I’ll admit it… I wasn’t much of a reader. Like, at all. The last book I finished prior to last year was To Kill a Mockingbird… in high school. That was over ten years ago. (Yikes.)
But last year I picked up The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper and actually finished it. This year, I read The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy — and I swear, that man doesn’t just write books, he paints movies with words. The way he can pull you into a scene and make you feel every sound, smell, and shadow… it’s wild.
Now I’m reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown and loving it, which made me realize something: I’ve been sleeping on one of Columbus’ greatest treasures — our library system — and there’s a good chance you’re doing the same.
Wake Up. Libraries are Cool as Heck
The Columbus Metropolitan Library isn’t just a building full of books. It’s basically a community superhero disguised as a library. Every single month, they host thousands of events across their many branches — chess clubs, toddler storytimes, after-school snacks for kids provided by the Children’s Hunger Alliance, creative writing workshops, computer classes, you name it.
It’s not just about reading, it’s about connecting.
And if you’re a bookworm (or a recovering non-reader like me), the library’s Authors at the Library series is your golden ticket. They bring in world-renowned authors to talk, answer questions, and sign books, all for free. Here are a few of the upcoming events you should absolutely mark on your calendar:
Pam Muñoz Ryan
📅 Thursday, February 12 | 6 p.m.
📍 Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.
Pam Muñoz Ryan is not just “an author.” She’s a literal legend in children’s and young adult literature. A Newbery Honor winner and the 2026 U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award, she’s written over forty books including Esperanza Rising, Echo, and Becoming Naomi León.
If you grew up reading her… this is your moment. And if your kids are reading her now? Even better.
The evening includes an author talk, audience Q&A, and a book signing, with sales by Cover to Cover. It’s thoughtful, inspiring, and honestly a pretty cool opportunity to hear from someone whose work has shaped classrooms across the country.
RSVP and more info here.
Candacy Taylor
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 1 p.m.
📍 Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.
Candacy Taylor is an award-winning author, photographer, and cultural documentarian whose work centers on the history of the Green Book and Black travel in America.
Her book Overground Railroad was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and has been featured everywhere from National Geographic to Oprah Magazine. Casual.
Taylor’s work has also been commissioned by organizations like The Library of Congress and the National Park Service, and she’s collaborated with the Smithsonian. So yes, this is a big deal.
Expect a powerful author talk, Q&A, and book signing. If you love history, journalism, or stories that reshape how we see America, this one is worth your time.
RSVP and more info here.
Terah Shelton Harris
📅 Sunday, March 8 | 2 p.m.
📍 Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.
Terah Shelton Harris writes upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings… which is my favorite kind of emotional damage.
She’s the author of One Summer in Savannah, Long After We Are Gone, and her newest novel Where the Wildflowers Grow, a story about survival, redemption, and figuring out what it actually means to start living.
Her books have been Target Book Club picks, LibraryReads selections, and Goodreads Choice Award nominees. She was even named Target’s first Author of the Year.
If you love layered characters, complicated families, and stories that stick with you long after you close the book, this is your Sunday plan.
RSVP and more info here.
Jasmine Warga
📅 Tuesday, March 10 | 6 p.m.
📍 Hilltop Branch | 511 S. Hague Ave.
Jasmine Warga is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a Newbery Honor recipient, which is about as elite as it gets in the world of middle grade and teen fiction.
She’s written Other Words for Home, The Shape of Thunder, A Rover’s Story, and more. Her books have been translated into over twenty-five languages, which is absolutely wild when you think about it.
This event includes a free book giveaway, a Q&A, and a book signing… plus a Columbus Zoo and Aquarium animal encounter. Yes. An animal encounter. At an author event. We love a plot twist.
RSVP and more info here.
Misako Rocks!
📅 Wednesday, April 15 | 6 p.m.
📍 Reynoldsburg Branch | 1402 Brice Rd, Reynoldsburg
Misako Rocks! is a Brooklyn-based manga artist who turned her passion into a full-blown career. She first gained attention when The Onion featured her illustrations, and she’s since published books in both the U.S. and Japan.
Her autobiographical comic Rock and Roll Love landed on the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens list, and she now teaches manga drawing classes everywhere from NYC middle schools to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This event includes a manga workshop, author talk, Q&A, and signing… which means you might actually leave with new skills. Dangerous.
RSVP and more info here.
Andrew Welsh-Huggins
📅 Thursday, April 16 | 6 p.m.
📍 New Albany Branch | 200 Market St.
If you love crime novels, Andrew Welsh-Huggins should already be on your radar.
He’s the author of more than a dozen books, including The Delivery, The Mailman, and the Shamus Award-nominated Andy Hayes private eye series. He also edited Columbus Noir, which feels very on-brand for us.
His short stories have appeared in The Best Mystery Stories of the Year and The Best Private Eye Stories of the Year, and his nonfiction book No Winners Here Tonight dives into the history of the death penalty in Ohio.
Thriller fans, mystery lovers, and anyone who enjoys a little darkness with their fiction… this one’s for you.
RSVP and more info here.
Beth Macy in Conversation with Brian Alexander
📅 Sunday, May 3 | 2 p.m.
📍 Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.
Beth Macy, author of Dopesick (yes, the one adapted into the Peabody Award-winning Hulu series), is coming to Columbus for a conversation about her new memoir, Paper Girl.
She’s a Guggenheim Fellow, Nieman Fellow at Harvard, and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Basically, she knows what she’s doing.
She’ll be joined by Ohioana Book Award-winner Brian Alexander, author of Glass House and The Hospital, for what’s shaping up to be a thoughtful and timely discussion about political polarization, the rural-urban divide, and the state of local news.
If you love big-picture conversations with real substance, this is a can’t-miss.
RSVP and more info here.
Bonnie Quinn
📅 Tuesday, May 12 | 6:30 p.m.
📍 Hilliard Branch | 4500 Hickory Chase Way
Local horror fans, this one’s for you.
Bonnie Quinn is a Columbus-based author and Senior Software Developer who built a massive following on Reddit’s r/NoSleep community with her wildly popular How to Survive Camping and How to Survive College series.
Yes, she started by typing stories on MS-DOS as a kid. Yes, that’s iconic.
If you love horror, internet-born storytelling, or supporting local authors who are quietly crushing it, swing by for her author talk, Q&A, and signing.
RSVP and more info here.
More Than a Library… It’s Columbus’ Creative Heartbeat
Whether you’re discovering your next favorite author, teaching your kid to love storytime, or just need a quiet place to work and recharge, the Columbus Metropolitan Library really is Central Ohio’s hidden gem. It’s not just about checking out books — it’s about checking into your community.
And as someone who only recently rediscovered the joy of reading, I can say this with full confidence: the best stories aren’t just in the books. They’re in the people, the events, and the connections happening at your local library every single day.
👉 Explore upcoming library events here
Things To Do
Attention Central Ohio Business Owners!
We built the Step Out advertising program for local businesses that want to get in front of locals in Central Ohio — people actively looking for places to eat, shop, and explore.
A business we advertised even had to hire 2 more people after working with us.
Curious if we’re a good fit for your business?
👉 Learn about our audience
Already thinking, “This sounds perfect for us”?
👉 Learn more about our ads
