Theater

Bring your Library to the Faire

The Ohio Renaissance Festival is an extremely popular event in southwestern Ohio. Even with discounted entry, there are barriers for many who are interested in attending. Learn how the Hamilton Lane Library found a way to bring the RenFaire experience to the branch, the partnerships we formed, and how the event has grown.

Cathy Hirsch is the children's services librarian for the Lane Public Libraries in Hamilton. She spent 26 years prior to becoming a librarian raising her sons, being a scout leader, and working for Cincinnati Public Schools. Those experiences often influence the type of programming she develops for the children in her branch. When not at the library, Cathy can be found working on needle crafts and answering to "Oma."

 

Room 1

Celebrating 250 Years: Engaging Library Communities Through History and Learning

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, America 250‑Ohio invites libraries to serve as hubs of learning, storytelling, and local pride. This session shares ready‑to‑run programs aligned to the Commission’s monthly themes and statewide initiatives—including Trails & Tales tourism trails, Ohio Goes to the Movies, and Ohio’s Homecoming & Picnic—plus practical tactics for collecting under‑told stories and engaging patrons of all ages. Participants will leave with links to toolkits, examples, and guidance on partnering with official America 250‑Ohio communities.

Taylor Tomu is the Community Engagement & Outreach Specialist with the America 250‑Ohio Commission, serving as staff liaison to the Under‑Told Stories, Education, and 88 County Engagement committees. She connects communities across the state to Commission initiatives such as Trails & Tales, Ohio Goes to the Movies, and Ohio’s Homecoming & Picnic, and convenes monthly liaison meetings to share resources and programming opportunities. Her recent work includes supporting the statewide Underground Railroad Gathering and advancing the Under‑Told Stories blog and memory collection efforts.

 

Room 2

Unearthing the Fossils of Cincinnati

Walk into the tropical shallow sea that existed in this area 450 million years ago. Discover the various species that called this area home and understand why almost all the fossils here come from the Ordovician period.

Sean Masterson is an outdoor educator at Sharon Woods, part of Great Parks. He studied natural resources management at Ohio State and teaches people of all ages about nature in Cincinnati from the past and present.

 

Room 3

Programming with Middens: Urban Archaeology

Come learn how old trash sites around older homes are being uncovered and telling stories about the inhabitants. We'll discuss how to recreate them for programs for all ages.

Alice Beresford uses her degree in Recreation and 20 years experience in teaching followed by 20 years as a Youth/Children's Librarian to create and share hands-on experiences for all ages including families and seniors. She retired in 2024 but still shares her enthusiasm for creating hands-on experiences.

 

Room 4

Does This Count as STEM?

With the wide-variety of options available under the STEM categories, it can be easy to claim anything as a STEM activity, but what actually makes up a quality STEM activity? In this session we will cover the building blocks of STEM Best Practices and how to build an effective and fun STEM learning experience for children.

Elinor Blankenship began her career in afterschool programming and she thought about running away to the circus, but they weren’t hiring so instead she worked for YMCAs in Kentucky, Ohio and finally Utah. She recently moved back home and joined the library world as the Children and Family Service Librarian at Anderson Public Library. She loves to help staff juggle the perfect mix of fun and learning.