LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board meeting highlights [online 4-18-2016]

APRIL 18, 2016

• Three staff promotions
• School district art show a success
• Library history on Ohio Memory Project website
• March public service report highlights

All board members were present. 

Three staff promotions

Shamekia Chandler, Monica Wilson and Elora Agsten are now full-time youth associates. Chandler, who has been with the library since Oct. 2007 and graduated from Kenyon College, will be at the Lee Road Library. Wilson, a graduate of DePaul University, with a concentration in creative writing and screenwriting, has been with the library since Feb. 2015 and will be at the Noble Neighborhood Library. Agsten, a graduate of the College of Wooster, who majored in art history and classical languages, has been with the library since June 2015 and will be at the Coventry Village Library.

School district art show

There were 300 entries in the show in the Lee Road Library’s galleries from April 8 to 29. The opening reception on April 12 drew hundreds of viewers, prizes were awarded, and school musicians played. Sheryl Banks, marketing manager, and her team coordinated with school art teachers to produce this event.

Library history on Ohio Memory Project website

Amia Wheatley, local history librarian, with the help of many staff members has uploaded more than 700 images to the [Ohio Memory Project] website, which is linked to the library’s website. Images include school board meeting minutes from 1915–1921, when the library was part of the school system. Courtney Bourdeau and Karen Scheck are identifying and preparing print items for a collection in the book stacks.

March public service report highlights:

• The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County presented “Native Plants: Rugged, Easy-Care Survivors.” The program featured 12 plants that will withstand Northeast Ohio weather.
• In partnership with Cleveland Play House, award-winning local playwright Rajiv Joseph presented a program attended by 115 people.
• Youth Services Division began a partnership with Zhao Zhao of the International Chinese Reading Association to begin a weekly story time in Chinese for children birth to age six.
• Monica Wilson, youth services associate at Noble Neighborhood Library, attended a Community Care Team meeting at Monticello Middle School. The meeting was arranged by Reaching Heights, and included the assistant principal, school psychologist, school counselor, two Cleveland Heights police officers, and a representative from Lake Erie Ink. This summer, Lake Erie Ink will present four programs at Noble Neighborhood Library.
• University Heights Library hosted the city’s Senior Happenings Program for five meetings. Programs included a presentation by the director of the Center 4 Brain Health at Menorah Park, three musical performances, and a presentation about the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
• Amanda Chang, library associate, presented two March Into Kindergarten programs with Family Connections to introduce parents to early childhood literacy.
• Picture Book Madness took place in each building as parents and children voted for their favorite books and watched their progression through the “brackets.”
• Shamekia Chandler, library associate, presented programs in her Spider Week series, which included storytelling, crafts and a visit from a naturalist.

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.