Celebrating a Year of Literary Excellence:

Buckeye Book Fair’s 2023 Annual Report

The Buckeye Book Fair is proud to present its 2023 Annual Report, showcasing another year of celebrating Ohio’s literary talent and fostering a love for reading across the state. Through strategic initiatives, robust community partnerships, and feedback-driven improvements, we met our six programming goals, leaving a lasting impact on our community.

Promoting Ohio Authors and Illustrators

In 2023, BBF proudly featured 112 Ohio authors and illustrators, showcasing a diverse array of voices and stories. Notable achievements include:

• Mark Dawidziak won the Agatha Award for The Unveiling of Poe: Exploring the Mystery Behind Edgar Allen Poe’s Demise.
• Amanda Flower and Linda Castillo received Mary Higgins Clark and Agatha Awards.
• Marcy Campbell was honored with an Ohioana Award for The More You Give.
• Kelcey Ervick highlighted the impact of Title IX in The Keeper: Me and the Law That Changed Women’s Lives.

These accolades underscore our commitment to promoting the highest quality of Ohio’s literary talent.

Encouraging Reading Across All Ages

BBF events saw vibrant participation across different age groups:

• Seventeen schools, including Ashland City School District, Wooster City School District, and others, participated in BBF events.
• 28 new volunteers from various generations joined our efforts.
• The newly introduced Student Lit Day for grades 9-12 garnered significant enthusiasm.
• The Young Authors Conference received exemplary evaluations from 90% of teachers, who praised Jerzy Drozd as their favorite teaching artist.

Participants expressed deep appreciation for the event. A volunteer remarked, “I love to help people, so that was very rewarding for me. Also, being around all those amazing books and meeting a few authors was so wonderful.” An author highlighted the diversity and unity of the event, saying, “Buckeye Book Fair is a beautiful microcosm of the book-loving world.”

Building an Audience and Network for Ohio Authors

Authors praised BBF for the opportunities it provided to connect with readers and fellow writers, often calling it the “Family Reunion of the Literary World.”

• Michelle Houts enjoyed having her book featured on the catalog cover and seeing repeat shoppers each year.
• Authors valued the connections made with readers and other authors, with one noting, “The Group Photo, connecting with authors, new readers purchasing my books, and simply being invited to the fair!”

Our events facilitated meaningful collaborations, including partnerships with the Ohio Genealogical Society and Ohioana Book Library. Presentations covered diverse topics, and workshops like “Young Voices, Bold Choices” for young adult authors were particularly engaging and full of laughter.

Informing and Inspiring on Ohio Heritage

BBF continued to highlight Ohio’s rich heritage:

• David Goodrich’s On Freedom Road captivated attendees with his journey on the Underground Railroad by bicycle.
• Timothy G. Anderson’s Settling Ohio, First Peoples and Beyond was among the top-selling books.

Our events attracted over 1,200 attendees at the festival, with book crawl events and author talks generating substantial interest. Mindy McGinnis’s and Annie Hunter Eriksen’s presentations, along with a sports panel discussion, were particularly well-received, drawing diverse audiences.

Extending Engagement Beyond the Festival

BBF’s reach extended throughout the year:

• The Buckeye Book Bits Newsletter received a much-needed update, now released monthly with a goal of reaching 3,000 readers by the end of 2024.
• Author Katie Mazieka gave talks at elementary schools and produced a video for World Read Aloud Day.
• We visited multiple schools, fostering a love of reading among young students.

Students eagerly anticipated author visits and the announcement of Excellence Awards, a highlight in partnership with the Tri-County Educational Service Center.

Expanding Services Based on Feedback

Feedback from attendees, volunteers, and authors was instrumental in shaping our initiatives:

• Attendees suggested improved signage and clearer entry points, which we will implement in future events.
• We received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants enjoying meeting authors, discovering new books, and attending talks.

In response, we are introducing a Buckeye Book Camp over the summer to expand enthusiasm and writing opportunities leading up to the festival.

Event Data and Metrics

• Overall Attendance in all events: Approximately 8,500 participants.
• Over 7,000 Books Offered | Books Sold: 3,436
• Geographical Reach: Attendees from over 26 different cities.
• New and Returning Participants: About 30% were first-time attendees, and around 50% were regular participants.

Community and Partner Engagement

Our community and partner engagement remained robust:

• Supported by The Ohio Arts Council.
• Partnerships with Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, Tri-County Educational Service Center, Wayne County Public Library.
• Sponsors: Consumers National Bank, Wooster Glass Company, D+S Distribution Inc, Seaman Corporation, Pinnacle Press, Germain Honda of College Hills, Critchfield, and Kiwanis of Wooster.

Seaman Corporation’s consistent annual donation exemplifies the strong community support we receive.

Empirical Data

• Mailing List and Volunteer Participation: Significant increases in new mailing list sign-ups and volunteer participation.
• Social Media Engagement: Robust engagement across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

By leveraging community support, extensive promotion, accessible venues, and diverse engagement strategies, BBF successfully fostered an inclusive and celebratory literary environment for all. We look forward to building on this success in the coming year, continuing to inspire readers and support Ohio’s vibrant literary community.