Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board meeting highlights 6-15-2015

JUNE 15, 2015

  • Architect for University Heights renovation
  • New circulation services manager
  • Aquos board
  • Balanced Scorecard review
  • Friends board seeks new members
  • May public service report highlights

All board members were present.

Architect for University Heights renovation

CLBH Design Inc. has been chosen from eight presenters as the architect for the University Heights Library renovation. Principals in the practice are Marc Bittinger and Michael Liezert, who have experience with library design for many Cuyahoga County library systems. Their next step is to prepare three design schemes with price points ranging from $1 million to $4.5 million. A timeline for the project will follow.

New circulation services manager

The board approved the appointment of Ty Emerson as circulation services manager at an annual salary of $53,019. Emerson has a background in customer service and employee training. He’s had academic library experience at Johns Hopkins University. Outside of work, he holds a leadership position with the Cleveland Composers Guild.

Aquos board

The board approved the expense of $8,554 from the technology fund to purchase an Aquos board for classroom use. Technology Coordinator Matt Hoffman explained the interactive features of this 70-inch, wall-mounted, touch-screen monitor, which will be used for technology training.

Balanced Scorecard review

Carlton Sears introduced himself to the board and staff. A former library director and facilitator, he will lead the work for the Balanced Scorecard/Strategic Planning process for 2016–17.

Deputy Director Kim DeNero-Ackroyd presented highlights of the Balanced Scorecard Measures of Success for May 2015, focusing on:

  • The acquisition of the New York Times Digital Database.
  • Partnering with CWRU, YMCA, and the Sisters of Charity Foundation to prevent at-risk teens from becoming homeless. Library staffer Monica Wilson will assist in researching the number of such teens.
  • Youth Services Department visits to schools to promote the summer reading program.
  • Training of four new Book Bike volunteers.
     

Friends board seeks new members

President Louisa Oliver highlighted the success of the mega book sale in early May. She talked about the challenges involved in disposing of the books that don’t sell, and called attention to the mural created by Heights High art students in the Harvey and Friends bookstore on the second floor of the library. The organization is looking for new board members.

May public service report highlights:

  • With May as National Preservation Month, the library’s partnerships with the CH Landmark Commission and the CH Historical Society resulted in two lectures: “The Several Lives of Severance Town Center”and “Landscaping by Design.”
  • The spring series of the Cedar-Coventry author series concluded with author Mary Doria Russell speaking about her new book Epitaph: a Novel of the O.K. Corral.
  • The mobile classroom took the basic computer class, on using the mouse, to Judson residents.
  • The mobile computer lab took the intro to computers class to residents of Musicians Towers, and the MS Word Part 1 class to the Cleveland Heights Senior Center.
  • At University Heights Library, The Kulas Foundation Steinway piano was tuned and is ready for use in programs as well as for practice by community members.
  • Associate Chris Fries hosted the annual Free Comic Book Day for 105 participants who came to play games and receive comic books. Many dressed up as their favorite comic book characters.

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.

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 1:37 PM, 07.15.2015