Cleveland Heights University Heights Library Board of Trustees meeting highlights 12-19-22

DECEMBER 19, 2022

• Board resolutions
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public service report

Present were President Gabe Crenshaw, Vice President Max Gerboc, Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Annette Iwamota and Tyler McTigue. Not present was Secretary Vika Turaklia.

Board resolutions

The board:

• Authorized establishment of a lease with Equity Star Reality for temporary Noble Library Branch Space at 2940 Noble Road. In addition, other spaces in the community will be used for library programming.
• Approved the Coventry Peace Building letters of intent for rental of space. Ten groups are expected to rent space at the Coventry Peace building.
• Approved property, liability, and cyber insurance through Nov. 30, 2023.
• Approved 2022 amended permanent appropriations.
• Approved 2023 permanent appropriations with staff raises for July 2023 built in.
• Approved 2023 janitorial contract with Ajax Commercial Cleaning.
• Approved purchase order for AW Farrell for roofing slate repair, gutter cleaning, and roof cleaning at Noble Road Library Branch.
• Approved 2023 library-provided vision insurance with VSP insurance. The library pays 100 percent of premium for single coverage and 44 percent for family coverage.
• Approved 2023 library-provided dental insurance, replacing Reliance dental with MetLife dental. Reliance dental was asking for a 20 percent increase for the same level of coverage. The library will pay 84 percent of the premium for single coverage and 65 percent of the premium for family coverage.
• Approved the 2023 salaries for director and fiscal officer.
• Acknowledged the contributions of outgoing Board President Gabe Crenshaw, who led the board through difficult times.

Personnel report

Three new job vacancies were reported and two other vacancies filled. Library staff attended 19 continuing education programs in December including REI (Racial Equity Institute) groundwater training, REI phase one training, Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness, and de-escalation training.

Director’s report

The Centers for Families and Children will begin holding office hours in the Lee Road Library Branch Jan. 1, 2023 and continue on Wednesdays for six months as part of the pilot project. The resource specialist is available to serve the public and the staff as needed. Appointments may be made in the adult services department.

It is anticipated that all leases for current tenants in the Coventry Peace Building will be signed by Dec. 31, 2022. Cresco Playhouse Square property management will oversee the building. Coventry Peace Park fundraising campaign will go public January 2023.

The Cleveland Heights Planning Commission has approved the Noble Road Library Branch renovation project, which will have a final hearing with the Architectural Board of Review. Groundbreaking is anticipated for May 2023.

Strategic Projects Manager Kaela Sweeney and her team secured a $30,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education for the One Community Reads project, a community literacy celebration that will be implemented fall of 2023 with the book Let’s Go for a Walk. Programs will take place in all library locations. Additionally, Heights Libraries is participating in another accelerated learning grant project with all the libraries in Cuyahoga County.

The CH-UH Library has secured a virtual reality and computer-based training opportunity for patrons. Twenty seats at a time will be available for people to enroll in jobs skills training that will result in a U. S. Department of Labor approved technical apprenticeship certificate. Continuing Education Manager Heather Howiler and the HKIC (Heights Knowledge and Information Center) staff initiated the project and secured a grant from the State Library of Ohio LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) program.

The cause of flood damage at the University Heights Library Branch was determined to be a water main break. A sump pump remedy is being explored.

The IT department is updating the technology plan. They are currently working on transferring the remaining copper phone lines at each building to fiber as AT&T will no longer support copper lines. Back-up batteries will keep the new lines operating in case of an emergency.

The Lee Road Library Branch made progress with more ADA-friendly signage.

Public Service

Two programs with partners had very impressive attendance in November. Literacy Cleveland’s workshops had a total of 36 attendees. A local program in partnership with the Cleveland Heights Historical Society drew 75 attendees for a packed house.

The library executed 75 passport applications and 88 photos. 

Meeting room and workroom furniture was delivered to Coventry Library Branch for the newly renovated space.

The Read with the Librarian Program at Noble Road Library Branch was repeated with even more success than the last session. Children enjoyed working with staff one on one, and staff suggestions of books were met with enthusiasm. Participants learned how to navigate the library and find books that appealed to them and were on their reading level.

Dr. Cara Byrne, full-time lecturer in the English department at CWRU presented the program, Why Adults Should Read Children’s Picture Books. This program is available to view on the library’s YouTube channel and has had 50 views.

University Heights Library Branch Sunday Story Stop has gradually increased in attendance since being reintroduced after COVID closure, averaging 26 participants for the three programs in November. This program allows families another opportunity to attend our early literacy programming that is offered during the week.

Visitor numbers continue to grow.

In this month’s tech blog, Tech Trainer Joe Kaiser shared with readers his experience learning how to use the HKIC / STEAM Lab’s 3D printer, which included creating and then printing a part for the hood of an old truck. More about his 3D printing journey can be seen at https://heightslibrary.org/3d-printing-one-mans-story/

The next board meeting will be Jan. 23, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at the Lee Road Branch Library.

LWV Observer: Judith Beeler.

Information about the board, board meeting minutes and audio recordings of board meetings can be found at https://heightslibrary.org/locations/heights-libraries-board/