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Mary Ludlum retires after 32 years

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Grandview Heights Public Library Director Mary Ludlum, who has worked at the Library for 32 years, retires on August 31, 2013.

Ludlum leaves an outstanding legacy of commitment to public service, community involvement, and progressive leadership.

Under her leadership as Director the past five years, the Grandview Library has been ranked a five-star public library every year, even as the Library experienced major service reductions due to unprecedented state funding cuts. For the past two years, the Library has been recognized as the best public library of its size in America.

Ludlum has fostered the Library’s unique identity as a welcoming community gathering place with friendly, personalized service while expanding its tradition of offering the newest technologies and methodologies.

During her tenure at the Library, Ludlum has helped:

  • Establish the popular Music on the Lawn summer outdoor concert series.
  • Create a tradition of providing a large events calendar for all ages.
  • Lead seven Library levy campaigns.
  • Cultivate the Friends of the Grandview Library, which provides regular financial support to the Library.
  • Grow the Grandview Library Foundation Board’s Endowment Fund to nearly $1 million.
  • Create and execute the annual Lazy Daze of Summer Festival.
  • Form the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Arts Council (born of community collaboration from the Lazy Daze of Summer Festival).
  • Advance the Central Library Consortium, which now includes 11 public libraries.
  • Continue to introduce new technologies, from implementing an online catalog to being the first Ohio library to offer free music downloads to keep.
  • Navigate the Library through major service reductions due to unprecedented state funding cuts (2009).
  • Conduct massive building projects, from a major building addition (1988-9) to renovations like The Basement, The Study Commons, and several new areas in Youth Services.

Ludlum began working at the Grandview Library in 1981. She has served as Young Adult Librarian, Program Coordinator, Public Relations Manager, Assistant Director, and Director. Previously, she worked in libraries at Capital University, Otterbein College, and the University of Michigan.

Ludlum is a lifelong member of the American Library Association and the Ohio Library Council. She is also a longtime Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry volunteer and Atonement Lutheran Church member.

The Grandview Library enjoys a special reputation locally and nationally thanks to Ludlum’s guidance, passion, and commitment to serving the community.

The Library and the community extend our appreciation for Mary’s dedication and service and wish her all the best in her retirement. She is succeeded by Ryan McDonnell, who assumes the directorship on September 1, 2013.

The public is invited to a retirement reception on Thursday, August 29, from 4-7 pm, in the Library’s Meeting Room. Join us in honoring Mary and her many wonderful years at the Grandview Library.

The Grandview Library Foundation welcomes giving to the Library’s Endowment Fund for those wishing to honor Mary’s retirement with a gift! 

Senior DVD grace period still honored

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Our three-day DVD “grace period” for seniors (patrons 60 & older) is temporarily unavailable. While seniors are unintentionally being charged overdue fees for those days, we are still honoring the three-day grace period.

If you are charged overdue fees for DVDs you returned or renewed within three days after the due date, please let us know so we can waive the charges.

We are in the process of fixing the problem and apologize for any inconvenience.

Call Circulation at 614-486-2951 with any questions.

Learn more about our Circulation Policies.

Longer loan periods for movies

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DVDs & Blu-rays now circulate for 7 or 14 days:

  • Feature films & TV shows — 7 days
  • Non-fiction films — 14 days.
Enjoy extended loans for your movies!
Learn more about our Circulation Policies.

May 25-27: Parking lots closed

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Both Library parking lots will be closed beginning 5 pm on Saturday-Monday, May 25-27, for resealing & striping.
You can still access the wall and brown bookdrops by the back doors using the sidewalk; the drive-up book drop will not be available.
Parking is available on the surrounding streets. Please access the sidewalk from Ashland Avenue.
Please do not walk on the parking lot during these repairs!
Note: All vehicles not removed from lot by 5:15 pm on Saturday, May 25, will be towed. 
Questions? Call Circulation at 614-486-2951.

McDonnell named new Director

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Ryan McDonnell has been selected by the Grandview Heights Public Library Board of Trustees as the next Director of the Grandview Library.

Ryan is a respected library leader with an outstanding record of accomplishment. He is currently the Director of the Marysville Public Library and Chair of the Governing Council of the Central Library Consortium (CLC), of which the Grandview Library is a founding member and Administering Library.
Ryan has been with the Marysville Public Library since 2003 and has served as Director since 2005. He has worked in libraries since 1995 in a variety of positions and is active in the Ohio Library Council (OLC), a professional organization for public librarians. He is also a former resident of Grandview Heights.
Ryan succeeds Mary Ludlum, who retires August 31, 2013, after almost 32 years at the Grandview Library, serving the past five years as Director. Ryan will work with Mary beginning late August and will begin duties as Director on September 1, 2013.
Please join the Board of Trustees, Mary Ludlum, and the Library staff in welcoming Ryan McDonnell.

Libraries collaborate, offer 1.2M titles

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Columbus Metropolitan, Worthington, and Southwest Public libraries have joined the Central Library Consortium (CLC)*, bringing better service to patrons and resource & cost sharing among nearly a dozen Central Ohio library systems.

Beginning May 22:

  • 11 Central Ohio libraries will serve 1.4 million residents in six counties.
  • Get access to 1.2 million titles—double the titles these libraries currently offer.
  • Get faster delivery of member library items.
  • Reserve materials from any member libraries’ collections.
    • Each library’s patrons receive reserves first for their library’s items, before they can be reserved by patrons of other libraries.
  • Return materials to any member library.
    • To check out in person, you will still need your individual library’s card.

NOTE: From May 17-21, Grandview Library patrons will need their Grandview Library card to check out items, as our computer system is upgraded to add these new members. Our catalog and other online services will experience disruptions during this time; WIFI and Internet computers will be available. 


* The Grandview Library is a founding CLC member and the Administering Library. The CLC was founded in 1988, funded by an LSTA grant written in part by the Grandview Library, and was among the first in Ohio to institute daily delivery among the members to share materials and to do cooperative licensing of databases. 

MAY 4: Pick up your herb & veggie orders

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Did you place a Herb & Vegetable Plant Sale order from the Friends of the Grandview Library?

Pick-up day is Saturday, May 4, from noon-2 pm, on the Library Lawn!

No extra plants will be for sale this day. Prepayment was required and orders closed on Monday, April 15.
Questions? Contact Friends member Tracy Garrett at 614-595-3530 or email mtbuckets@aol.com.

Bellows talk with Columbus Museum of Art

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Enjoy a presentation about artist George Bellows with the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) on Tuesday, April 30, from 7-8 pm!

George Bellows left Columbus in 1904 to take the New York art world by storm. In just five short years, he was considered among the nation’s most respected artists.

CMA’s Curator of American Art Melissa Wolfe will discuss the cultural and artistic reasons for this Columbus native’s fame in her talk George Bellows and Painting Modern America.

This special event celebrates the exhibit George Bellows and the American Experience, on view at CMA August 23, 2013—January 4, 2014.

Presented by: CMA, GH/MC Historical Society, and The Village of Marble Cliff (once home to relatives of Bellows), and the Grandview Library.

Pictured: “Dempsey and Firpo” (1924) by George Bellows; Whitney Museum of American Art.

May 17-21: Library card required

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Our computer system will experience disruptions May 17-21 as it is upgraded to prepare for new library partners joining the Central Ohio Library Consortium (CLC), which will double the titles these library systems currently offer.
While patrons can still check out materials while our system is offline during this time, patrons will need to present their Grandview Library card to check out materials.
Also, during this time:
  • The online catalog will be available for searching only.
  • Unavailable through our catalog:
    • Account management
    • Holds
    • Fine payments
    • Renewals
    • Status/availabilty of items
  • Items will not be due.
  • Most services in our Digital Library will be unvailable, such as Digital Downloads, Freegal, and Zinio.
  • Other library services may be affected, including our website.

Internet computers in Reference and WiFi are expected to be functional.

All CLC library systems (including new partners) will offline during this time.

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to welcoming new libraries to the consortium and offering patrons many more materials!

Ludlum receives Community Service Award

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Grandview Library Director Mary Ludlum has received the 2013 Community Service Award from the Grandview Area Chamber of Commerce!

The Chamber presented its yearly awards at its Spring Cha-Ching Gala at the Hollywood Casino on Friday, March 29, 2013.

The award was presented to Ludlum for her many years service to the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff community. Her husband Dan and their son Stephen, along with library supporters, were part of the 200 in attendence to celebrate the awards ceremony. The event also featured master of ceremonies WBNS 10TV news anchor Kurt Ludlow, a silent auction, and live music.

Ludlum has worked at the Grandview Library for more than 30 years. She has been Director for the past five years and served as Assistant Director for many years before that. She is retiring in August 2013.

Thank you to the Chamber for recognizing Ludlum’s amazing committment to community and dedication to serving the public!

Grandview Area Chamber of Commerce 2013 award winners: Melissa Howell, Bonnie James, Greg Kidwell, Mary Ludlum, Joelle Khouzam, Hayley Head.