DECEMBER 2025 Library service of the month Library resource of the month. App of the month: Hoopla Did you know that you can check out movies from the comfort of your home with a library card? Hoopla is one of my favorite library apps. I watched 4 seasons of “My Life is Murder” staring Lucy Lawless. You can use Hoopla on your phone, tablet, computer, and TV. And the best part of Hoopla is the BingePass. If you missed them on PBS, Ken Burns documentaries are available through the Ken Burns BingePass.They also offer a Hallmark Bingepass, Great Courses, Dove Channel, and many more. Hoopla allows 8 checkouts a month, but a Binge Pass has unlimited checkouts for a week. Check out the Hoopla app today, available with your library card.
2 DECEMBER 2025 NEW RELEASES By Robin Vail Winter is here and we have many new books to keep you reading. Nora Robert’s newest is Seven Rings, book three of the Lost Brides Trilogy. Ace Atkins continues Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series with Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Stuart Woods series about CIA operative Teddy Fay has a new installment this month titled Blown Away. We have Tom Clancy’s newest Executive Power and Marshall Karp’s NYPD Red 8. And James Patterson’s newest is the nonfiction “Last Days of Marilyn Monroe.” Speaking of nonfiction, Barn Gothic: Three Generations and the Death of the Family Dairy Farm by Ryan Dennis is the story of finding your way forward when everything is falling apart. What to Eat Now: the indispensable guide to good food, how to find it and why it matters by Marion Nestle will help you make healthier choices at the grocery store. We have a lot of really great books for children for the Christmas season. Among the newest are Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale, if Mice Pulled the Sleigh by Bill Barnsley, Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Taveres and Candy Corn Christmas by Jonathan Fenske. We wish you all the Merriest of Christmases and Happy Reading throughout the New Year!
3 DECEMBER 2025 BLESSINGS May every book recommended to you turn out to be a soul crushing masterpiece. May every time you say “one more chapter” it leads to an a magical all-nighter that you will never regret. May your bookmark always be nearby so you do not have to replace it with a receipt, sock, or tortilla chip. May your next TBR pile stop looking like a tower of shame and look more like a buffet of options. May your book bestie always read the books you recommend because you have excellent taste. May the characters you love stay with you like an old friend and their words keep echoing after the last page. May your TBR become piles of anticipation and joy. From Goodreads
4 DECEMBER 2025 PROGRAMS By Jennifer Wilkins
5 DECEMBER 2025 LAST WORD By Kathy Huffman The smell of fresh baked cookies, jolly festive songs, and the first snowflakes of the season heralds in the fast-approaching holidays. It is a time to reflect, rejoice, and look forward to the new year. In reflection, the Local History and Museum Center was selected as a featured site along the America 250 – Ohio Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail. The sites along this Trail tell the story of Ohio’s waterways and their impact on Ohio’s history, culture, and growth. The small Village of Oak Harbor was founded in 1832 on the banks of the Portage River. We encourage visitors to stop by to explore Oak Harbor’s history and discover what made the Village a thriving river port, industrial hub, and later a vibrant agricultural community. Recently, the library received the LSTA Ohio’s Conversation and Preservation Grant to assist with the restoration of an 1894 blacksmithing bellows owned by L.D. Link. His shop was located at 245 W. Water Street, which is currently the Community Market’s parking lot. The project which includes a permanent display is slated to be completed in the fall of 2026. Make sure to check back for additional information regarding an Open House Grand Unveiling. As part of the American 250 celebration in 2026, the Museum is excited to announce an entire year of historical programs, special events, along with new and themed displays. Programs will be given by local historians, museum staff, and special guests. Our historical photographic database continues to grow. The Museum will continue to host genealogical help sessions provided by the Ottawa County Genealogical Society once a month. Even our logo has changed to reflect the enthusiasm of the American 250. The Museum’s first program kicks off on January 17 with Early Hartford/Oak Harbor History presented by local historian John Liske. The program depicts the history of Oak Harbor from early settlement to the early 1900’s. Discover what influences shaped the Village of Oak Harbor. Then on March 21 we will present “Then and Now”. What was it? Where was it? And where is it now? The program illustrates the history of buildings as they have changed over the past 100 years accompanied by historical information. On April 18 we will present “Oak Trees and Boats”. This program describes Oak Harbor’s late 1800’s – early 1900’s timber industry and the various boats which utilized the Portage River. On May 23 we will present “Theaters – Film and Stage”. This program portrays the history of Oak Harbor’s movie theaters along with OHHS thespian groups. On August 8 we will present “Fairs, Festivals, and Fairgrounds”. This program describes the various fairs and festivals hosted by Oak Harbor throughout the years. On September 19 we will present “Athletics Abound”. The program portrays OHHS athletic coaches and programs. The program will include a showing of the OHHS 1983 State basketball championship game played in Coumbus on March 25, 1983. Fall of 2026, date yet to be determined, we will host a Cemetery Walk. Join us on a leisure walk through Union Cemetery to learn about its history while exploring gravestone symbology. The walk ends with a tour of the Union Cemetery Mausoleum. On October 24 we will present “J Wellers Company – Beyond the Bottle”. This ever-changing program reveals everything you ever wanted to know about the J. Weller company. Learn about the founder Jacob Weller and his journey to build one of the most recognized and influential companies in Oak Harbor. In June we will host an Oak Harbor Antique Road Show event. The month-long program encourages patrons (con’t on page 6)
6 DECEMBER 2025 FRIENDS NEWS THE Friends of the Oak Harbor Public Library have been busy with their raffle baskets. Many local organizations donated gifts and gift cards to the Friends. Community Markets graciously allowed the Friends to sell tickets at the market. The winning tickets will be drawn at the Open House on December 9th. The Friends are looking for donations for the hat and mitten tree. All knitters and crocheters are encouraged to make a hat. Hats are donated to local organizations, including the local schools and shelters. Any child that forgets their hat can pick up a hat at the school. The Friends will not meet in December. The next meeting will be January 16th at 11:00. All Friends are encouraged to attend. To join the Friends of the Oak Harbor Public Library, pick up a brochure at the library or fill out the membership form. The Friends would like to thank all who donated to their December raffle. Donors: Black Swamp Tavern Community market Designs by Marie Donors include Friendship Kitchen Happy Hour Marco’s Pizza Mary’s Hair Design Napa Auto Parts Oak Harbor Hardware Ottawa County Historical Society Perfect Imperfections Boutique and Design Porky’s Pizza Trof Snoochy Poochy Salon & Spa The Rocket Shop (con’t from page 5). to bring in local artifacts to uncover their relevance to Oak Harbor history. (Items will not be appraised.) Our current schedule of displays includes “Made in Oak Harbor”, a month-long display in February which will depict interesting items and artifacts made in Oak Harbor. In July stop by for “Oak Harbor Time Capsules”, a monthlong display through July which will depict both the 1911 OHHS and Flat Iron Park Gazebo 50year Anniversary time capsules. Then in November join us in honoring our military with “In honor of our Veterans” display, a month-long display which will depict local military and veterans’ artifacts. There is much to look forward to in 2026. Make sure to check the Library’s website and follow us on social media for updated information on programs and events. The Oak Harbor Public Library, Local History Museum, wishes everyone the happiest of holidays and an inspiring New Year.
7 DECEMBER 2025 OAK HARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY 147 W. MAIN ST OAK HARBOR OH 43449 419-898-7001 Oakharborpubliclibrary.org ohpl@seolibraries.org The mission of the Oak Harbor Public Library is to serve as a center for information retrieval, cultural and intellectual pursuits, self-education, and recreational reading by providing a facility, services, and materials which meet the needs of the community.
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