Though her career unfolded unexpectedly from her original plan to become a nurse, Columbus Metropolitan Library CEO Lauren Hagan ended up in a role where she still helps others, overseeing a public library system that serves nearly 1.5 million people each year. In addition to books, CML supports the community with resources including career development workshops, reading and homework help for schoolchildren, free meeting spaces, and passes to local cultural and sporting events.
Hagan joined CML in 2018 as CFO, stewarding a $120 million budget, a sizable branch rebuilding program and a 2023 ballot issue that secured funding for library operations. She stepped into the CEO role in 2024 and has since grown CML’s relationship with other organizations, including a pilot project with the National Veterans Memorial and Museum focused on storytelling and community service. She also has expanded the annual Columbus Book Festival, which is anticipated to draw over 40,000 attendees in July.
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Hagan has a longtime interest in the issue of affordable housing and serves as a board of directors member and past chair of the nonprofit Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County.
Who or what have been career or personal influences? My parents are my greatest influences. My mom modeled independence and holding herself to a high standard. She built her career when there were fewer women in leadership and showed me you can be successful while raising a family. My dad has a gift for building relationships and bringing humor to most situations. Together, they taught me the value of hard work and caring for others.
What is your greatest wish for 2026? I hope 2026 is a year when more people feel a sense of connection and possibility in their lives. At Columbus Metropolitan Library, we see how even small moments, a conversation, a resource, a welcoming space, can change someone’s path. As both a parent and a community member, I hope every family feels valued, supported and hopeful.
This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Columbus CEO as part of the Inspiring Women feature package. Read more stories of Inspiring Women from Columbus CEO and Columbus Monthly. Subscribe now.
This article originally appeared on Columbus CEO: Lauren Hagan Puts Community First at the Columbus Metropolitan Library
Reporting by Linda Lee Baird, Columbus CEO / Columbus CEO
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Linda Lee Baird, Columbus CEO | USA TODAY Network
