Ritter Library’s Collin Kuhn Receives Statewide Emerging Leader Award

VERMILION — Collin Kuhn, Youth Services Associate at Ritter Public Library, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award by the Ohio Library Council (OLC). The annual award honors library professionals who demonstrate strong leadership potential and a commitment to advancing library services early in their careers.

Since joining Ritter Public Library, Kuhn has contributed to several initiatives aimed at improving accessibility and engagement for young readers. He helped redesign the juvenile nonfiction classification system to make it easier to navigate and played a key role in updating the children’s area to meet higher accessibility standards.

Kuhn has also developed more than 25 STEM-focused early literacy kits and organizes interactive storytime sessions designed to spark curiosity and foster early learning. Beyond programming, he has worked to strengthen partnerships with local schools and frequently shares insights from professional development workshops to support staff training.

In his role as President of Ritter Library’s bargaining unit, Kuhn has been recognized for promoting collaboration between staff and management during a period of organizational transition. He is also preparing to pursue a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree, underscoring his long-term commitment to the field.

Kuhn will be formally honored during a special ceremony at the OLC Convention and Expo on November 19, 2025, at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland.