Ohioana Library Association
/OVERVIEW: The Ohioana Library Association prioritizes the work of Ohio writers.
IP TAKE: This Ohioana Library Association awards the prestigious Ohioana Book Awards and runs a small grant program to support young Ohio-based writers. Both programs accept applications and/or nominations. Review its award guidelines and past award winners to see if you are a fit for this organization.
PROFILE: Created in 1929, the Columbus-based Ohioana Library Association focuses on “collecting, preserving and celebrating Ohio literature.” Its stated mission is “connect[ing] readers and Ohio writers.” It runs two annual award programs, runs the Ohioana Book Festival and maintains a vast collection of books, sheet music and other writings and historical materials by and about Ohioans.
Grants for Writing
The Ohioana Library Association runs two annual award programs that recognize the outstanding work of writers who reside in or are native to the state of Ohio.
The Ohioana Book Awards “recognize Ohio authors for outstanding books published each year in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Juvenile Literature, Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature, Poetry, and Books about Ohio or an Ohioan.”
Traditionally published books “written or edited by a person born in Ohio or who has lived in Ohio for at least three years,” as well as books about Ohio or Ohioans authored by non-Ohioans are eligible for this award.
Submissions must have been “received by the Ohioana Library during the calendar year prior to the year the award is given and must have a copyright date within the last two calendar years.”
Books are evaluated based on “literary/artistic merit(50%), originality (30%) and audience appeal (20%).”
The association accepts nominations for this award via a nomination form that may be submitted via mail or email by December 31 each year.
See recent winners from each category here and past recipients here.
The Walter Rumsay Marvin Grant program honors the memory of the association’s second director with grants of $1,000 to support “an author 30 years of age or younger who has not had a book published.” Applicants must have been born in Ohio or lived in the state for a minimum of three years. The application consists of a short form that is liked to the awards page and a submission of “up to four pieces of prose” the total length of which must be between ten and forty pages, double spaced at 12-point font. The Association prefers print to electronic submissions. The application due date usually falls in early February, and entries are evaluated on “overall quality.”
Important Grant Details
It is unclear if the prestigious Ohioana Book Award is accompanied by a cash prize. The Walter Rumsay Marvin Grant is awarded in the amount of $1,000.
The Ohioana Book Award program accepts nominations, and the Walter Rumsay Martin program accepts applications. Guidelines for both programs are linked to the association’s awards page.
See the awards page for links to information about recent and past winners.
Submit general inquiries to the association via email at ohioana@ohioana.org or by telephone at 614.466.3831.
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