LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS/Cleveland Heights University Heights Library Board of Trustees meeting highlights

OCTOBER 21, 2024, regular meeting

• Training and development overview
• Public comment
• Board action
• Staff development day 
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives
• Director’s report
• Public service report
  
  

Present were President Vikas Turakhia, Vice President Annette Iwamoto, Secretary Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Melissa Soto-Schwartz, Tyler McTigue, and Halle Turnberrez. The meeting lasted one and a half hours.

Training and development overview

Megan McBride, staff training and development coordinator, reported on the status of the training and development program, which establishes an orientation program, provides monies for attendance at national conferences, and reimburses tuition and professional memberships. Key training areas include technology, customer service excellence, leadership development, and staff health and wellness. Future initiatives include quarterly training on topics of DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility), safety, technology, and health and wellness.

Public comment

A community member expressed opposition to terminating occupancy of the Coventry School Building.

Board action

The board:

• Authorized and directed the library administration to terminate Coventry Peace tenant* leases, effective Jan. 31, 2025, and to offer and provide each Coventry Peace tenant reimbursement of $1,000 for documented moving expenses, on the condition that the Coventry Peace tenant fulfills all terms of its lease and vacates its leased premises on or before Jan. 31, 2025. Current CPC Tenants include: Artful; Building Bridges; Coventry PEACE, Inc.; Grace Communion; Lake Erie Ink; Reaching Heights; Future Heights; Singers Club; and the CHUH Teachers Union.
• Authorized and directed the library administration to discuss and negotiate early termination of the three new tenants (People’s Choice, Do Good Day Hub, and Dance Cleveland), whose leases expire between Dec. 31, 2026, and April 30, 2026, with specific terms and concessions subject to library board approval.  

• Authorized the release of allocated funds for PEACE Park construction.
• Approved funds for new AV equipment in meeting rooms for Lee Road and University Heights branch libraries.
  
  

Staff development day

A successful staff development day on Oct. 14 had more than 140 people in attendance and comprised three sessions with five to six programs each throughout the day. Topics such as DEI at Heights libraries, Dementia Friends, and ASL for librarians were among the learning opportunities.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives

The affinity groups at Heights Libraries Initiative will launch with three pilot groups.

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Group
• Disabled and Neurodivergent and Allies Group
• LGBTQIA+ and Allies Group
  
  

A voluntary survey to gain insights into the demographics of the library workgroup is being conducted.

Director’s report

Some of the first trees were delivered and planted in the PEACE Park last week. The cardinal bird play structure has arrived and is being assembled.

There are two open trustee positions. Applications are available on the library website under Board & Policies

A new library catalog will launch Oct. 28.

The Building Heights organization is working with select high school students to create a documentary about the PEACE Park.

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a landmark final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establishing formal accessibility requirements for websites and mobile apps offered by public entities. A webinar, Navigating the New DOJ Accessibility Standards for Public Entities, will be held Tuesday Oct. 29 to explain the new requirements. 

New data from the American Library Association show a slowdown in attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries in the first eight months of 2024.

Public service report

The adult services department created a voter education display to provide customers with information on the history of fake photos, fake news, and how to detect misinformation and disinformation. The display also provided customers with a QR code to access the American Library Association’s Be Mediawise! slideshow.

In partnership with the Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries (FFHL) and local artist Debbie Apple-Presser, volunteers created an art installation made entirely of recycled materials on the Coventry PEACE Park construction fence.

University Heights Branch Library Manager Sara Phillips and Circulation Assistant DJ Witherspoon represented the branch at the City of University Heights’ Fall Fest on Sunday, Sept. 29, signing up eight new users for library cards.

Associate Morgan Bloodsmith began a new weekly Teen Craft drop-in program with 3-D arts such as knitting. 

Associate Leslie Swaim-Fox and Librarian Angela Clock held the library’s third annual Peter Potamus birthday party, where 48 children dropped off their treasured stuffed animals and picked them up the next day.

LWV observers: Judith Beeler and Elizabeth Tracy 

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