2/12/08 OLC Board Creates Two New Task Forces
The Ohio Library Council Board of Directors created two new task forces at its meeting on January 18, 2008. The task forces will address initiatives outlined in the 
2008 OLC Strategic Position and Tactical Plan, which was also approved at the January 18 board meeting.
The Ready to Read Task Force will continue the activities started with the Ready to Read initiative in 2007. It will focus on the Governor's Strategies for Implementing Ohio's School Readiness Agenda (SRA) and develop a new regional system of trainers and resources that supports training and partnerships at a more local level. It will also incorporate the three SRA strategies, develop an awareness campaign, and identify resources.
The Ready to Read initiative was launched in 2007 to address Ohio 's burgeoning population of children who are not prepared to enter kindergarten. The OLC worked with the State Library of Ohio and Kent State University to train librarians and early childhood educators in the use of dialogic reading techniques and the six early literacy skills methods so that they could pass this information along to the parents of children ages birth to five. The OLC Ready to Read committee also worked closely with state agencies (e.g., the Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services) and community partners on this initiative.
Kim Fender, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, will chair the Ready to Read Task Force and select task force members by the end of the first quarter in 2008.
Safety and security was identified as one of the most critical issue for libraries when the OLC staff talked with members about the challenges facing libraries. The Library Security Task Force will address the variety of security issues that challenge the daily operations of Ohio public libraries including but not limited to theft, disruptive customers, personal safety, and computer security.
The task force will assist the OLC staff in determining what the organization can or should do to help member libraries deal with their challenges. Tim Kambitsch, Dayton Metro Library, will chair this task force and initiate activities by the end of the first quarter in 2008.
