Library Venues Sneak Peak

Sharing a Love of Film in Jefferson County 

When the Ohio Library Council announced the statewide Ohio Goes to the Movies (OGTTM) program, the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County eagerly stepped up to participate.

“OGTTM gives our countywide library system a chance to ensure that each community branch can take part,” said Jennifer Cesta, public relations coordinator. “We’ll share movie trivia before each screening and pair select films with book discussions, showcasing the resources and services our libraries offer.”

The library system will host movie events at all of its libraries, along with two outdoor screenings in partnership with local organizations. Their plan for the outdoor movies is to have its bookmobile on site so families can sign up for a library card and borrow books.

“One of the movies that we chose is ‘Unstoppable,’ which we’ll show at the Main Library,” said Jennifer. “The film was partially shot in Jefferson County. They used the Market Street bridge in the film, which is a few blocks away from the library and next to the Historic Fort Steuben amphitheater that we’re partnering with to show an outdoor family movie as part of this project.” 

In addition, the library is collaborating with Wednesdays in Wintersville, a community group known for hosting outdoor events with food trucks, vendors and a farmers market from May through September. “When the idea of outdoor movie screenings came up, we immediately thought of them,” Jennifer noted.

The series will feature nine different films, including the classic “The Deer Hunter,” which was partially filmed in Mingo Junction, Jefferson County. Other selections will be family-friendly, creating opportunities for all ages to gather and enjoy movies together.

“We’re thrilled to take part in this statewide celebration that connects Ohio to America’s 250th anniversary through the lens of film,” Jennifer concluded. “It’s a chance to share moviegoing experiences while creating space for meaningful connections and community engagement.” 

BLCPL Brings OGTTM to Lawrence County

The Briggs Lawrence County Public Library (BLCPL) is excited to join the statewide celebration of America 250-Ohio in every way possible. One of the first initiatives it selected for participation was Ohio Goes to the Movies, a welcome opportunity to showcase Ohio’s cinematic heritage.

“Lawrence County does not currently have an active film theater within its borders. It’s important to bring a little film fun back to our corner of Ohio,” said the library’s executive director Gretchen Claypool. “As a film enthusiast, I’m well aware of how many Ohioans have been — and continue to be — involved in the writing and production of films.”

To highlight Ohio’s influence on cinema, BLCPL will screen the 1984 horror classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street” for adults, shown on a large screen in the atrium of the library’s two-story Ironton location. “Over 20 popular horror films are set in or partially filmed in Ohio, and the state’s reputation as the Midwest Horror Capital is well-established,” Gretchen noted. “‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ written and directed by Ohio native Wes Craven, remains a cornerstone of the horror genre.”

A separate weekend will feature the family favorite “Hocus Pocus,” released in 1993 and starring Nelsonville/Cincinnati native Sarah Jessica Parker. “We didn’t want children to miss out on celebrating Ohio’s rich movie culture,” Gretchen said. “Sarah Jessica Parker is a multitalented Ohioan who continues to support and uplift the artistic culture of our state.

“BLCPL is delighted to participate in Ohio Goes to the Movies. It’s one of the most accessible and versatile ways to contribute to Ohio’s vision for commemorating America’s 250th anniversary,” she added.

Hancock County Triples OGTTM Fun 

Hancock County has embraced the Ohio Goes to the Movies festivities with enthusiasm! In 2026, community organizations will celebrate an Ohio author and three Ohio-related films.

First up, the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library’s CommunityREAD program has chosen “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio,” written by Defiance native Terry Ryan, as its adult selection for March 2026. The reading project will conclude with a screening of the film adaptation of the book starring Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson (an actor with Ohio roots — he attended Lebanon High School in Warren County). Following the film, Dr. Cortland Rankin, a professor of popular culture at Bowling Green State University, will give a presentation on “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio” and the Rust Belt and Ohio on film. 

Next up, the library has selected a middle-grade title with an Ohio historical theme — one of the American Girl Kit Kittredge books. (In the Depression-era Kit Kittredge series, Kit is from Cincinnati.) In early March, the Hancock Historical Museum will host a matinee screening of “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,” complete with popcorn and children’s activities, including a themed tea party. 

A third event takes place in August 2026, when the Hancock Historical Museum holds its official OGTTM event, an outdoor screening of “The Mummy.” The screening will include a talk from John Barton, creator of the movie’s special effects. Barton is originally from nearby Ada. 

“These events spread much of what America 250 and Ohio Goes to the Movies are celebrating,” said Joy Bennett, curator and archivist at the Hancock Historical Museum.

Joel Mantey, assistant director of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, explained, “We were excited to learn about the Ohio Goes to the Movies program, and then we saw that Ohio’s America 250 monthly theme for March (our established CommunityREAD month) was set to be ‘Ohio Entertains: Music, Entertainment & Movies.’ We thought it was too good an opportunity to pass up. The Hancock Historical Museum had already planned an OGTTM event, and we approached them about partnering to continue the movie fun and tying in our established community program.”

For content selection, he added, “We began searching through the OGTTM catalog of films (Ohio Movie Database) for book-to-film adaptations. We landed on ‘The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio’ for our adult selection and ‘Kit Kittredge: An American Girl’ as our youth selection. We are excited to have our two movie showings and a month of programs for all ages at the library all focused on Ohio Entertains in March 2026. We are sure our community will enjoy reading and discussing ‘The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio’ and having the experience of getting to see a showing of it as well.”