“So many children in our community rely on free or discounted school lunches,” says CML Public Services Director Miya Reyes. “It is absolutely critical that students have access to healthy, nourishing meals over the summer. It not only benefits the body, but the mind.”

Click here for CML’s 2024 summer meals schedule.

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The annual program challenges students to track their progress as they read for 20 days and complete five activities on their game boards. Examples of game board activities include “Read a book about science,” “Read a book in a series,” “Read a book about a holiday” and many more. Just for signing up, students can select a prize from the library’s Treasure Box. Students who complete the program will earn a book to keep, as well as a drawstring bag.

Last winter, approximately 3,800 students participated in the program.

Studies show that kids who read during out-of-school time maintain reading skills that are critical to future school success. The Third Grade Reading Guarantee in Ohio means many central Ohio third graders could repeat the grade if they don’t pass state proficiency testing. This year’s Winter Reading Challenge is supported by Altrusa International of Columbus and Battelle.

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Currently offered at six of CML’s 23 library locations – with plans for it to be offered at the new Gahanna and Reynoldsburg branches when they open in 2023 and 2024 respectively – the YouMedia program provides teens with access to technology and mentoring designed to ignite creative sparks that could lead to future careers. Teens have the opportunity to mix music, create podcasts, design graphics and logos and to deepen their knowledge of different software and technology. Visit columbuslibrary.org/teens to learn more.

Battelle’s gift, part of its STEM grant program, enables CML to expand YouMedia to its remaining 15 locations with portable kits. These kits include iPads, recording bundles, cameras, green screens, drum pads and more. The Portable YouMedia project is expected to be available at those remaining 15 locations by mid-October.

“Our strategic focus is to help give young minds a foundation for a successful life,” said CML CEO Patrick Losinski. “Battelle’s support greatly expands opportunities for teens throughout central Ohio to experiment, to create and to develop lifelong passions.”

“Columbus Metropolitan Library serves as a powerful resource for education in central Ohio,” said Wes Hall, Vice President, Philanthropy & Education at Battelle. “Our new partnership for the Portable YouMedia project will help ignite the creativity of a new generation of creators.”

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit battelle.org.

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• Barnett Branch: Monday-Friday: 3:30-4:30 p.m. & Saturday: 2:30-3 p.m.
• Driving Park Branch: Monday-Friday: 4:15-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 3:15-3:45 p.m.
• Franklinton Branch: Monday-Saturday: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Hilltop Branch: Monday-Friday: 3:15-3:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Karl Road Branch: Monday-Friday: 4-5 p.m. & Saturday: 2-3 p.m.
• Linden Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4-4:30 p.m.
• Main Library: Monday-Friday: 3:15-3:45 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Branch: Monday-Friday: 4-4:30 p.m. & Saturday: 12-12:30 p.m.
• Northern Lights Branch: Monday-Saturday: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Northside Branch: Monday-Friday: 4:15-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Parsons Branch: Monday-Saturday: 3:30-4 p.m.
• Shepard Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4:15-4:45 p.m.
• South High Branch: Monday-Friday: 4-5 p.m.
• Southeast Branch: Monday-Friday: 3:45-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Whitehall Branch: Monday-Friday: 4-4:30 p.m. & Saturday: 3-3:30 p.m.

These locations were selected for the meal program based on student need. A typical super-snack provided by Children’s Hunger Alliance consists of a fruit, vegetable, protein, grain and milk.

“Food insecurity was a pervasive issue facing our community well before the pandemic,” said CML CEO Patrick Losinski. “Now, with central Ohio reeling from simultaneous health and economic crises, our families need our support more than ever before. We’re grateful for the tremendous resources and partnership provided by Children’s Hunger Alliance.”

Judy Mobley, president and CEO of CHA, said, “We value the continued partnership with Columbus Metropolitan Library working with us to provide meals to children in our community who experience food insecurity. Together we are making a difference in the lives of many central Ohio children each day.”

Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio. Through their work, Children’s Hunger Alliance provides healthy meals to hungry children, advocates for the welfare of Ohio’s youngest citizens and teaches nutrition and physical education to those they serve. For more information, visit childrenshungeralliance.org.

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The annual program challenges students to track their progress as they read for 20 days and complete five activities on their game boards. Examples of game board activities include “Read a book about a famous person,” “Read a book with a magical creature,” “Tell a staff member about a book you read” and many more. Just for signing up, students will receive a bookmark, mechanical pencil, eraser and sticker. Students who complete the program will earn a book they can keep, as well as a drawstring bag.

Last winter, approximately 7,800 students participated in the program.

Studies show that kids who read during out-of-school time maintain reading skills that are critical to future school success. The Third Grade Reading Guarantee in Ohio means many central Ohio third graders could repeat the grade if they don’t pass state proficiency testing.

This year’s Winter Reading Challenge is supported by Battelle, Altrusa International of Columbus, Ohio and Corde Westwater Robinson. Masks are required to enter CML buildings by order of the City of Columbus and Library Board of Trustees. Children under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask. CML recently announced that, due to a staffing shortage, all 23 locations will close on Sundays through at least Jan. 9, 2022.

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The impressive 600-square-foot Huntington Holiday Train includes multiple miniature trains running on more than 280 feet of track surrounded by more than 50 pounds of snowflakes. The miniature buildings – which are all made from leaves, bark, seeds, pinecones, fungus and moss – are modeled after actual structures in Germany.

This marks the 29th year of the holiday attraction, which was built in 1992 by Applied Imagination founder Paul Busse. The train was originally displayed in the lobby of the historic Huntington building at Broad and High streets. In 2009, Huntington graciously loaned the train to CML. This year will be its eleventh on display in Main Library’s atrium. (There was no train display in 2015 due to Main Library’s renovation, nor in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Highlights include a 6-foot-tall cathedral, an 8-foot-tall castle and a waterfall that pumps 600 gallons of water an hour. Each building in the display took between one and three weeks to create. The castle and waterfall took more than three months to complete; it took more than 10 months to build the cathedral. The entire display takes two days to set up.

Visit columbuslibrary.org/huntington-holiday-train for more information.

CML’s annual Holiday Open House, which typically coincides with the ceremonial switching on of the holiday train, is canceled this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Masks are required to enter CML buildings by order of the City of Columbus and Library Board of Trustees. Children under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask.

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This year, due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, lunches will be distributed as grab & go meals for kids to take home.

This marks the 20th year CML has offered Summer Lunch.

“So many children in our community rely on free or discounted school lunches,” says CML Public Services Director Kathy Shahbodaghi. “It is absolutely critical that students have access to healthy, nourishing lunches and snacks. It not only benefits the body, but the mind as well.”

Click here for a list and schedule of CML’s Summer Lunch locations.

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