Cleveland Heights – University Heights Public Library Board of Trustees meeting highlights 6-21-2021

JUNE 21, 2021

 

  • May financial and investment report
  • Board resolutions
  • Personnel report
  • Director’s report
  • Public service report

 

Present were President Dana Fluellen, Vice President Gabe Crenshaw, Max Gerboc, Annette Iwamoto, Tyler McTeague, and Vikas Turakhia. Patti Carlyle was absent.

Financial and investment report

Total cash balance across the operating accounts, Bauer Fund accounts, and investment accounts was $20,337,230.47. Comparing financials for May 2020 and May 2021, the dire revenue predictions did not come to fruition during the pandemic and the library financial situation is slowly returning to normal.

Board resolutions

The following items were among those adopted at this meeting:

  • Approval of contract to remove asbestos from the Coventry branch basement
  • Approval of license renewal for Alert Media, the emergency notification system that delivers emergency announcements to staff
  • Amendments to the board bylaws. Three changes were adopted: using “Here for you, wherever you are,” as the tagline of the library; including a board ethics statement previously approved; establishing that dates and times for board meetings would be set in January of each year.

Personnel report

The following items were among those shared:

  • Human Resources Manager Laurie Marotta shared the quarterly summary YTD report. 
  • Job vacancies created by the 2020 pandemic crisis are being filled. Nineteen positions have been filled, including promotions for six staff members.
  • Employees received a three percent wage or lump sum increase in January 2021.

Director’s report

The following items were among those shared:

  • Friends of the Library will have a large book sale in August. Due to a backlog, book donations are not accepted at this time.
  • The library celebrated Pride month and Juneteenth with activities and displays.
  • The library director asked if the board members were interested in a resolution to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for library staff. The board decided that staff should have a paid holiday this year and Juneteenth will be recognized as a paid holiday in future years.
  • All are invited to the Coventry PEACE Park Design Jam Sunday, June 27, 1-4 p.m., to help Heights Libraries design the new park and playground at the Coventry PEACE Park.
  • The city repealed the 6 p.m. juvenile curfew in Cleveland Heights business districts at the urging of library board.
  • The Library Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force continues to meet. The task force is crafting a Diversity Vision/Statement and has chosen a list of priorities to work on in 2021.
  • Dementia friendly training for the community is planned for June 24 (See Check Us Out on the library’s website),
  • The library will be closed for staff development day on Sept. 24. 
  • Two Heights librarians, Steve Sanders and Amia Wheatley, were honored to be selected to participate in Library Leadership Ohio 20201

Public service report

The following items were among those shared:

  • The spring local history series concluded with popular May programs on Cleveland Heights history 
  • Passport application services have been restarted in Meeting Room A at the Lee Road library.
  • Ann MacNamara conducted Facebook Live Appy Hour and Tech talks. Sessions are recorded and available on the library’s YouTube channel
  • The Coventry Collaborative Garden is again registered with the Ohio State Extension, and Divina Koonce is garden advisor this season. Maintenance Technician Leroy Hamby rebuilt the garden bed. Lettuce, beans, onions, tomatoes, spinach, sunflowers, cucumbers, basil, and peppers are growing.
  • Noble Neighbors organized the annual We Are Noble weekend. Youth Services Associate Monica Wilson rode the Book Bike to the event and gave away free books provided by the Friends of the Library. The library set up two tables of giveaways indoors during the three-day celebration.
  • The University Heights Library had a 48-year-overdue Bob Dylan record returned at the end of May, which has turned into a viral news sensation, covered by over 75 news outlets.
  • Outdoor story times at Lee Road continued with strong attendance in May. Starting in June, these weekly story times will move to the Fairfax Elementary School grounds. Board President Dana Fluellen asked for information on how the library is supporting schools in session this summer. Library staff are conducting story times and activities in schools. A list of activities will be shared with the board.

The next regular meeting will be Monday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lee Road Branch, Brody-Nelson room. The meeting is expected to be held in person with masks and social distancing.

LWV Observer: Elizabeth M. Tracy. 

This library board meeting was livestreamed, recorded, and is available on YouTube on the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Channel.

Information about the board and audio recordings of board meetings can be found here.

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Volume 14, Issue 8, Posted 11:46 AM, 07.16.2021