Ohioana Library Staff Members
 Linda R. Hengst - Director,
Ohioana Library Association
Linda has served as the director of the Ohioana Library Association since 1988. Formerly she was the
assistant regional director with CARE USA. Linda earned a B.S. degree in social and behavioral science
from Ohio State University. From the 1980s to the present she has be involved with YWCA of the U.S.A. and
the Council of Ohio YWCAs.
 David E. Weaver - Development Director
Before joining Ohioana’s staff in 2005, David held senior development positions with the WOSU Stations and
the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. He also served as executive director of Malabar Farm Foundation and
managing director of Columbus Light Opera, which he co-founded. David is the author of Black Diva of the
Thirties: The Life of Ruby Elzy, published in 2004 by University Press of Mississippi. He attended
Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati, majoring in voice.
 Leslie Birdwell - Ohioana Quarterly Editor
Leslie Birdwell joined Ohioana’s staff in September 2007 to serve as the editor of the Ohioana Quarterly. She brought a wide variety of freelance writing experience including magazine feature, trade publications, journalism, and public relations and promotional copy. Leslie has both her BA and MA in English from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
Literature was always her first love. Read Leslie's blog about horses at
riderone.wordpress.com.
 Barbara Meister - Librarian
Barbara joined the Ohioana Library in 1995 and was named librarian in 1996. She earned her bachelor’s degree in library science from Ohio Dominican University in 1998 and her Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University in 2005.
 Courtney Brown - Library Assistant
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Ohio University. Her previous library experience
includes working as a library assistant at the Harnett County Public Library in North Carolina, and a clerical
librarian at the Bellaire Public Library in Ohio. She also worked at Waldenbooks in Steubenville, OH.
She enjoys working with library patrons of all age and doing exhibits to catch the eye and interest of visitors.
 Beth Poley – Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Beth earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in the spring of 2006 from the Ohio State University, where she double majored in women’s studies and film studies. Prior to becoming a full time staff member, Beth was Ohioana’s 2006 Ruth Mount Intern.
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