“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship,” declared Thomas Aquinas some 800 years ago. His words ring true not only for individuals but also for public institutions, such as libraries. That’s why the Friends Foundation of Worthington Libraries has such an important role to play. The financial support the Worthington Library system receives from the Friends Foundation is especially important. In addition to ongoing and quarterly book sales, the Foundation earns revenue for the library through the sale of memberships and special events — such as Books & Brews.
Books & Brews, which was first held in 2015, is tailor made for people who love books and who enjoy (in moderation) drinking beer. It all takes place at the Old Worthington Library on Hartford Street near the village green. Here’s how it works. After paying a fee either in advance or at the door, each B & B participant receives six tickets that they may use to sample the craft beer of six local brewers. A separate seventh ticket allows them to vote for the beer they liked the best. People who’d like to take a break from the beer may use one or more tickets to purchase a small glass of wine.
The beer sampling is only part of the fun. There is also a buffet dinner, a silent auction, a trivia contest, and lots of lively conversation on every topic from Ohio State football to national politics. When the doors are finally closed around 10 p.m., the Worthington Libraries are several thousand dollars richer.
Although not much of a beer drinker, I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Books & Brews, which was held this past Friday. I sampled beer from Nocterra, Saucy Brew Works, Wolf’s Ridge, and Olentangy Brewing, with Saucy winning my vote as the best. Along the way, I enjoyed music by keyboardist Lucas Holmes and helped my wife check-in B&B attendees at the door. Although I didn’t make any bids during the silent auction, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the variety of the items being offered. They included an OSU football helmet autographed by former coach Urban Myer, a collection of 1950s board games, bottles of fine wine, and gift cards for local eateries as well as for Uber and Lyft. My own contribution to the auction — my two YA novels along with two anthologies and some coffee mugs — generated several bids. (I hope the winner won’t be disappointed with my stories.)
The final dollar amount generated by the 2024 Books and Brews is estimated to be between $9,000 and $10, 000. Those dollars will strengthen the full range of the library’s services from the new Pop-up Library* to the annual summer reading club. I’m sure Thomas Aquinas would agree that the friendship between the Friends Foundation and the Worthington Library is something to be “prized.”
*The Pop-up Library is a vehicle about the size of a pick-up truck that brings books and other basic library services to schools, daycare centers, assisted living facilities, and community events.