When the Ohio Goes to the Movies (OGTTM) team set out to find venues in every one of Ohio’s 88 counties for its 2026 signature event of America 250-Ohio, they didn’t expect to hit a wall early in the process. However, it became apparent that not every county had the same options for hosting at least one Ohio-centric movie, the goal of OGTTM.
The team searched for a solution, a place every Ohio county would have in common regardless of location in the state, and one avenue became obvious — public libraries! Ohio has 251 public library systems with 481 branch locations, and each of those 732 outlets is tuned in to the needs of the communities they serve.
Did you know that Ohio has played a significant role in library history and the state was a pioneer in establishing free public libraries and in the creation of online library catalogs and databases?
Ohioans love their libraries and use them. According to one benchmark, they visit their libraries 3.41 times a year on average — second highest among all states across the country. According to OhioCapitalJournal.com, the average Ohioan checks out over 12 books a year — more than any other state in the country. Two-thirds of Ohioans have a library card, which puts it second among states in that category.
Reaching Out to Library Leaders
Two statewide entities were particularly helpful to OGTTM for reaching the public libraries: the State Library of Ohio, a state agency, and the Ohio Library Council (OLC) public library professional association.
The staff at the State Library of Ohio (SLO) worked with OGTTM to identify and contact libraries in the counties that hadn’t signed on with a host venue. According to State Librarian Mandy Knapp, “The State Library is excited to assist OGTTM as our state gears up for a statewide celebration that promotes Ohio’s contributions to the movie industry and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. After I met program directors from America 250-Ohio at the statehouse, Molly Kreuzman, the OGTTM program director, and I quickly recognized an opportunity to broaden the outreach by fostering connections with Ohio public libraries.”
OLC was also eager to support OGTTM. “When we first learned about OGTTM from Program Director Molly Kreuzman earlier this year, we immediately saw a natural fit for public libraries to be part of this exciting statewide celebration. As trusted cultural and educational hubs, libraries are uniquely positioned to bring Ohio’s cinematic legacy to life for residents of all ages,” explained Michelle Francis, executive director, OLC.
Public Libraries Serve Ohioans Beyond Their Walls
Libraries have evolved to serve the changing needs of their communities. Early on, main libraries added branch locations and bookmobiles to reach remote populations and those individuals with special needs who can’t travel to their local library. They added new tools such as internet access, digital catalogs, e-books, audiobooks and programs like the Ohio Digital Library to serve every corner of the state. And all these services are free, except for occasional special programming at a library.
“By being a part of the Ohio Digital Library, administered by the SLO, member libraries can expand their services, improve the experiences of their patrons and stay up-to-date with the latest digital library offerings,” said Mandy.
Libraries Host OGTTM
As word of OGTTM reached library systems, interest started to peak, and library leaders saw a fit with the statewide celebration. “Ohio Goes to the Movies is appealing because we have some avid film buffs here in our community who would love to view and discuss movies. Plus, we have an extensive DVD collection,” said Catie Stewart, adult programming specialist at Clark County Public Library in Springfield. “It’s also important to show community pride by supporting Lillian Gish who was born in Springfield!”
Clark County Public Library is one of many libraries planning to host a 2026 OGTTM screening. “We will be showing ’The Night of the Hunter,’ starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. This black and white movie has absolutely amazing cinematography with its use of shadows and perspective; plus, it takes place on the Ohio River,” explained Catie.
Libraries Offer Options for Watching Movies Anytime…Anywhere
While OGTTM will bring communities together in venues across the state to screen Ohio-centric films, the fun doesn’t stop there! The celebration will ignite pride and interest in watching Ohio’s moviemakers and movies made here. Public libraries provide access to movies anytime and anywhere. Even when the library is closed, or you can’t go to the cinema or travel outside the home, Ohioans have access to enjoying movies.
Most Ohio libraries offer patrons access to DVD movie collections. There are also thousands of commercial-free videos available online. Most libraries offer access to popular streaming services such as Kanopy and hoopla, which offer film classics, independent releases, thought-provoking documentaries and new films. All you need is your library card and a web browser or smart TV, and you can stream on your computer or download the app on your phone, tablet or Roku device, for example.
No equipment or internet? Some libraries offer another solution through their “library of things,” which is different in every community based on the needs of that area. In addition to books, some libraries loan DVD players and Roku devices, and many have WiFi hot spots that provide internet access for those without it. According to the SLO, 181 library systems in Ohio checked out hot spots 126,139 times in 2024.
If you’d like to explore library options near you, visit Find an Ohio Library, which offers information and links about various types of libraries and library systems in Ohio.
Interested in searching for Ohio-related movies and moviemakers? Explore the digital Ohio Movie Database at OhioGoestotheMovies.org.
Public Libraries by the Numbers
Public libraries and systems signed on as OGTTM venues to date: 15+
As of 2024 Ohio has:
- Library systems: 251
- Branch locations: 481
- Library buildings: 719
- Bookmobiles: 68
- Total circulation of materials: 153 million (more than doubled in 50 years)
- E-books circulated in Ohio: 45.4 million
- Smallest library space: 125 sq. ft., a shared area at Tuscarawas County Senior Center Branch
- Largest library space: 550,000 sq. ft., the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
- Smallest library collection: 775 items at the Bettsville Public Library
- Largest library collection: 3,880,302 items at the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
- Public libraries built from 79 grants (totaling $2,846,484) awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1899 to 1915: 104
Special thanks to Marsha McDevitt-Stredney and Kirstin Krumsee Ziegler, State Library of Ohio, for compiling this data.