MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008

All board members present.

Dobama

A contract with Dobama has been signed. With a 6-1 vote (board member Kevin Ortner abstained) the board approved Julia Criscione, AIA, who worked on the Main Library renovation, to be the project manager of the Dobama project. Criscione will oversee the legal requirements of the building code, insurance and the guarantees of the contractors.

Opening on library board

Board President Gerald Blake’s term expires this year. The Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Board will appoint his replacement. Blake asked board members to encourage anyone who might be interested to apply.

Portrait of Jennie Levey

A painting of former librarian Jennie Levey has been installed next to the meeting room named in her honor.

Video games

The library now has a selection of video games circulated through the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Ohio Library Council. The Technology Committee will set policy.

Reader’s Advisory Team

Noble Library Manager JoAnn Vicarel spoke about the Reader’s Advisory Team. The team fulfills the traditional role of librarian in helping readers find books. The team does book talks at retirement homes and has a blog that has been “hidden” on the website, but will be featured more prominently in the future. The blog has reviews, recommendations and pictures of librarians along with their subject specialties. From July 1 through Oct. 16, there were over 4,500 visits to the page. The team has received compliments from authors who are featured.

Library security

Board member Audrey Cole expressed concern that there is no security in the branches on the weekends. Director Nancy Levin said that during the week there were police officers at Noble and University Heights and there had just been an all-staff training for dealing with incidents. The library suspends offenders from service. About 50 people are currently suspended.

LWV Observer: Anne S. McFarland.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the League of Women Voters-Cuyahoga Area, Heights Chapter. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

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Meeting summaries have been edited and prepared by Charlene Morse, Marilyn McLaughlin and Maryann Barnes.