The Ohio Library Council (OLC) has selected Jay Smith as its new director of government and legal services.
Smith currently serves as the deputy director of legislative services for the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) and has been a lobbyist for the organization since 2010. Prior to his work at OSBA, Smith served as the state director of government affairs for the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Ohio State University and completed post-graduate coursework at the University of Akron’s Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics in campaign management and lobbying.
“Jay brings a wealth of legislative experience to the OLC team and will expand our effectiveness at both the state and national level,” said Michelle Francis, OLC’s executive director. “Jay has worked with OLC staff and representatives of other local government organizations for many years, and is well respected by his peers and members of the Ohio General Assembly. He will be a tremendous asset to OLC and the public library community.”
As director of government and legal services, Smith will be responsible for monitoring state and federal legislation relating to library issues, directing OLC's lobbying efforts, sharing information with OLC members on legislative issues and helping members respond to legal questions and changes in regulations. He will join the OLC staff on Nov. 18.