Library

When Julie Walker and Eric Yarham founded Gather Well Cleveland Heights, a grassroots organization focused on creating community connections, they knew a podcast had to be a part of their vision.

“We reached the decision to do the podcast because the medium wasn't being used to spread all the good work happening in Cleveland Heights and University Heights and beyond,” said Walker.

A chance meeting with Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin led the pair to the media lab at the library’s Heights Knowledge and Innovation Center computer lab.

Heights Libraries continues its efforts to encourage high school seniors and college students to consider a career in libraries with its Library Experience Program.

The program includes a general orientation to the library, various learning opportunities, and the hands-on experiential activities needed to fulfill the requirements of a variety of unpaid practicum or internships at high schools and colleges.

College student Josephine Halushka was this summer’s intern.  

Currently a student at the College of William and Mary, Halushka worked with Youth Services Librarian Anne Tisch at the Lee Road branch. Halushka, whose family lives in Northeast Ohio, shadowed Tisch as she performed a wide range of tasks, including providing reference services and helping with multiple programs at all four branches: American Sign Language Storytime, an Inclusive Playdate program that welcomes children with different needs, the Exploding Watermelons STEAM program, the Lee Road Puzzle Swap, and more.

To encourage careers in librarianship, Friends of the Heights Libraries (FOHL) offers scholarships to students who are pursuing a library science graduate degree. Residents of Cleveland Heights or University Heights, as well as resident or nonresident employees of Heights Libraries, are encouraged to apply. 

Any person living in CH or UH for at least one year or anyone employed by Heights Libraries for at least one year is eligible. Scholarships are offered three times per year in the amount of $750; the money can be used to meet educational costs such as tuition, books, and/or seminar registration fees. 

FOHL was established in 1962 and has offered scholarships from early in its existence.

Heights Libraries’ current library director, Nancy Levin, was a recipient of a Friends’ scholarship when she first started working for Heights Libraries.

Heights Libraries will offer programs and services in September to support freedom of speech, encourage voting, and help people find accurate information in a sea of often misleading and sensationalist publications and media sites.

“With the state of Utah recently outright banning public schools from carrying books by the likes of Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume, we are definitely seeing more aggressive attacks on free speech,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “We believe the best way to push back is to provide open access to as many viewpoints and ideas as possible, and the best first step is making sure everyone in our community has a library card.”

September is National Library Card Sign Up Month, and libraries across the country will be encouraging people in their communities, especially children, to get a card. Heights Libraries plans to raise awareness through social media and local advertising.

Coventry Village Branch
1925 Coventry Road, 216-321-3400

Tuesdays, Sept. 3–24, 6 p.m.

PEACE Park Fence Art with Debbie Apple-Presser. Join the library each week to create a unique art installation on the Coventry PEACE Park construction fence using upcycled material. For ages 12 to adult.

The Farrell Foundation for Brain Health will host a Memory Café, Art in August, on Thursday, Aug. 8, at the University Heights Library.

The enrichment program, guided by professionals, is for people with cognitive memory loss due to dementia or Alzheimer’s and their primary care partners.

At the event, Farrell Foundation resident artists will guide participants in creating a special piece of art. No art background is required for the activity. The experience is paired with refreshments in a café atmosphere.

Heights Libraries has launched a new subsite on its website, dedicated to showcasing the videos, podcasts, and supporting documents of its Unpacking Our History project, formerly The 1619 Project.

The creation of the subsite was made possible by a $5,000 Carnegie-Whitney grant from the American Library Association.

Unpacking Our History comprises a monthly discussion group, a monthly video lecture series, and an expanding collection of video interviews with experts in the field of history, law, and race, with the interviews also available as a podcast.

JUNE 17, 2024, regular meeting

• DEI report
• Board action
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public service report
  
  

Present were President Vikas Turakhia, Vice President Annette Iwamoto, Secretary Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, Melissa Soto-Schwartz, and Hallie Turnberrez. The meeting lasted one hour and fifteen minutes.

Coventry Village Branch
1925 Coventry Road, 216-321-3400

Thursday, July 25, 4 p.m.

Garden Gatherings: Wind Chimes. Join us in the Coventry PEACE Park to help tend to our collaborative garden through DIY science experiments, art projects, and explorative play. Wear clothing that can get dirty! Call ahead in case of inclement weather. For children up to age 11 and their caregivers.

Coventry PEACE Park closed for renovation on June 17 and is expected to re-open in December. The community is invited to a celebratory groundbreaking event on July 7, at 2 p.m. 

When renovations are complete, the park will feature inclusive amenities designed to embrace people of all abilities. Accessible pathways will ensure easier navigation and encourage physical activity. New play areas will include a 20-foot cardinal-themed play structure, a dedicated toddler playground, a zipline, climbing walls, swings, and half-court basketball. A new stage will increase the park’s capacity to host community events, performances, and gatherings. More than 100 new trees and native plants will foster biodiversity and ecological balance.

On Sunday, June 2, more than 500 residents celebrated the expansion and renovation of the Heights Libraries Noble Neighborhood branch.

Due to unforeseen challenges with phone and Internet lines, the building had to close after the celebration to ensure that phones and computers would be up and running for customers and staff. The building was expected to reopen on Monday, June 17. A subsequent announcement posted on Heights Libraries' website indicates that the Noble branch now will be closed until July 8.

The renovation and expansion doubled the size of the heavily used branch. The design, by architecture firm Bostwick Design Partnership, took into account feedback and suggestions from residents, gathered 2021–22 through community meetings and surveys.

In her opening remarks, Heights Libraries’ Director Nancy Levin thanked residents for telling the library what they wanted, and needed, at the new branch. “We have given you what you asked for,” she said, and was greeted with a round of applause.

MAY 20, 2024 regular meeting

• Public comment
• Financial report
• Board action
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public service report
  
  

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

This summer, Heights Libraries will host a maker-in-residence program in the Heights Knowledge and Innovation Center (HKIC) STEAM Lab at the Lee Road branch. The goal of the program, funded in part by a generous grant from the Cyrus Eaton Foundation, is to showcase local makers and to engage the community in a creative space where they can learn from creative experts and participate in the creative process.

The library’s summer maker, chosen from 37 applicants, is Alex Heard. Heard is a soft sculptor and performance artist working in Cleveland. Their colorful, plush costumes explore a variety of topics both absurd and sincere. They graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2020. Heard performs in the Cleveland area, and has exhibited throughout Ohio.

Coventry Village Branch
1925 Coventry Road, 216-321-3400

Tuesday, June 4, 3 p.m.

Read to a Chicken. One of our chicken friends will be visiting the library to listen to children read stories. Each child may register for a 10-minute time slot with a backyard chicken. For those in grades K–6. Registration required at heightslibrary.org.

APRIL 15, 2024

• Presentation
• Financial report
• Board actions
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public services report
  
  

Present were Vikas Turakhia (president), Annette Iwamoto (vice president), Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Hallie Turnberrez. Patti Carlyle and Melissa Soto-Schwartz were not present. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. 

Heights Libraries is celebrating two big events on Sunday, June 2: The grand reopening of the Noble Neighborhood Library and the kickoff of its summer reading program.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to welcome the community back into the expanded and renovated branch,” said Nancy Levin, Heights Libraries director. “Our Noble branch neighbors have been so patient and supportive of this big project, so we really want to celebrate in a big way. Luckily, the timing was perfect for these two big events to begin on the same day.”

The expanded building will offer roughly double the space of the original building and will feature four public meeting rooms, a technology learning center, a drive-up window and a storytime room. The new adult area will be on the opposite side of the building from the new, expanded teen and children areas.

Coventry Village Branch
1925 Coventry Road, 216-321-3400

Monday, May 6, 7 p.m.

Cleveland Alzheimer's Association Presents: Effective Communication Strategies. Join the Cleveland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in exploring how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer's, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

MARCH 18, 2024

• Dobama Theater
• Board actions
• Director’s report
• Public service report
  
  

Present were Vikas Turakhia (board president), Annette Iwamoto (vice president), Patti Carlyle (secretary), Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, Melissa Soto-Schwartz, and Hallie Turnberrez. The meeting lasted one hour.

On Sunday, May 5, Heights Libraries will celebrate the intersection of hip-hop and comics with comic writer and publisher Amy Chu, Run-DMC founder and comic publisher Darryl McDaniels, local artist John G of Shiner Comics, and Cleveland rapper Phyll Thomas.

A full afternoon of programs will take place at the Coventry Village branch, 1925 Coventry Road, beginning at 2 p.m. with a virtual conversation with Chu and McDaniels, followed by a 3 p.m. interactive snack-focused comic workshop with John G—featuring a nacho bar—called “One Page Comic Workshop: Snack Stories.” A concurrent live performance by Thomas begins at 3:15 p.m.

Registration for all May 5 programs begins April 21 at heightslibrary.org.

The Farrell Foundation for Brain Health will host three Memory Cafes at Coventry Village Library, starting March 14.

Each program, guided by professionals, is for people with cognitive memory loss due to dementia or Alzheimer’s and their primary care partners. The sessions combine music, art and storytelling with refreshments—all in a café atmosphere.

From March through May, the cafes will take place on the second Thursday of the month, 1–2:30 p.m. Registration is recommended for the free programs. To register, call 216-321-3400.

March 14 - St. Patrick’s Artful Legends and Limericks: Participants are invited to wear something green and create artwork in shades of green and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day refreshments.

FEBRUARY 19, 2024

• Nancy Zelman retires 
• Fund for the Future of Heights Library
• Family Connections 
• Board actions
• Director’s report
• Public services report

On April 8, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, and Northeast Ohio will be one of the best viewing areas in the country. Heights Libraries is getting ready for the once-in-a-lifetime communitywide event with programs, information, and viewing opportunities.

Heights Libraries will distribute a limited number of eclipse kits at each branch beginning in mid-March. Each kit includes eclipse activities, reading suggestions, and two pairs of eclipse glasses. Customers must register to receive a kit, which will be available at each library branch on the following schedule:

• Coventry registration begins March 1; pick up March 15–22.
• Lee Road registration begins March 8, pick up March 22–29.
• Noble registration begins March 15; pick up March 29 through April 5.
• University Heights registration begins March 22; pick up April 5–12.

At its Feb. 19, meeting, the Heights Libraries board of trustees approved an updated budget and timeline for the PEACE Park playground renovation.

The new budget is $3.2 million, up from an estimated $2.5 million. The new construction timeline has moved the park’s completion date to early December 2024, from the original estimate of summer 2024.

“Our board wants to ensure that the new PEACE Park fulfills our mission to provide safe, welcoming spaces with equal access to services for all of our residents,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin.

JANUARY 19, 2024

• Oath of office 
• Sustainable Libraries Initiative
• Financial report
• Board actions
• Director’s report
• Public services report
  
  

Board members present were President Vikas Turakhia, Vice President Annette Iwamoto, Secretary Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, Melissa Soto-Schwartz, and Hallie Turnberrez. The meeting lasted one hour.

On a recent visit to the WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) office at the Severance MetroHealth Center, Youth Services Associate Danielle Maynard saw one of her regulars from the Noble Neighborhood branch library. “It was wonderful,” she said, describing “the sheer delight in the eyes of a young patron who couldn't contain their excitement when they spotted Coco, the Storytime bear, making a special appearance outside the library.”

Maynard, and Coco, were at the WIC office to provide early literacy outreach services to the parents and children in the waiting room. Those services include reading books, playing games, and distributing literacy resources (“Words to Grow On” kits) while parents wait with their children for WIC services.

WIC is a federal nutrition program designed to help low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children younger than 5.

Heights Libraries is looking for two makers for its new maker-in-residence program. The program’s goal is to showcase local makers and engage the community in a creative space where they can learn from, and appreciate, creative experts, and participate in the creative process.

Makers can apply for one of two paid, two-month residency programs, one taking place in the summer (June 1 through July 30) and one in the fall (Sept. 1 through Oct. 31). Makers will receive a stipend of $1,000 per month, for a total of $2,000. The application deadline is March 1.

"A maker-in-residence program is an opportunity for local creatives and artists to showcase their talents while engaging with the community through collaborative works of art,” said Derrick Mason, Heights Libraries continuing education manager and manager of the library’s Heights Knowledge and Innovation Center (HKIC).

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library System announces the appointment of its newest board member, Hallie Turnberrez, whose term began in January.

She will serve a seven-year term on the library board, replacing outgoing board president Max Gerboc, whose seven-year term ended in December.

Turnberrez is a staff attorney at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and a member of the University Heights Civil Service Commission. She graduated from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law and has lived in University Heights for seven years. 

"I am passionate about community engagement—especially in relation to the few community spaces that are free for all people,” said Turnberrez. “Libraries are one of the few remaining guaranteed free spaces in society. This means libraries are now even more important to the health of the community."

DECEMBER 18, 2023

• Fund for the Future of Heights Library
• Board actions
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public services report
• Outgoing board member

On Nov. 13, Regency Construction began the first phase of Heights Libraries’ Coventry PEACE Park renovation with the demolition of the original, 30-year-old playground. The demo took roughly two weeks, and included the removal of all playground equipment and associated plants.

“It was bittersweet,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “The playground was at the end of its life, and it held such wonderful memories for the community. But we are looking forward to the new playground, and the new life it will breathe into not only the library’s programming and activities, but the neighborhood as a whole.”

Coventry Village Branch
1925 Coventry Road, 216-321-3400

Thursday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m.

Elder Abuse - The Legal Issues. The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland will present on legal rights and remedies for survivors of elder abuse and their loved ones. A Q&A will follow. Registration required at heightslibrary.org.

The renovation and expansion of Heights Libraries’ Noble Neighborhood branch is on time and on budget.

That’s according to Julie Criscone, the library’s owner’s representative for the Noble construction project. Criscone presented a progress report at the Nov. 6 Heights Libraries Board of Trustees committee meeting, highlighting the work completed as of early November, and the tasks ahead.

Work completed on the site includes excavation, the creation of retaining and foundation walls, waterproofing, underground plumbing, and steam piping. Work that took place in later November included the installation of exterior framing, tuckpointing of the existing brick on the original building, and the installation of cabling and power feeds.

NOV. 20, 2023

• Noble Youth Services Outreach Programming
• Board actions
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public services report
  
  

Board members pesent were Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. Max Gerboc, Vice President Vikas Turakhia, and Secretary Annette Iwamoto were not present. The meeting lasted one hour.

Nine-year-old Goshen Heard is a student at Fairfax Elementary School and an enthusiastic library user. His mom, Loretta Heard, said she and her son are at the library most weekdays—reading, attending programs, and checking out lots of books. That’s how they learned about the library’s afterschool tutoring program at the Lee Road branch.

“When Ms. Ericka told us about the tutoring program, it was a no-brainer for us,” said Loretta Heard. “We jumped right on it.”

Ms. Ericka is Ericka Hogan, known to the kids as just “E.” Hogan oversees the tutoring program at the library’s Lee Road Youth Services Department.

Coventry Village Branch
1925 Coventry Road, 216-321-3400

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.

A Grandmother’s ABC Book: An Evening with Kathy Ewing. Ewing presents her latest book, A Grandmother’s ABC Book. Entertaining and inspiring. this is a book about looking ahead—to the excitement of grandchildren, to the promise of a joy-filled future, and to the thrill of sharing one’s life and stories with the next generation. A book signing will follow. Registration is required at heightslibrary.org.

OCTOBER 16, 2023

• Career services presentation
• Financial report
• Board actions
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public services report
  
  

Present were President Max Gerboc, Vice President Vikas Turakhia, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. Patti Carlyle was not present. The meeting lasted 60 minutes.

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library received its 10th State of Ohio Auditor of State Award with Distinction for its 2022 financial audit. The award was presented at the Sept. 18 meeting of the Board of Library Trustees by Kathryn Semo, Northeast Regional Liaison for the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office.

The award is given to government entities that file an ACFR (Annual Comprehensive Financial Report) and other financial reports with the state of Ohio, and receive a clean audit report.

“The award is great news for us and for the taxpayers in our community,” said Nancy Levin, Heights Libraries director. “They can rest assured we have been spending money wisely and will continue to do so.”

SEPT. 18, 2023

• Presentations
• Financial report
• Board actions
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public relations report
  
  

Present were President Max Gerbec, Vice President Vikas Turakhia, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. The meeting lasted 65 minutes.

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library is accepting applications for an open board position, with applications due by noon on Friday, Nov. 17. The new board member will replace Max Gerboc, who is rolling off the board after serving his term.

“Our library is such an integral part of our community,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “Serving on the library board is one of the best ways a citizen can serve the Heights community, by helping guide the vision of the public library. It’s a commitment—service is seven years—but the rewards are also big. It’s a chance to make a positive, long-lasting impact on one of the greatest public service agencies in the area. Public libraries offer necessary and free services to all, and being a part of that is incredibly rewarding."

On Aug. 5, more than 3,000 Northeast Ohio library fans, and library staff from the nine Cuyahoga County library systems, packed the Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) to officially kick off the countywide Cuyahoga Reads reading challenge campaign.

Admission to GLSC was free that day, and representatives from every Cuyahoga County library system, including Heights Libraries, were on hand to explain the program, sign up young readers for the challenge, and distribute nearly 5,000 free books to families.

“We had a great time, and it was so fun and inspiring to see so many kids getting excited about reading, especially in the book giveaway line,” said Kaela Sweeney, Heights Libraries strategic projects manager, who coordinates the literacy program at Heights Libraries along with Youth Services Department staff.

Heights Libraries’ version of the campaign, called Heights Reads, will continue for more than a year, through December 2024.

Heights Libraries has received a $1,000 grant from local youth advocacy organization MyCom to support programming for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year. The objective is to promote diversity, cultural understanding, and inclusivity by hosting live performers that showcase Hispanic dance and music—the grant money covers the cost of the performers.

“We hope that these programs promote cultural enrichment, community engagement, empathy, and respect,” said Youth Services Associate Felicia Mohammed, who obtained the grant. “We also hope these programs help challenge stereotypes. We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, and want to provide the community with programs that do so.”

Beginning this fall, Heights Libraries will partner with Heights Tree People to build a mini-forest behind the Coventry PEACE Building. The Heights Libraries Urban Mini-Forest project is supported, in part, by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public tree planting and maintenance grant from Cuyahoga Healthy Urban Tree Canopy.

The mini-forest will comprise the planting of 62 large canopy trees and 150 understory trees and plants, prioritizing native species to help expand Cleveland Heights’ tree canopy.

“The urban mini-forest is a unique library project that allows us to expand our services beyond the walls of the library buildings,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “We are excited to offer a space for environmental programming. This is an opportunity for us to model environmental stewardship at the PEACE Park.”

At a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Heights Libraries Coventry Village Branch, landscape architect Andrew Sargeant shared the latest designs for the new Coventry PEACE Park. The event marks the sixth time the library has solicited feedback on park designs. 

Heights Libraries contracted with Sargeant in June 2021 to begin working on a design for a new park and playground that would better accommodate community members of all abilities and ages. The latest designs are the result of public feedback gathered at public events held since the summer of 2021.

AUGUST 7, 2034

• Noble library building 
• Board actions
  
  

Board members present were Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Tyler McTigue, and Vice President Vikas Turakhia. Max Gerbec, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz were not present. The meeting lasted 60 minutes.

JULY 17, 2023

• Technology presentation
• Noble library building 
• Board actions
• Director’s report
• DEI plan 
• 2022 strategic plan annual report
• Public service report
  
  

Board members present were Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Melissa Soto-Schwartz, Tyler McTigue, and Vice President Vikas Turakhia. Max Gerbec was not present. The meeting lasted 90 minutes.

On July 6, Heights Libraries’ University Heights branch officially reopened its lower level, home to its Teen and Children’s departments, which had been closed since August 2022 due to damage caused by flooding. The flooding destroyed flooring, walls, and built-in furniture, rendering the space unusable.

The library hired construction company Millstone Management Group to perform the renovation work, after Neptune Plumbing installed new clean-out drains in the space to prevent future flooding.

“Several engineers were consulted and all agreed that there was nothing structurally wrong with our building, the storm sewers, or the water lines around our building,” said University Heights Branch Manager Sara Phillips.

JUNE 26, 2023

• Summer reading program
• Noble library building
• Board actions
• Director’s report
• Public service report

On May 10, the city of Cleveland Heights' Planning Commission approved the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library System's revised conditional-use permit for renovations to Coventry PEACE Park. This allows Heights Libraries to move ahead with its construction time line for the public park, with the understanding that it will provide the commission with additional plans for lighting, the walking path, and new trees at a future date.

“This public park has been the heart of the Coventry Village neighborhood for at least 30 years, ever since the current playground was built by volunteers in 1993,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “We are so happy, and proud, to be ushering in a new era for the park that will expand its use and make it more accessible to all members of the community, no matter their ages or abilities.”

The Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries (FFHL) has received a $50,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor to help fund the Coventry PEACE Park renovation.

“This anonymous gift will help us make the park as welcoming as possible for all community members,” said Nancy Levin, Heights Libraries director. “The gift comes at the perfect time as we prepare to break ground this fall.”  

Last month, the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission approved the PEACE Park renovation plans, and the library aims to remove the current playground this fall. Site grading will begin shortly after that to prepare for new playground equipment, storybook loop installation, and tree planting in spring 2024. The hope is to re-open the park in June 2024.

Heights Libraries has joined seven other Northeast Ohio libraries to help young people in Greater Cleveland who have fallen behind in their literacy skills due the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership program, Cuyahoga Reads, will focus on helping children and their families form positive and consistent reading habits, foster a love for reading, and equip young people and families with the literacy skills necessary for future success.

The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Education’s Libraries Accelerating Learning grant, which is designed to help libraries create or expand literacy programs for Ohio’s Pre-K through 12th-grade students.

MAY 15, 2023

• Board actions
• Noble construction
• PEACE Park
• Personnel report
• Director’s report
• Public service report

Present were President Max Gerboc, Vice President Vikas Turakhia, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. The meeting lasted 80 minutes.

This summer, with the help of a $29,900 grant from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), Heights Libraries will expand its summer reading program. 

According to the ODE, its Libraries Accelerating Learning (LAL) grant is designed to “expand learning opportunities for students in prekindergarten–grade 12. Awardees will use the funding for programming that supports student learning, particularly in literacy, with the goal of accelerating learning for students who have been most impacted by the pandemic.”

Heights Libraries was among 32 Ohio libraries to receive funding from the LAL grant. Other recipients include Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library, and Euclid Public Library.

Heights Libraries will use the grant to support and expand the summer reading and learning resource programs it offers to children 18 and younger through a nature-focused community literary initiative.

APRIL 17, 2023

• Board actions
• Security report
• Director’s report
• Specialty teams report
• Public service report

Present were Vice President Vikas Turakhia, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. Max Gerboc was not present. The meeting lasted 65 minutes.

In partnership with Ohio Means Jobs|Cleveland-Cuyahoga County, Heights Libraries is now offering free employment counseling for adults every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Lee Road branch.

The services are provided on a drop-in basis by a Community Development Specialist (CDS) from Ohio Means Jobs. The CDS can provide guidance, tools, resources, and support to help job-seekers find wage-sustaining employment, whether they are unemployed, underemployed, or receiving unemployment insurance benefits.

“Over the past decade or so, the job search process has gotten significantly harder to navigate for some people,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “Everything is online now, and not everyone is comfortable using the Internet. The job market has also changed drastically, and many people need additional training to qualify for newer jobs. The CDS can help people figure out what skills they have, and what new skills they may need, and help them find training.”

Heights Libraries’ Noble Neighborhood branch closed to the public on Sunday, April 16, for a year-long renovation and expansion.

However, residents of the Noble neighborhood still have access to library programs and services in multiple nearby locations.

Starting May 1, the BNH Building at 2940 Noble Road will provide limited services Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Customers will have access to public computers, a copier/fax machine, circulation and reference services, and a small collection of materials for checkout; and will be able to pick up holds. The site also features a small space where adult programs will be offered. The phone number for the Noble branch will remain the same for this new location: 216-291-5665.

This summer, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library System will once again provide two paid, six-week technology internships to local teens as part of its Teen Tech Ambassador Program.

Now in its seventh year, the internship provides two qualified high school students the opportunity to learn a variety of real-life job skills through hands-on experiential activities in the library’s Continuing Education Department. Each intern receives a $1,000 stipend.

Internship application packets (application, résumé, and a copy of the applicant's school transcript) will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Monday, May 15, and can be found online at www.heightslibrary.org.

MARCH 20, 2023

• Unpacking history programs
• Board actions
• Director’s report
• DEI report
• Public service report

Present were President Max Gerboc, Vice President Vikas Turakhia, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Patti Carlyle, Dana Fluellen, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. Ty McTigue was not present. The meeting lasted 90 minutes.

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District’s Creative Heights Art Show has returned to Heights Libraries Lee Road branch. The show will run through April 15.

The exhibition of student art features hundreds of pieces, created by students in kindergarten through grade 12, working in diverse media, including pencil and chalk drawings, photography, sculpture, pottery, painting, textiles, printmaking, and metals (jewelry).

“The skill and creativity these kids put into their work is incredible,” said Youth Services Manager Sam Lapides. “You can tell that the art teachers in the district really inspire their students.”

The library last hosted the show in 2019. The COVID epidemic prevented the show from taking place for the next three years, 2020–22.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

Board members present were President Max Gerboc, Vice President Vikas Turakhia, Secretary Annette Iwamoto, Dana Fluellen, Tyler McTigue, and Melissa Soto-Schwartz. Patti Carlyle was not present. 

Strategic projects update

Kaela Sweeney, strategic projects manager, presented a strategic project update to the board. Coventry PEACE Park fundraising has raised $609,945 to date, toward the final goal of $1.2 million. Work with the Hodge Group has been a good collaboration, yielding more than 70 prospects and 32 secured gifts. Currently, there is $59,202 in funded grants and projects. Two grants have been submitted since 2023 began: one for an expanded partnership with Bike Cleveland, and another to support memory cafés.

Heights Libraries will soon be significantly expanding its Noble Neighborhood branch. The planned renovation will double the size of the heavily used building, allowing the library to expand and broaden the services it provides to residents of the Noble neighborhood and surrounding communities in the northeastern section of Cleveland Heights.

The branch will be closed beginning Sunday, April 16. The renovation is expected to last roughly a year (through May 2024), with a groundbreaking tentatively scheduled for May 2023.

In early January, around 30 PEACE Park founders and friends gathered to hear details about, and give feedback on, new park plans. Coventry PEACE Park is a beloved gathering place in Cleveland Heights, and Heights Libraries is committed to its revitalization. 

For the past 10 years, the Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries (FFHL) has raised funds to support Heights Libraries’ buildings and services. FFHL is now focused on raising funds to make Coventry PEACE Park a safe, fun, and accessible green space for people of all ages and abilities.