Awards Bring Joy:

READ On! Ohio! Award for Children & Teens

By Susan Yutzey

I’ve served on the OELMA Awards Committee for a long time, maybe ten years.  Some people, not necessarily OELMA members, ask why are you still serving on the Awards Committee?  Aren’t you tired?  Yes, there are days and weeks when I wonder the very same thing. But I’ll tell you why, it’s the joy of it.  Sure there is a lot of detail and time that goes into promoting awards, reading the awards packets, sending letters to the non-recipients and recipients, organizing the Awards Celebration.  But I find joy, I find joy in working with a dedicated group of OELMA members; I find joy in reading the nominations; I find joy in talking with an array of public library staff, I find joy in celebrating with the recipients at the annual conference.  

Awards brings joy!  And here is a perfect example.  A little over a month ago, President Gayle Schmuhl forwarded me an email from one of the 2025 READ On! Ohio Award for Children & Teens Award recipients.  You may remember interacting with them as they arrived early so that they could attend the author session with Ellen Hopkins.

The email, which came through the OELMA website, asked the following:

Hello!

I was nominated for the read-on award and won. I am currently taking a college class that i have to write an essay about a major event in my academic life. I talked to Mrs. Amanda Brenner which is who nominated me was wondering if I could get a copy of her nomination. I would like to use it for her exact words for quotes. She said since it was a google form she cant get it herself.

Thank you!!!

What pure unadulterated joy I felt when I read it.  A student, an enthusiastic reader, asked if they could get a copy of Ms. Brenner’s nomination to write an essay about a major event in their academic life for a college class.  A READ On recipient believes that receiving this award qualifies as a major event.  Wow, I called Liz Deskins, I cried…this, this is JOY!

As you visit the OELMA website and read the award descriptions, see the listserv announcements that make their way to your inbox or click on the social media posts on Instagram and Facebook, find JOY.  Nominate a colleague, an administrator, a student and know that in that simple act you have brought JOY through acknowledging their many talents and gifts.

If you need more information on the READ On! Award for Children & Teens check out the 2026 Resources here. Nominations are due March 23 by 11:59 p.m.