Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board meeting highlights [3-21-11]

MARCH 21, 2011

• Summer teen internship program
• Noble Library reopening
• New web catalog
• State budget bill and libraries
• January public service highlights

All board members were present

Summer teen internship program

The board accepted a $50,000 grant from Starting Point for Childcare and Education’s Family and Civic Engagement Initiative for hosting a summer internship program for 40 area teens. The Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools and Open Doors Academy are partners in this grant. In addition to providing instruction space, the library will act as fiscal agent.

Noble Library reopening

The Noble Neighborhood Library will reopen Monday, May 23 at 1 p.m. On Thursday, May 12, Friends of the Library will host a Sneak Peek Fundraiser, with proceeds paying for the full-sized tree that will be a focus of the children’s room. A grand reopening party on Sunday, May 15, will feature light refreshments, music, and, to commemorate Noble’s original 1937 opening, an actress portraying Eleanor Roosevelt.

New Web catalog

CLEVNET is updating its Web catalog with new features, including the ability of customers to set up individual accounts. The change will occur on April 25, but an example is available at clevnet.bibliocommons.com.

State budget bill and libraries

The governor’s proposed budget bill includes a 5 percent decrease in library funding from the state. That would reduce public library funding to approximately 1996 levels. A number of the proposals would save money for the library but impact staff. For example, Senate Bill 5 caps sick leave at 3.1 hours per pay (80.60 annually). The current cap is 8.3 per pay (216 annually).

January public service highlights:

• Despite a snowstorm, 65 children attended the Fancy Nancy party and heard stories about this favorite book character.
• Young Audience’s Susan Weber performed her musical puppet show for 93 children.
• Picture books are being labeled by the categories sought by most readers.
• Zahir Sutarwala and Becky Katzenmeyer offered their “World of Chocolate” program and tasting during Valentine’s Day week.
• A new computer class is All About YouTube
• Customers can edit scanned photographs with newly installed Photoshop Elements on the Computer Gallery’s scanning PC.
• Kathleen Calby gave a “Resounding Joy” program at Coventry Library, featuring gem crystal and Tibetan singing bowls.
• Customers appreciate the new book return at the front of the Coventry Library.
• The University Heights Library is planning programs with Whole Foods, including providing books for the store’s children’s area and teaming up with Huron Hospital to do a health series with cooking demos.

LWV observer: Anne S. McFarland.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

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