read more posts by
Bryan Loar
The Kossuth Street Garden was founded in 2007 in the Southern Orchards neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, and gives the local community the opportunity to connect and grow.
Located at a lot where a kosher slaughterhouse in a once predominately Jewish neighborhood once stood, the garden now connects, educates and inspires Central Ohio. This year, they’ve planted corn which will be used in creating delicious meals at their upcoming harvest party.
Kossuth’s little library is located at the front of the garden and welcomes all visitors. Installed eight years ago, the library is painted yearly by children, and, beyond promoting literacy, promotes community events.
The garden is host to regular cooking classes, Earth Day celebrations and a yearly upcoming harvest celebration on August 25. Additionally, the garden partners with The Ohio State University and Green Columbus.
I want to get people involved in community…to find their roots ~Michael Doody
Garden founder, Michael Doody, is a community advocate that cites his father as an inspiration. As a volunteer fireman, Michael’s father instilled a sense of civic pride and responsibility in Michael when he was young. Michael helped start Earth Day Columbus in 2007, and he enjoys giving back at Columbus Community Festival (ComFest). We had the pleasure of meeting Michael at ComFest 2018. He immediately struck us as energetic, passionate and approachable.
We encourage you to visit and become involved with the Kossuth Street Garden and little library. It’s an incredible space to be enjoyed by the entire community.
Kossuth Street Garden 641 E Kossuth St., Columbus, Ohio 43206
We’ve mapped chartered Little Free Libraries® (in yellow) and independent little libraries (in purple). Our map is open to edit with a Google account, and we encourage you to explore and enhance it.
When we walked into Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company‘s headquarters, we were immediately impressed by the open, illuminated space created by design. Nationwide’s library and archives are similar in that they are beacons shining light on both future and historically important decisions. We couldn’t wait to learn more about these private resources not open to the public.
Nationwide, a $46+ billion in sales, 34,000 employee national insurance company, relies on and heavily integrates its library and archives.
The corporate library was started in the 1930’s and today serves as more than an employee perk; it is an integral partner in professional development and data-driven decision making. Positioned as an enterprise-wide resource, the library provides research into insurance and financial services, IT trends and innovation and competitor market share. The library works to purchase resources for internal teams and provides access to important journal subscriptions.
Director Larae Schraeder says a role the Nationwide Library plays is to connect associates across the country with each other and to resources–ensuring knowledge is maximized and distributed. The library lives up to its motto delivering Nationwide “a smarter way to work.”
The Nationwide History and Archives Center is an incredible resource that preserves the company’s heritage for a strong future. With 300,000 pages of scanned documents; 3,000 films, videos and audio recordings and 200,000 photographs, the archives create insights into branding and advertising, department and organizational history, product backgrounds, corporate strategy evolution and more. In 2014, the archives played a role in Nationwide’s rebranding, and the archives communicate Nationwide’s legacy and progressive culture to inspire new associates.
The Archives Are at the Center of Engagement – Steve Hausfeld
Manager Steve Hausfeld shared the archives averages more than 1,500 tour visitors a year and much of the collection is built through relationships with current and former employees. Steve is passionate about the impact the archives provide and loves the diversity of work, associates’ enthusiasm for history and culture and leadership’s strong support.
While closed to the public, Nationwide’s Library and History & Archives Center bring invaluable research and historical context to tens of thousands across the United States. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn more.
Special thanks to Steve Hausfeld, Larae Schraeder, Janet Goodburn and David Schneider for their generosity and willingness to give us a first-hand peek into Nationwide’s amazing library and archives.
Thank you to all who supported and partnered with us! 2017 was a breakout year for Cbus Libraries. We’re excited to continue connecting and collaborating in 2018.
~Andrea Dixon & Bryan Loar, Co-Founders
Chat with us! We’d love to know more about you and your organization.