Heights Libraries welcomes new manager of youth services, honors outgoing

Brian C. Hare, new youth services manager.

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The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library announces the appointment of Brian C. Hare as its new youth services manager. Susan Black, outgoing youth services manager, retires this month after nearly 34 years with Heights Libraries.

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this library system,” said Black. “I learned something new every day from my co-workers and my customers.  I will miss everyone. But I am looking forward to travel, adventures and family time in my retirement.”

Black began working at the CH-UH Public Library in 1978 as a children’s services librarian for the University Heights branch. Since then, she has helped the community raise a generation of babies by introducing them to the power of language and reading through her inspiring story times and programs at local preschools.

Black also supported the implementation of many industry changes, moving from a card catalog to a computerized catalog system; from photographic checkout to automated checkout; from vinyl records to CDs; from books to Books on Tape, Playaways and e-books. Black hired and mentored many talented staff, some of whom have been promoted to higher positions within and outside of the Heights system, including Nancy Levin, current Heights Library director. Black was promoted to youth services manager in March 2011.

“The word ‘no’ was never in Susan’s vocabulary,” said Levin. “When it came to customer service, such as helping seniors with their mail or taking time to just listen to customers, Susan was always ready and willing to do whatever it took to make sure customers got what they needed. We will miss her.”

Black’s replacement, Brian C. Hare, who starts in early August, has six years of library experience. Most recently he was director of the Liberty Center Public Library in Liberty Center, Ohio, a small rural library located near Toledo. Hare has a bachelor’s degree in visual communications technology with a focus in marketing from Bowling Green State University, and a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Before serving as director at Liberty Center, Hare was a teen specialist with the Wood County District Public Library and a law librarian for the Barco Law Library in Pittsburgh.

“I am very excited about getting to know the staff and community of Heights Libraries,” said Hare.  “It’s clear that the library’s services reflect the interests and values of its patrons. I think technology will continue play an ever-increasing role in our communities, and we need to figure out how it can be integrated into what we do with youth and young adults. My immediate goal is to understand how my department supports the quality, cutting-edge services and programming that lie at the heart of the library.”