Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board meeting highlights 11-21-11

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

  • Interest rate questioned
  • Sound system for meeting rooms
  • Financial statement conversion
  • Back up server
  • Two retirements
  • Heights Library a Five-Star Library
  • New deputy director
  • Celebration of Harvey Pekar
  • October public service report highlights

All board members were present.

Interest rate questioned

One of the reports of the monthly financial statement presentation was the current interest amount for the StarOhio account. It is an approved account for public agencies, but it now pays only 0.007 percent on the three million dollars in the library’s account. Board Member Jim Posch indicated that it was time to contact our representatives about such a low rate.

Sound system for meeting rooms

The board approved the purchase of a complete sound and projector system for the meeting rooms at the Lee Road Library in the amount of $11,521. The system will work for individual rooms or all three rooms when a large community meeting takes place.

Financial statement conversion

The board approved a three-year contract with the Local Government Services Division of the Ohio Auditor of State to compile the library’s financial statements and convert them to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The contract will cost approximately $7,000 each year. Director Nancy Levin stated that completing these reports in-house is more expensive and cannot provide the demographic information about the communities that the auditor’s office includes.

Back up server

The board approved the purchase of an offsite backup server in the amount of $3,950. This will provide cloud-based backup for the most essential data.

Two retirements

Board president Audrey Cole read the retirement resolutions for Leola Capers and Nancy R. Jamieson. Capers, circulation supervisor of the Coventry Village Library, is retiring after 31 years of outstanding service. The resolution praises her patience and welcoming attitude toward new staff. “She has survived the ideas and changes of five managers who have moved the collection this way, that way and back again . . . And she has accepted it all with benign good humor . . . ”

Jamieson, who began at the library as a page in 1989, was promoted to full-time children’s services clerk in 1995, and became technical services assistant in 2007, where she was known for her expertise in processing children’s materials and was awarded the title of Queen of Labels.

Heights Library, a Five-Star Library

Nancy Levin, library director, was pleased to announce that the library has again been designated a Library Journal Five-Star library.

New deputy director

Director Levin introduced Kim DeNero-Ackroyd, new deputy diretor, to the board and pointed out her experience in managing change and her belief in staff development.

Celebration of Harvey Pekar

Approximately 90 people attended the celebration of the art and life of author Harvey Pekar on Oct. 25. Director Levin thanked Sheryl Banks, marketing and community relations manager, for filling in when the director took medical leave and for her media contacts with the Plain Dealer and Scene about the event.

October public service report highlights

  • The Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club is the latest discussion group at the Lee Road Library and began with a discussion of The Sparrow by local author Mary Doria Russell.
  • The fourth annual library photography contest, sponsored by the Cedar Center MotoPhoto had 82 submissions and ten finalists. Library patrons can vote for their favorites, and winners will be announced on Dec. 5.
  • Teen librarian Jessica Robinson organized a week of events for the annual Teen Read Week. About 40 teens attended each day.
  • Librarians Sam Lapides and Amanda Rome were co-presenters of “The New Face of Reader’s Advisory” at the Ohio Library Council convention.
  • At the Coventry Village Library, the October author series featured Emily Mitchell, who spoke about her novel The Last Summer of the World. More than 30 people attended. Sheryl Banks was able to arrange an appearance by Mitchell on WCPN’s "Around Noon" the day of the talk.
  • At Noble Neighborhood Library, Friday Reading Rumpus attracted 97 children and caregivers at four story times in October.

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.

 

Read More on Library
Volume 5, Issue 1, Posted 12:50 PM, 12.13.2011