The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library provides resources and services that help fulfill WeTHRIVE!’s mission of creating a culture of health, safety, and vitality throughout Hamilton County.
WeTHRIVE!’s relationship with the Library began when community WeTHRIVE!℠ teams needed space to hold OSU Extension cooking classes. The Library was easy to work with, interested in WeTHRIVE!, and soon became a formal WeTHRIVE! partner.
When David Siders, the Library’s civic engagement coordinator, spoke at the WeTHRIVE! Learning Collaborative in March, our communities learned how the Library’s value goes beyond simply providing meeting space. It offers resources and services that can help WeTHRIVE! teams improve their communities – from grant writing assistance and programs for non-profits to summer and afterschool meal programs and free Wi-Fi.
We didn’t know then just how essential the Library would become.
“Your Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library has been a second responder to community needs since the onset of the pandemic,” David said. “On day one of the stay-at-home order, we continued vital services over the phone, virtually with Library Apps services, and by e-mail even though we closed our doors to help us all stay safe.”
The Library provides COVID-19 health, safety, and well-being information, job help and unemployment assistance, education and literacy support, and food assistance.
Did you know?
Even if you don’t have a library card, you can use the library’s online services. From the library’s website, any resident of Ohio can get a downloadable-only library card that allows access to all of the library’s digital materials, which includes thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles in text and audio format as well as streaming video and music.
The Library partners with UMC Food Ministry to provide after-school and summer meals at various branch locations (see list here). Since the beginning of the year, 36,080 meals have been distributed. This includes 20,743 meals provided since the pandemic shut down started in March.
“We are always here for you, and have recently gone fine free for the rest of the year,” David added. “For customized one-on-one help, make a My Librarian appointment today. Please call 513-369-6900 to learn more, including how we have re-started services.”
Be sure to check the Library’s events calendar for new outdoor and virtual events.
Library partners with WeTHRIVE! communities:
- Reading: The Reading WeTHRIVE! team uses the Reading Branch Library as a meeting space. The branch also helps print and distribute Park Passports, a program that encourages families to explore the city of Reading. The Reading WeTHRIVE! team partnered with OSU Extension to host nutrition and cooking classes at the branch earlier this year.
- Cheviot: The Cheviot WeTHRIVE! team partnered with OSU Extension to host nutrition education classes at the Cheviot Branch Library.
- St. Bernard: The St. Bernard WeTHRIVE! team partnered with the St. Bernard Branch Library to host Hamilton County Public Health’s community health assessment presentation last year.