Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board meeting highlights 4-20-2015

APRIL 20, 2015

• Annual report from Dobama
• Resignation of fiscal officer
• Staffing for Sunday afternoons
• Balanced Scorecard Measures of Success
• Library receives media coverage
• University Heights Library renovation
• Maker space
• March public service report highlights
  
  

All board members were present.

Annual report from Dobama

Julie Friedman, Dobama Theatre’s managing director, presented Dobama’s annual report to the board. Next fall will be its seventh season in the library and its 56th season overall. Friedman said Dobama appreciates the new signage indicating its presence in the Lee Road Annex/HKIC Building, as well as the increased traffic from people using the computer center near its area. There has been a 30-percent increase in attendance over the past two seasons, and in the current season every production exceeded its ticket revenue goals. A Civil War Christmas this past holiday season was the most highly attended and highest-grossing production ever.

Dobama has become an Equity theatre, and is the only full-time small professional theater in the Greater Cleveland.

While Dobama’s partnership with the library is its primary partnership, it has also partnered with MOCA Cleveland and Interplay Jewish Theatre.

Resignation of fiscal officer

Fiscal Officer Jana Nassif resigned to take a job at the Westlake Library. Nancy Levin, Heights Libraries director, will serve as interim fiscal officer. Amy Gerson was given the oath of office to be appointed as deputy fiscal officer.

Staffing for Sunday afternoons

Six vacancies were filled to allow full staffing as all the libraries prepare to open on Sunday afternoons.

Balanced Scorecard Measures of Success

Highlights of the Balanced Scorecard Measures of Success for 2014–15 included visits of the Mobile Tech Lab to the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center and University Heights City Hall; the Baby Brain Time program at partner Family Connections; children’s programming focused on National Save a Spider Day; and employment law training for staff.

Library receives media coverage

Media mentions of library programs included Plain Dealer coverage of the Local Authors series at Coventry Village Library in the Sunday arts section, and inclusion of the University Heights Library’s Cultural Encounters film series in the Friday magazine.

A well-documented Website Quarterly Report included material from Google Analytics. A highlight was a new blog format for librarian reading recommendations that has boosted user hits from around 200 per month to 2,200 per month.

University Heights Library renovation

At least six area firms have expressed interest in submitting quotes for the University Heights Library renovation. A mandatory walk-through was scheduled for April 16.

Maker space

The Youth Services Department is working on a small “maker space” for older children. The maker movement is now popular and focuses on encouraging creativity, often using recycled material, and tools that are not often found in ordinary households.

March public service report highlights:

• With the Cleveland Natural History Museum, the library presented the first of a three-part series on Seed Stories: How Plants Begin for the science and nature study group.
• The Springtime in Paris series included a docent-led tour of Cleveland Art Museum’s French impressionist works for the art study group.
• For the March Cedar-Coventry author series, Dan Coyle discussed the principles of excellence discovered in his research for The Talent Code.
• Aurora Martinez, University Heights librarian, and Jackie Mayse, technology trainer, worked with University Heights Councilwoman Nancy English to plan and present an iPad training session for council members, who have now been issued iPads.
• Dr. Seuss’ birthday was celebrated at Noble Neighborhood Library with games, activities, books and cupcakes.
• University Heights Library hosted AARP volunteers who provided tax help on Thursdays throughout March.
  
  

LWV Observer: Anne S. McFarland.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.