operation are:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.

Ribbon cutters participating in today’s dedication include:

Laurie Amick – President, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Emalee Anderson – Miss Canal Winchester 1st Attendant
Joseph Arndt – School Board Member, Canal Winchester City Schools
Alison Badowi – Structural Designer & Structural Project Manager, Kabil Associates
Vangela Barnes – Chair, Greater South East Area Commission
Will Bennett – Councilmember, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Dave Brown – Project Executive, Turner Construction
Matt Brown – Manager, Capital Planning & Construction, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Bruna Brundige – Executive Director, Canal Winchester Area Historical Society
Justin Bumbico – Information Technology Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Lea Cobb – School Board Member, Canal Winchester City Schools
Gailee Croghan – Miss Canal Winchester 2nd Attendant
Hanna Detwiler – Councilmember, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Megan Dibner-Dunlap – Senior Associate, Bostwick Design Partnership
Jim Dixon – Principal & Director of Engineering, Kabil Associates
Rachel Doupe – Project Superintendent, Turner Construction
Sandy Doyle-Ahern* – President, EMH&T
Meagan Dutczak – Practice Leader, Library Design, Bostwick Design Partnership
Chloe Green – School Board Member, Canal Winchester City Schools
Lauren Hagan – Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Keith Hanson – Canal Winchester Branch Manager, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Kiya Hunt – Superintendent, Canal Winchester City Schools
Deanna Jones – Senior Project Manager, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Tom Katzenmeyer* – President, Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees
Kathy Kelly – Principal, Wellogy
Jamie Lang – Financial Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Meredith Lawson-Rowe – State Representative, Ohio House of Representatives
Tory Leuthold – Interior Designer, Bostwick Design Partnership
Alec McLaughlin – Councilmember, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Richard Moore – Vice President, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Rick Ortmeyer – Partner, Bostwick Design Partnership
David Payne – Councilmember, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Michele Reynolds – State Senator, Ohio Senate
Patrick Shea – Councilmember, City of Canal Winchester City Council
Zack Skwara – Associate, Bostwick Design Partnership
Jakhob Stanley – 12th grade student, Canal Winchester High School
Joe Steager – Mayor, City of Canal Winchester
Monika Talley – School Board Member, Canal Winchester City Schools
Wendy Tressler – Planning and Strategy Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Carolyn VanPaepeghem – Project Engineer, Turner Construction
Lynn Weixel – Library supporter
David White* – Senior Vice President of Technology, RTI International
Carla Williams-Scott* – Vice President, Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees
Anthony Wilson – Chief Operating Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Elizabeth Wood – President & CEO, Canal Winchester Chamber of Commerce
Hannah Woodruff – Events and Communications Coordinator, City of Canal Winchester
Litany Zenz – Project Manager, Turner Construction
Donna Zuiderweg – Chief of Service Design and Engagement, Columbus Metropolitan Library

*Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees Member

Click here to learn more about CML’s Aspirational Building Program.

Click here for additional CML press announcements and media resources.

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Customers are encouraged to visit columbuslibrary.org/authors-at-the-library frequently, since authors are added throughout the year.

Rachel Hawkins
Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 6 p.m.
Reynoldsburg Branch | 1402 Brice Rd.

Thrity Umrigar in conversation with Jessica Strawsar
Sunday, Feb. 1 | 2 p.m.
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave. (Auditorium)

Jason Reynolds
Thursday, Feb. 5 | 6 p.m.
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave. (Reading Room)

Pam Muñoz Ryan
Thursday, Feb. 12 | 6 p.m.
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave. (Auditorium)

Candacy Taylor
Saturday, Feb. 28 | 1 p.m.
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave. (Auditorium)

Terah Shelton Harris
Sunday, March 8 | 2 p.m.
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave. (Auditorium)

Jasmine Warga
Tuesday, March 10 | 6 p.m.
Hilltop Branch | 511 S. Hague Ave.

Misako Rocks!
Wednesday, April 15 | 6 p.m.
Reynoldsburg Branch | 1402 Brice Rd.

Andrew Welsh-Huggins
Thursday, April 16 | 6 p.m.
New Albany Branch | 200 Market St.

Beth Macy in conversation with Brian Alexander
Sunday, May 3 | 2 p.m.
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave. (Reading Room)

Bonnie Quinn
Tuesday, May 12 | 6:30 p.m.
Hilliard Branch | 4500 Hickory Chase Way

Author talks at CML are free and open to the public, however registration is required to reserve seating. To register, RSVP at columbuslibrary.org/authors-at-the-library.

Note: Headshots of each author are available upon request.

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