Though we are 54 days away from the 2024 presidential election taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, another deadline is nearing — voter registration! In Ohio, eligible voters must make sure that their registration information is received either online, in-person at the Delaware County Board of Elections office, or postmarked by Oct. 7 to vote in the election this fall. That is just 25 days from today.

The Ohio Revised Code and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 established that designated agencies and other public sites shall provide voter registration applications and assistance. Ohio has many designated agencies, and your local public library is one of them!

At the Delaware County District Library, we take our duty to assist the public with their voter registration incredibly seriously, and it’s a service we’re proud to provide. That’s why this week we are celebrating Disability Voting Rights Week 2024, and next Tuesday we will celebrate National Voter Registration Day 2024.

Earlier this week, a group of individuals representing the Delaware County District Library, Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the League of Women Voters of Delaware County, and Disability Rights Ohio received a proclamation from the Delaware County Board of Commissioners recognizing Sept. 9-13, 2024 as Disability Voting Rights Week in Delaware County. At the commissioners’ meeting, the Delaware County Board of Elections also presented its efforts to foster an inclusive environment for all registered voters at the polls.

Thanks to all the organizations’ work, Delaware County continues to create spaces where residents have equal access to resources, services and opportunities, and where all individuals are encouraged to actively participate in our democracy.

Tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 12, a representative from the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be at the Orange Branch Library from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to answer questions and provide information regarding voting rights, especially with regard to the disability community.

Next week, on National Voter Registration Day, we are excited to welcome volunteers from the League of Women Voters to our library branches to provide information regarding voter registration. Representatives will be in the Delaware, Liberty, Orange, and Ostrander libraries from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The League provides lots of valuable, nonpartisan information on current voting laws, voter rights, and how interested citizens can get involved to assist with any number of issues to make voting easier for individuals. The League also creates the annual go-to newspaper insert with candidate and issue information. This year, it has officially gone digital for Delaware County residents and can be accessed at www.Vote411.org. Check it out to see the races that will appear on your individual ballot.

Whether you’re registering for the first time, have moved and need to update your registration, or want to check your voting location for November’s election, your library can help! While you’re in, see what’s new on our thriller and mystery shelf!

• “Burn It All” by Maggie Auffarth. In this debut psychological thriller set in small-town Georgia, Marley Henderson’s life unravels after a drunken mistake, leading to lost friendships, cruel rumors, and a series of arsons that culminate in her friend Thea’s death. Teaming up with her ex-fiancé, Marley uncovers disturbing truths about Thea and the fires, challenging everything she believes.

• “Our Kind of Game” by Johanna Copeland. In 2019, Stella Parker’s perfect life is upended when her neighbor reveals a dark secret from Stella’s youth. In 1987, teenage Julie Waits tries to endure a chaotic home life. This twisty debut thriller explores the terrifying connection between the two, demonstrating how far a traumatic past can reach into the future.

• “What Fire Brings” by Rachel Howzell Hall. Searching for a missing community leader, Bailey Meadows goes undercover and moves into thriller author Jack Beckham’s remote canyon home. As Bailey uncovers the dangers of the wildfire-prone area and learns of other missing women, she must unravel the truth behind decades-old events before she becomes the next victim.

• “That Night in the Library” by Eva Jurczyk. On the night before graduation, seven students perform a Greek ritual in their university’s rare books library. When the lights go out and one of them dies, they must survive the night, trapped with a murderer. Secrets, fears, and ancient wisdom intertwine in this chilling literary mystery.

• “The Night of Baba Yaga” by Akira Otani. In 1979 Tokyo, outcast Yoriko Shindo is kidnapped by the yakuza and forced to become the bodyguard and driver for Shoko Naiki, the sheltered daughter of the gang’s boss. Initially disinterested, Shindo becomes deeply invested in Shoko’s safety as they navigate a world of violence, questioning if a different life is possible for them.

• “The Bitter Truth” by Shanora Williams. Jolene Baker supports her husband Dominic’s gubernatorial run, but when a mysterious woman stalks them and events turn dangerous, Jo uncovers shocking truths about Dominic’s past. As her world unravels, Jo must decide whether to confront the secrets or risk being destroyed by them in this rich-people-behaving-badly thriller.

If you have a question that you would like to see answered in this column, mail it to Nicole Fowles, Delaware County District Library, 84 E. Winter St., Delaware, OH 43015, or call us at 740-362-3861. You can also email your questions by visiting the library’s web site at www.delawarelibrary.org or directly to Nicole at [email protected]. No matter how you contact us, we’re always glad you asked!