Annual report of the Cleveland Public Library for 2005

              Our
Engaging Community
“ You feel like you’re on
“ I feel like I’ve done
2005
something good”
Cleveland Public Library
“ It makes me happy to see people smile”
top of the world”
ANNUA L R E P O RT
Cleveland Public Library
325 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114 - 1271
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
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PA I D
Cleveland, OH
Permit No. 408
Comments from Board President
Charlene A. Jones
Charlene A. Jones
President
1
The past year was exciting and fulfilling! It has been an honor and a privilege to
serve yet a second term as President of the Board of Library Trustees. This was
also a year of challenges and opportunities, as we continued our commitment to
provide enhanced lifelong learning experiences to our customers throughout our
community, the state of Ohio, and the nation.
Our 2005 annual report to the community provides an in- depth focus on the
Library’s progress, growth, and community engagement. In a larger sense, this
informational report chronicles the important role of the Library in our neigh-borhoods.
We are committed to providing access to a wealth of information and
learning opportunities for people of all ages throughout the nation.
As President of the Board of Library Trustees, and on behalf of my fellow
trustees, I would like to conclude by personally thanking each staff member of
Cleveland Public Library for the effort he or she gives each day toward helping
the Library achieve excellence in service. We look forward to another year
of exceptional service and continued growth at the Cleveland Public Library,
“ The People’s University.”
Charlene A. Jones
President
Luis Rodriguez, best known for his 1993 memoir of gang
life, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA, was
part of the Sunday Afternoons for Writers and Readers
series; he appeared during our celebration of National
Hispanic Heritage Month.
Singer Melba Moore performed
as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day Commemorative Program at
Main Library.
( center) The historical exhibition
“ Visas For Life: The Righteous
and Honorable Diplomats” was
on view at the Main Library in April
and May of this year.
( left) Children tutor one another at
the Harvard- Lee Branch.
Members of the
Board of Library Trustees
Sandra E. Noble
Vice President
Through July 2005
Lori McClung
Appointed December 2005
John M. Moss
Through November 2005
Vita C. Redding Maritza Rodriguez
Appointed June 2005
Thomas D. Corrigan
Secretary
Vice President
Venerine L. Branham Alice G. Butts
Appointed August 2005
Kevin J. Kelley
Through April 2005
The People’s University:
Striving For Excellence
The mission of the Cleveland Public Library is to
be the best urban library system in the country
by providing access to the worldwide information
that people and organizations need in a timely,
convenient, and equitable manner.
MI S S ION S TAT EMENT
of “ The People’s University” is to be the
learning place for a diverse community,
inspiring people of all ages with the love
of books and reading, advancing the
pursuit of knowledge, and enhancing the
quality of life for all who use the Library.
Vision
COVER:
Rockport Branch Prime Time students are engaged in community
service, which provides them with a sense of responsibility and
bolsters their self- esteem. Because a goal of Prime Time is to
develop job and life skills, community service is perfectly suited
to the program.
Cleveland Public Library
The MLK Teen Writer’s Club
meets monthly to share their
creative writing projects and learn
about different areas of writing
from poetry to character creation.
3
Since 2002 when our Board of Trustees
approved a comprehensive Strategic Plan,
your Library has changed in many exciting
ways. This blueprint for the future of “ The
People’s University” continues to be put into
action, and we remain committed to engaging
the community— our valued patrons and
neighborhood partners.
Your Branch is on one of three teams— West,
Central, and East— each led by a manager who
knows your community. The restructuring of
the Library into team clusters makes us even
more efficient in serving you. Your Branch offers
innovative programs and enhanced services
that are tailored to the needs and interests of
you and your neighbors.
Another way we serve Cleveland’s diverse
neighborhoods is by partnering with companies
and organizations that contribute knowledge and
resources to Library programs and services.
In 2005 we collaborated with Walgreens,
Web Wise Seniors, the Cleveland Branch of the
NAACP, the Cuyahoga County Bar Association,
Cleveland State University, the Arts League of
Michigan, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum, and many others. These collabora-tions
are highlighted in this publication, our
annual report to you.
Last year our report demonstrated the
ways in which your Cleveland Public Library is
“ Making the Grade.” This year we would like
to introduce you to some of the people who
help us continue to reach our goals and main-tain
our commitment to Greater Cleveland;
establishing relationships— engaging our
community— is key to serving you, the patrons
of “ The People’s University.”
“ The Library is one of the few places where everyone is welcome; teens are very
receptive to that. They need a place where they are able to explore their interests
and interact with their peers without the structure of school or the pressure of
grades. As they are developing their identities, the Library will become an important
part of their lives and they will become life- long patrons and readers.”
— Elizabeth Gaughan, Librarian II, Young Adult, Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch
Engaging
OurCommunity
Message from the Director
2
Cleveland Public Library is not only Cleveland’s symbol of knowledge; it is an
American treasure. Since 1869, it has been a major information resource for our city,
region, state, nation, and the world. As beneficiaries of the commitment, dedication,
and hard work of Library leaders, managers and staff who came before us, we pro-mote
the development and growth of “ The People’s University” by engaging our
community in order to provide books, information, and service.
To celebrate National Library Week in April, we sponsored three town hall
meetings in neighborhood Branches to report our progress on implementing the
five library service initiatives Cleveland voters approved with sixty percent in favor
on May 6, 2003.
We are encouraged by the support of our community for two new Library
services. We partnered with Cleveland State University to establish a novel
Connection Lounge, providing popular and recreational reading materials to
encourage lifelong learning for faculty, students, and the public. And we established
a Teen Center in the Collinwood Branch in partnership with Collinwood High School,
taking wise counsel from a Teen Advisory Panel.
More than 800 Library Ambassadors delivered service in a timely, convenient, and
equitable manner to an appreciative community from attractive, clean, safe buildings,
a bookmobile, and KnowItNow24x7, our online virtual reference service.
Thank you for supporting and using “ The People’s University.”
Andrew A. Venable, Jr.
Director
Rock ‘ N Art Recognition Ceremony was held as part
of the Rock My Soul program with Oliver Ragsdale, Jr.,
Director, Arts League of Michigan; Kwame Plato; Andrew
A. Venable, Jr., Director; and Joyce Bowers, Manager,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch.
( top) Featured speaker Sam Fulwood at
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.
( left) Andrew A. Venable, Jr., Director; Glenda
Thornton, Director, CSU Library; Holly Carroll,
Deputy Director; and Dr. Michael Schwartz,
CSU President, at the opening of the
CPL@ CSU Library Connection Lounge.
Parade the Circle
5
CSU staff members Valerie Isom,
who is also a student, and
Barbara Guathier enjoy the
benefits of having CPL on the
CSU campus.
“ When two great libraries collaborate, the potential for the power of ideas to influence the world
grows exponentially. Our ability to create, preserve, and transmit knowledge,
and to find new uses for knowledge is enhanced,
and that is what is properly called ‘ progress’.”
— Dr. Michael Schwartz, President, Cleveland State University
Dr. Michael Schwartz, CSU
President, speaking at the
opening of the CPL@ CSU
Library Connection Lounge.
Partnerships
in the
Lorain Branch
100 years of service and
commitment to community
In December the Lorain Branch celebrated
100 years of service. Staff at the Branch
demonstrated their commitment to the com-munity
by working with the West- End Block
Club, securing a grant to convert a vacant
plot of land near the Library into a park.
Upon completion, Lorain Branch staff plan to
use the new park for events, especially those
targeting young people.
Lorain Branch facade, 1937, and
Children’s Room, 1912.
( above) Richard A. Homzy, Manager Lorain Branch
with West- End Block Club member Brian C. Kazy in
the future neighborhood park.
( left to right) Andrew A. Venable, Jr.; Richard A.
Homzy, Manager, Lorain Branch; staff members
Paula Straka; Stamatis Tripodis; Dina Lytle; Terrence
Metter; Valerie Johnson; and Matthew Zone,
Councilman, Ward 17.
4
“ One of the key responsibilities of the Neighborhood Team Manager
is to develop relationships with staff members and members of the
community in order to achieve outstanding customer service.”
— Ellen Leavitt, Neighborhood Team Manager, East
More than
3.7 million people visited a
Cleveland
Public Library
This year we continued to put our
Strategic Plan into action. A key compo-nent
of the plan is to increase hours;
twenty- three Branches now offer Saturday
hours year round. We also created new
programs and enhanced some of those that
were already popular, generating more
special services for young people and senior
citizens, increasing computers and com-puter
training, and developing new initia-tives
for our city’s diverse communities of
New Americans. In addition to these inno-vations,
we also restructured our Library
system into three regional team
clusters— West, Central, and
East. We also increased staff in
our Branches, particularly in
youth services departments.
In April we hosted three town
hall meetings to report our
progress; these meetings also gave
us a chance to hear your feedback on new
and established programs and services.
As in previous years, the staff of your
Library fostered and maintained innovative
initiatives, taking our vast collection
beyond our buildings. The Mobile Library
completed its fourth full year of operation,
serving thirty- nine stops every three weeks.
As in previous years, Mobile Services
participated in community events such as
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Parade the Circle,
and Sankofa Fine Art Expo. This year, the
Mobile Library’s computers were replaced
with laptops, upgrading its connection to
broadband, and adding nearly six additional
feet of shelf space.
The staff of the Popular Library
oversees valuable programs that take the
Library to the people. Homebound
Services, a program for patrons who,
due to age or disability, are unable to get
to their neighborhood Library grew this
year; seventy- nine new patrons
took advantage of the service,
and more than 14,000 items
were circulated. This department
also maintains a relationship with
the Cuyahoga County Jail; in 2005
more than 5,000 paperback books
were circulated among jailed
individuals. New in 2005 is
CPL@ CSU, a program created
in partnership with Cleveland
State University. CSU students,
faculty, and staff can now check
out materials or browse popular
fiction and nonfiction books in a
relaxing, appealing environment.
Community
Programs Celebrating
Cleveland’s
Cultural Diversity
7
“ Using Library programs and materials, I can teach my children about
their cultural heritage. I also enjoy the wide variety of books in Chinese on topics like health,
fashion, and cooking that are available in the Foreign Literature Department.”
— Jessica Hom, Library Patron
Library patrons Jessica Hom
with sons Jonathon, Andrew,
and Matthew.
More than
9,800 programs
Programs were attended by more than
164,000 Library patrons.
were held at CPL, in schools,
daycare centers, and
community centers.
Chinese Lunar New Year
celebration ( left) brought
more than 650 people to
Main Library.
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Month, more than twenty- five
programs in Spanish and English
were held throughout the Library
system including an appearance
by author Luis Rodriguez ( above).
Author Anchee Min ( above) appeared
as part of Sunday Afternoons for
Writers and Readers. Other programs
also took place during our first cele-bration
of Asian Pacific American
Heritage Month.
One of our goals is to deliver the best
services to you— our patrons— where you
live. Branch Libraries are conveniently
located within one mile of most residents’
homes; they are also close to schools, busi-nesses,
and public transportation. Branches
are centers of community activity, offering
people access to books, magazines, com-pact
disks and DVDs, as well as access to
the Internet and digital resources. Branch
Library programs are planned with the
interests and needs of the neighborhood
in mind, and our librarians and staff know
many of their patron- families by name.
A vital component of our Strategic Plan
is enhancing the ways we serve our
city’s New Americans. Programs are
planned and collections garnered
with your neighborhood’s diversity
in mind. This year, for instance,
the Rockport Branch increased
its Vietnamese fiction titles and Spanish
language graphic novel collections.
“ The Library is an essential part of our community; it is a valuable
education tool— one that I frequently use to enlighten my children.”
— Marquita Mickey, Library Patron
Be Well Informed@ Your Library
Cleveland Public Library was one of ten library systems in the country
to participate in the Be Well Informed@ Your Library program sponsored
by the American Library Association and Walgreens. Your Library
was granted $ 25,000 to host free seminars led by pharmacists, as well
as develop new collections and resources on health care. This year the
program was presented in Spanish at the South Branch.
Library patrons Marquita
Mickey with her family
Eric, Jr.; Ernest; Elijah; and
Eric, Sr.; at the Broadway
Branch.
Programs and Activities
are Ongoing in Our
Neighborhood Branches:
Broadway School of Music and the Arts
partnership at Broadway
Sickle Cell Anemia Puppet Show
at Brooklyn
National literacy initiative Day of the
Child/ Day of the Book at Carnegie West
Call & Post sponsored Creative Writing
Workshops at Collinwood
Brains & Brawn, Baseball & Bookin’
at Fleet
Young Adult Book Discussion Group
at Glenville
“ Why Do We Celebrate MLK, Jr. Day?”
at Harvard- Lee
Youth Book Club— Anime Club and Snak
and Yak Club at Martin Luther King, Jr.
Women’s History Month Program—
“ African- American Women in Business:
A Practical and Historical Perspective”
at Langston Hughes
Women’s History Month Program—“ A
Visit with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis”
at South Brooklyn
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Commemorative
Program featuring Sam Fulwood at the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch and singer
Melba Moore at Main Library.
Harvard- Lee Branch
56% use the Library from one to four
times per week
95% are satisfied with Branch Libraries
81% rate Library service as very important
— from The Strategic Plan, Community Survey Results
6
9
A presentation by Tim O’Brien, author of The Things
They Carried, a book on the loss of innocence of
Vietnam War soldiers, inspired a letter writing campaign
to contemporary American soldiers. Children wrote let-ters
to soldiers and their efforts earned an official thank
you letter from the USO. This program was planned in
collaboration with Playhouse Square and Cuyahoga
County Public Library, and included a traveling photog-raphy
exhibition on the Vietnam War with photographs
from the Library’s Photograph Collection.
“ Our partnership with the Library has been beneficial to both the youth we
serve and Youth Opportunities Unlimited. The young people have the
opportunity to learn new skills in the ideal
environment—“ The People’s University.”
— Connie Fletcher, Career Coach, Prime Time,
Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Chess for Success remains
one of the Main Library’s most
enduring and popular programs
for our young patrons.
Richard Peck, National Book Award Recipient,
appeared during Children’s Book Week.
Prime Time students at the Fleet
Branch participate in mock inter-views
to practice for internships
and employment. They watch
each other and offer suggestions
on how to improve.
Programs to Engage
Our Community
Author Tim O’Brien
Author and illustrator Gerald McDermott,
Caldecott Medal winner for his book Raven,
appeared at the Louis Stokes Wing for the
Summer Reading Club Kick- Off.
Teen Read
Week
8
“ An important step in our literacy initiative is making a connection
with youth. Racing has been a way for me to connect with
young people at the Library and in the community.”
— Sandy Nosse, Librarian II, Young Adult, Rockport Branch and race car driver
Author Sharon Flake
Get Real!
@ Your Library
Kiara Ellis
Cleveland Real Star
More than 150 teens and adults attended
Cleveland Real Star, the competition inspired by “ American Idol.”
Teens from all over Cleveland competed; opening round competitions
were held at each of our twenty- eight Branches with some participants
advancing to the second round. Contestants were judged on stage
presence, diction, accuracy, focus, and voice quality. Representing the
Mt. Pleasant Branch, twelve- year- old Kiara Ellis wowed judges and an
enthusiastic crowd with a stunning performance of “ Summertime.”
200 5
Cleveland Real Star
Your Library is committed to offering programs
that foster reading among young people and
their families. This year YREAD? United
Through Books, the online service for children
and teens, included live, online chats with
authors Sharon Flake and Jacqueline Woodson.
Your Library received the Diversity Award at the
American Library Association’s 2005 conference
for this popular online program. Teen Read
Week featured appearances by Flake, as well as
a Youth Services staff development day with
Dr. Andrea Bonney from MetroHealth Medical
Center. In celebration of Children’s Book Week,
National Book Award Recipient Richard Peck
made community- wide appearances, including
a visit to the Carnegie West Branch. The
Summer and Winter Reading Clubs remain
popular among young people of all
ages. The Summer Club—“ Lights!
Camera! Action! Read!” included a free
“ Poppin Fun” Film Festival, and Winter
Reading Club members were invited to a
free Annual Cleveland Metroparks Family
Zoo Day in April.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited ( Y. O. U.)
launched Prime Time at five Branches—
Collinwood, Fleet, Harvard- Lee, Rockport,
and South Brooklyn. Prime Time engages
young patrons in workshops, which impart
life skills, provide academic support, and
involve them in community service projects.
This unique program provides young people
with opportunities to learn skills that are
applicable to everyday life; some participants
have earned paying jobs using skills garnered
through Prime Time.
AU G U S T O C TO B E R NOV EMB E R D E C EMB E R
Friday Night Live
@ the Library
September 16, October 21, November 11, December 16
Dance to the Music: the Soulful Sounds of the 60s and 70s
Gospelfest: Making a Joyful Noise
The Spirit of Africa:
the Drum and the Dance
*
``
` Connections:
the Art, the Music, the History
October 3, 2005 through January 20, 2006
Visits, performances, and hands- on activities connecting students to the art and
rich heritage of African- derived music and its influences on American culture.
S E P T EMB E R
h
Community engagement was epitomized
by the “ Rock My Soul: The Black Legacy
of Rock and Roll” project, which was
presented this year in partnership with the
Arts League of Michigan, the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame and Museum, and Sankofa
Fine Art Plus, and sponsored by The Ford
Motor Company. This highly successful,
multi- disciplinary endeavor was inspired
by an art exhibition of the same title, which
was organized by the Arts League of
Michigan, and on view at our Martin Luther
King, Jr. Branch. Numerous cultural events
were held at the Branch in conjunction
with the exhibition; people of all ages took
part in or attended artists camps, work-shops,
exhibition gallery talks, a Gospel
festival, and a Rock ‘ N Art Community
Mural Project. Two “ Friday Night Live@
the Library” events were extremely popular.
“ Dance to the Music: The Soulful
Sounds of the 60s and 70s”
took place in September;
participants learned the
history of Soul music and
had the chance to enter a
dance contest. The November
iteration of “ Friday Night Live”
was titled “ Hip Hop as a Cultural
Phenomenon: Interpreting a Social
Consciousness.” Teens were invited to
share their skills as vocal performers,
MCs, and break dancers.
The evening a was
celebration of music
and youth culture.
Rock ‘ N Art
Community Mural Project
August 19, 20, 27
Sankofa Fine Art Plus and local artists collaborate
with the community to create murals inspired by the
art exhibition.
b Illustrating Children’s
Books about Art and Music
Authors/ illustrators Jerry Pinkney and
Steven Kellogg. Planned in partnership
with Ohio Art Education Association.
November 19
j
The overwhelming
success of the
program and public
interest resulted in
the extension of the
exhibition through
January 2006.
11
Hip Hop as a Cultural
Phenomenon: Interpreting a Social Consciousness
are invited 3
10
Rock ‘ N Art
June 17, Opening Night began the most ambitious interdisciplinary project
in the history of your Library’s Branch Services Department.
THE BLACK LEGACY OF ROCK AND ROLL
Young Artist Camp
July 25 - August 5
Arts League of Michigan and Sankofa Fine Art Plus led
an interdisciplinary art camp for young artists.
j
J UNE J U LY AU G U S T
``
`
*
` ` ` b h
Artists’ Development
Workshops
July 28, August 4
Facilitated by Arts League of Michigan
and Sankofa Fine Art Plus.
13
( top) Using an accessible computer and
online meeting software, LBPH patrons
participated in an online book discus-sion
with students from Ohio School of
the Blind in Columbus.
( center) Each year the Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped ( LBPH)
hosts the Family Fun and Learning
Day, which gives patrons the opportunity
to catch up with old friends and learn new
methods of accessing information.
( bottom) Senior Day at the Louis
Stokes Wing gives senior citizens access
to resources and information.
“ Through SeniorsConnect. org, the Cleveland Public Library has
enabled us to provide an exciting array of services and educational
opportunities to local seniors and those who care for them.”
— Matt Godlaski, Instructor, Web Wise Seniors, Inc.
This year, “ The People’s University”
remained committed to establishing and
maintaining new programs and services for
senior citizens. Three years ago we began a
project to meet information- technology needs
of our community’s eldest citizens, resulting
in The Senior Gateway Web Initiative and a
web site, SeniorsConnect. org. This online
resource is a free “ North Coast” focused site
that provides resources and information on
successful aging. Your Library was awarded
$ 25,000 by The McGregor Foundation to
train senior service providers how to best
use SeniorsConnect. org’s vast resources.
In collaboration with the Western Reserve
Area Agency on Aging, SeniorsConnect. org
staff hosted a training seminar; nearly 300
employees of area agencies attended, and
more than twenty agencies scheduled addi-tional
sessions. SeniorsConnect. org contin-ues
to be a valuable tool for bridging the
digital divide experienced by seniors and
their caregivers.
Your Library hosted a Medicare enroll-ment
session, giving those eligible for the
prescription insurance program assistance in
choosing a plan. Members of the Ohio Senior
Health Insurance Information Program,
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
and the Greater Cleveland Access to
Benefits Coalition were on hand to sign- up
Medicare recipients.
Our “ Live Long and Like It” Committee
hosted fairs for seniors in May—“ Older
Americans Month”— and October. In collab-oration
with Goodwill Industries, the group
also hosted a vintage clothing fashion show.
Another unique project was the older adults’
“ Live Long and Like It” collective cookbook.
The LBPH of “ The People’s University”
is one of our most technologically innovative
entities. Using CyberDialogue, a virtual meet-ing
room, and InfoEyes software, patrons who
have access to computers meet online to dis-cuss
books, poetry, and technology. The Ohio
State School of the Blind used these resources
to meet with LBPH patrons and discuss a
wide range of books, including the biography
of the Wright Brothers, To Fly. A NASA staff
member, who is also a Wilbur Wright imper-sonator,
and students from the Perkins School
for the Blind also joined the discussion.
LBPH patrons tested prototypes for digital
players and book cartridges, taking the
specialized products through a series of tests
and offering feedback on the products’
advantages and shortcomings. Many of the
testers’ suggestions will be incorporated in
the final product design. Out of 350 testers
nationwide, fifty are Greater Clevelanders.
This year’s LBPH Family Fun and
Learning Day included the induction of nine
patrons into the National Library Service’s
“ 10 Squared Club.” This revered group is
comprised of readers who are 100 years of
age and older. Frank Kurt Cylke, director of
the National Library Service, inducted our
nine honorees in person and via telephone.
LBPH Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Web Wise Senior instructor
Matt Godlaski works with
senior service providers at the
Margaret Wagner House.
This year the staff of your Library also
redesigned our web site; current informa-tion
was reorganized and the overall look
was changed to incorporate artwork by
Cleveland artists such as Ora Coltman,
whose painting Dominance of the City of
1934 is represented. The new site is, in
part, centered on events and programs,
including a new front- page events calendar.
It is now even more user friendly, and
provides people with access to the
CLEVNET Digital Library Catalog, and
OverDrive eMedia’s down- loadable audio
books and eMusic.
The Library’s redesigned web site won
the 2005 Buddie Award, a prize given in
recognition of a database’s wide- ranging
innovation, significance, and quality. While
the site is not a database, Information Today
reviewer Mick O’Leary nonetheless extolled
it for features such as online reference and
standard library services, 24/ 7 interactivity,
health information, and homework assis-tance,
as well as easy navigation and user
friendliness. Our web site is another
important way we take the institution’s
resources beyond its buildings.
One of your Library’s biggest
challenges has been to ensure
that you have access to the
hottest new books. This
year we addressed this
challenge, working with
CLEVNET to select $ 100,000
worth of yet- to- be published
books that we anticipated would be in
high demand. This collection— what we
call a Floating Collection— was delivered
to Library facilities ready to circulate by
publishers’ release dates. When James
Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s 4th of July
was received into the Floating Collection
on May 4 it had been requested by 1,079
patrons. By the time the book appeared
on the bestseller list, all of those patrons
were able to borrow a copy from the
new Floating Collection. This successful,
innovative project involved the creative
efforts of staff from our Collection
Management, Technical Services, and
Buildings Departments.
“ Staff at the Branches are closely connected to people who live in the neighborhood. We know
many of our patrons by name, and many of us share the same languages and cultures.
Establishing lasting relationships— even friendships— is one of the best parts of my job.
— Eanas Salem, Computer Aide, Eastman Branch
12
Young Library patrons from
the Tantour family use Library
computers with the help of
Computer Aide Eanas Salem
at the Eastman Branch.
Sample web pages show the redesigned
homepage with the events calendar and
an events page for a “ Live Long and Like It”
program. ( top left) A web page for the
Computer Learning Connection.
Detail of the painting Dominance of the
City, by Cleveland artist Ora Coltman
is incorporated into the new homepage
design ( circle above).
www. cpl. org
Andrew A. Venable, Jr., Director; Jaron
Lanier; V. S. Ramachandran, Ph. D.; and
Bellamy Printz, Cleveland Public Art.
15
This year we collaborated with Cleveland Public Art in the inauguration of
SPECTRUM: The Lockwood Thompson Dialogues. The new annual program
engages the community in a series of public talks on issues con-nected
to visual and popular culture. The 2005 series topic was
Truth, Technology, and the Visual/ Virtual World. April’s
inaugural program featured V. S. Ramachandran, Ph. D.,
Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, who also
serves on the faculties of the University of California at San
Diego and the Salk Institute. SPECTRUM’s October guest,
Paul D. Miller, a. k. a. DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid, is a concep-tual
artist, writer, and musician working in New York. Computer
scientist, composer, visual artist, professor, and author Jaron Lanier moderated
both discussions. The innovative series will continue annually and is sponsored
by your Library’s Lockwood Thompson Fund.
After thirty years of dedicated service, Joan L. Clark,
Head of Main Library, retired in 2005. Clark was an
enthusiastic leader and a sincere advocate of Library
collections and programs.
V. S. Ramachandran, Ph. D.
Jaron Lanier
DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid
Joan Clark introduces featured
speakers of the inaugural
SPECTRUM Dialogue Series.
1
2
Luis Rodriguez, best known for his 1993
memoir of gang life, Always Running: La
Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA, visited the
Louis Stokes Wing following our celebration
of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Anchee Min, former member of the
Chinese Red Guard, propaganda film
star, and author of Red Azalea and
Becoming Madame Mao.
Susan Orlean, native
Clevelander and best- selling
author of The Orchid Thief.
14
An important part of engaging the commu-nity
is giving our patrons a chance to meet
some of the most revered writers of our
time; our Sunday Afternoons for Writers
and Readers Series featured authors
speaking about their work to further spur
people’s desire to continue reading.
Members of our new Main Library
Book Discussion Group took advantage of
authors’ visits, focusing on works by
Rodriguez, Orlean, and O’Brien. They also
discussed Jonathan Safran Foer’s Everything
Is Illuminated in honor of Jewish Book
Month, among other compelling works.
Staff of the Popular Library Department
forged a unique partnership with WCPN
90.3 FM’s “ Around Noon” host Dee Perry,
establishing an online discussion on
Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and
Incredibly Close. The successful discussion
forum included three local authors, as well
More than 1,600 patrons attended
the Sunday Afternoons for Writers and Readers series.
PROMOTING LIBRARIES, READING, AND LITERACY OHIO CENTER FOR THE BOOK
Your Library is the site of The Ohio Center for the Book, an entity that promotes books, reading, libraries, literacy, and authorship
throughout Ohio, with a strong emphasis on our state’s literary history. This year we collaborated with the Center for the Book at the
Library of Congress and the Target Corporation on the national “ Letters about Literature” writing contest for students in grades
four through twelve. Target and Barnes & Noble provided prizes for Ohio contest winners. Beginning this year The Ohio Center for the
Book will join with the newly formed Literacy Initiative of your Library to focus on literacy projects for young people.
as an array of Library patrons and fans
of Perry’s popular radio program.
Your Library received a Northern
Ohio Live Award of Achievement for the
Anisfield- Wolf Book Awards during the
publication’s 25th Anniversary black- tie
dinner in September. Prior to receiving
this award, we hosted A. Van Jordan,
author, poet, and recipient of the seventi-eth
annual Anisfield- Wolf Book Award;
he appeared in the Louis Stokes Wing of
our Main Library.
Anne Garrels, correspondent for
National Public Radio’s foreign desk, and
one of only sixteen non- embedded foreign
journalists in Baghdad throughout the start
of the Iraqi War appeared at Cleveland
State University on November 17. The
program was a collaboration between your
Library and CSU, and was held in support
of the latter’s new Middle Eastern Studies
program. Following her talk, Garrels was
on hand to sign copies of her book Naked
in Baghdad.
Authors
engage our
Community
E. Lynn Harris, author of Not a Day Goes By
and recipient of the James Baldwin Award for
Literary Excellence.
Sara Paretsky, a mystery writer
who trenchantly addresses important
social issues such as women’s rights,
racism, anti- Semitism, and free
speech in her novels.
Edward O. Wilson, writer, two-time
Pulitzer Prize winner, and
one of the most highly regarded
scientists in the world.
17
“ Without the preservation program from the Cleveland Public Library, historic school
newspapers would deteriorate from age. By putting the newspapers
on microfilm, they will be available to students,
the community, and researchers forever.”
— Joyce Chappelle, Retired Librarian,
Collinwood High School Media Center
Resources
available to our
Community
An Overview of the Library’s High School Newspaper Holdings
Microfilming Cleveland high school newspapers is an ongoing Library preservation
project. Staff in the Preservation Department carefully inspect and repair the original
documents before shipping them to the OCLC Preservation Service Center for micro-filming.
When the microfilm is returned, it is checked to make sure that every page
was filmed accurately.
Make your school’s records a lasting part of Cleveland’s history. Your Library’s
Social Sciences Department gladly accepts donations of newspapers and yearbooks
for public, private, and parochial schools located in the city of Cleveland. Call
216- 623- 2860 or e- mail socsci@ cpl. org.
Central High School
Belfry Owl
Central Times
Collinwood High School
Collinwood Spotlight
East High School
Blue & Gold
East Technical High School
East Tech Scarab
Scarab
Glenville High School
Glenville Torch
John Adams High School
John Adams Journal
John Hay High School
John Hay Ledger
John Marshall High School
Interpreter
Lincoln High School
Lincoln Log
Longwood Commercial
High School
Longwood Ledger
South High School
South High Beacon
West Commerce High School
Commerce Budget
West High School
West High School Review
West Higher
West High
West Technical High School
The Tatler
Microfilming of Local
Neighborhood Newspapers
The Plain Press and the Old Brooklyn News both record the
history of neighborhood life on Cleveland’s west side. Printed
mostly on poor quality newsprint, the Library’s preservation-quality
microfilm captures this printed history in a stable
format, making it accessible in perpetuity. Microfilming of
The Cleveland Voter, the newspaper of the Cleveland
League of Women Voters, was completed this year.
Genealogy
Records and Resources to
Discover Your Past
Old & New Street Numbers
Genealogists often need to determine what a street address
became after the city adopted a comprehensive plan
for renaming streets and renumbering addresses in
1905. The History Department’s sole copy of Old & New
Street Numbers, published in 1905, was reprinted as an
archival facsimile during the year.
Joyce Chappelle reviews the
January 15, 1920, issue of
West Technical High School’s
“ The Tatler.”
16
Titles 2,089,272
Book Volumes— Main 2,546,698
Book Volumes— Branches 752,017
TOTAL 3,298,715
Bound Periodicals 270,614
Computer Media ( CD- ROM, Software) 7,492
Government Documents 811,666
Maps 177,085
Microforms 4,561,625
Paperbacks 142,144
Photographs, Pictures 1,381,467
Sheet Music 18,000
Sound Recordings ( CDs, Cassettes) 153,875
Videos, DVDs 142,267
COLLECTION STATISTICS
( top) Andrew Borowiec, The Flats, 2002. The
Borowiec Collection includes twenty- five images
purchased by the Photograph Collection.
( above) The Cuyahoga River burning is one of the
most requested subjects by researchers using the
Photograph Collection. This year the photograph
was requested by Balanced Living Magazine, a
regional publication.
( left) The Northeast Document Conservation
Center recently conserved thirty- two photographs
by Arthur Gray ( 1884- 1976), who was active in
Cleveland and shared a darkroom with Margaret
Bourke- White. Gray’s distinctive images of
Cleveland’s industrial landscapes and downtown
were cleaned, old adhesive residues were
removed, and they were mounted using archival
standards.
( circle photo) The Bingham Building, view from
the street. One of two architectural renderings from
1915, see page 18 for more information.
“ The Law for Laymen program uses everyday practical knowledge
to give people a better understanding of the law, the ways it
is applied, and how it affects their daily lives.”
— Lester S. Potash, Instructor, Law for Laymen
Law for Laymen, a legal education series, was organized in collaboration with
the Cleveland Branch of the NAACP, the Cuyahoga County Bar Association,
Cleveland- Marshall College of Law, and the Norman S. Minor Bar Association.
The series of free educational workshops were designed to teach people about
their legal rights and responsibilities.
James L. Hardiman ( left) and Lester S. Potash, Instructors, Law for Laymen
Patrons borrowed more than 5 million
items from the Library
More than 393,000 items were added
to the collection
More than 2 million questions answered
Your Library connects with the community
in many important and diverse ways. We
serve as a key resource for, and as a reposi-tory
of, historic photographs, documents,
personal papers and collections, as well
as works of literary and visual art. Staff
members of the Photograph Collection
and other departments frequently provide
images, information, and bibliographies to
scholars, people working in the nonprofit
sector, and individuals researching histori-cal
and contemporary subjects. Staff in the
Business Economics and Labor Department
provided research and “ webliographies” to
program producers at WCPN 90.3 FM;
staff of WCPN showed their appreciation
by crediting your Library during radio
broadcasts.
The historical exhibition “ Visas For
Life: The Righteous and Honorable
Diplomats” was on view at the
Main Library in April and May
of this year. The exhibition
honored rescuers of Jewish
people during the World
War II Holocaust, and featured
photographs and documents
detailing the stories of many diplomats
of neutral and allied countries who defied
orders and helped Jewish people escape
the atrocities of the Holocaust. “ Visas For
Life” was a partnership with the Cleveland
Chapter of the American Jewish
Committee. It is just one of many exhibits
your Library mounts each year.
On April 1 the History Department published a twenty- two page
guide to the Library’s genealogical resources, which also included
a comprehensive guide to genealogical records in Cuyahoga
County. By year’s end, the guide had been reprinted three times,
with more than 1,500 copies having been picked up by Library
patrons, and the staff of the department had noticed a marked
increase in the use of the reference collection. The guide’s “ shelf
browsing guide” helps patrons more fully appreciate the depth of our
collections, much of the content of which is available only in traditional
print formats. A major genealogy exhibit was assembled during the
year to complement the guide. The exhibit will be on display from April-
September 2006 in the Main Building, second floor exhibit corridor.
Please visit or contact the History Department for a copy of the guide
( 216- 623- 2864, history@ cpl. org), or view it online under the “ How
do I...” tab at www. cpl. org.
Gifford Family Album, circa 1870, Carte- de- Visite.
( background photo) Imogene Wormley, circa 1900,
Wormley/ Graves Collection, African- American
Families Photograph Collection. Both photos are
from the Library’s Photograph Collection.
Revenues
Library and Local Government Support Fund ( State Income Tax) $ 26,867,387
Property Taxes ( City of Cleveland) 31,629,098
Intergovernmental Aid 4,863,660
Charges for Services ( CLEVNET) 3,048,450
Other Revenue 1,357,221
Total Revenue $ 67,765,816
Fund Balance: January 1 19,734,329
Available for General Operations $ 87,500,145
General Operating Fund
Expenditures and Encumbrances
Salaries and Benefits $ 36,848,599
Library Materials 15,262,822
Utilities and Purchased Services 9,920,468
Other Expenditures 2,608,926
Transfer to Building and Repair Fund 3,000,000
Total Expenditures and Encumbrances $ 67,640,815
Carried Forward for the Next Year’s First Quarter Operations 19,859,330
$ 87,500,145
How Library Dollars Were Spent
A Cash Basis Report of the General Operating Fund
2005
Treasures Unveiled
ANNUAL FRIENDS OF THE CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISER
This year the Lorain Branch was awarded a $ 5,000 grant from the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation. The
Branch, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005, used the funds to purchase furniture and computer
equipment. Donna Shalala, who served as U. S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President
Clinton, and is now President of the University of Miami, spent her childhood in the west side neighborhood,
and was a regular patron of the Lorain Branch. Ms. Shalala is on the board of the Kaiser Foundation; her
fond memories of her Branch of “ The People’s University” inspired her to help secure the grant.
Since 2000 the Friends of the Cleveland Public Library have annually organized a fundraising
event for the Library to increase awareness about their unique group. Last year they hosted
“ Treaures: A Tour of the Special Collections of the Cleveland Public Library,” a phenomenal
affair, which showcased some of your Library’s special collections. They hosted a second
“ Treasures” event this year—“ Treasures: Experience the Magic.” The theme was
explored through three special collections—“ The Magic of Baseball,” “ The Magic of Folklore,”
and “ The Magic of Children’s Literature.” Event attendees were able to explore the historic roots
of magic through The John G. White Folklore Collection and the Newbell Niles
Puckett Collection, both of which include rare and captivating examples of fairy tales,
myths, and folklore. This event incited interest and excitement about the range of historic,
fascinating, and valuable “ treasures” in your Library’s special collections.
at the Lorain Branch. Those were some of the happiest days of my Cleveland childhood. I wanted to
“ My love of reading and learning came from many days sitting on the floor
arrange for a gift for the Library for a long time. Someday another kid will find
a dream at Lorain and end up sitting in the
White House, or flying a jet, or traveling the world.”
— Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami,
former U. S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
under President Clinton, on the Kaiser Foundation’s
grant to the Lorain Branch of the Library
18 19
Donors of Up to $ 99
American Association of University Women • Janet Armstrong • Mr. &
Mrs. Jack Blickensderfer • Evelyn Boyd • Judy Brown • Louella & Charles
Campbell • Richard & Janina Ceaser • Edna Crowl • Norma Dolezal
• W. Thomas Dowling • Sam & Frances Eckelson • Dennis & Elaine
Engelmann • Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fentz • Harold & Doris George • Agnes
Hanson • Lee & Dolores Hartzmark • Karen & Tom Knaulf • Timothy
& Bonnie Konczal • Mr. & Mrs. Greg Loyd • Steven & Tammy Levy
• Prudence K. N. Lyman • Michael Martaus • Judith H. Miller • Nick &
Donna Mundo • Cynthia A. Myers • George and Sabra Qua • Rainey Institute
• Elizabeth Ramsey • Nancy Reed • Ray & Norma Richards • John &
Carolyn Rowland • Glen Sanzenbacher • Margaret Schrock • William &
Marian Simmons • Petricia Sindlinger • Dr. Anna A. Siva • Robert & Beverly
Skarlinski • Dianne Solembrino • E. Roger & Linda Stewart • Billie Tegethoff
• The Urban Institute • Cora Welling • John Weigand • Mark Woodburn •
Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Woodburn • Katherine A Work
Donors of $ 100 to $ 499
Eaton Charitable Fund • Martin Gottieb • Maurice F. Hadley Trust • James
Heath • Dominika Jacobs • Thomas & Norma Jacobs • Mount Pleasant NOW
Development Corporation • Pysht Fund • Edward A. Richley • Waterloo Aerie
Ladies Auxiliary • Westfield High Alumni Association • Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority– Gamma Delta Zeta Chapter
Donors of $ 500 to $ 999
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers –
Cleveland Chapter • The Harley C. Lee and Elizabeth K. Lee Fund • Library
of Congress – Center for the Book
Donors of $ 1,000 to $ 4,999
Estate of Andrew A. Mulwick • Dr. John F. Burke, Jr. and the Honorable
Nancy A. Fuerst • John Wiley & Sons, Inc. • The Henry J. Kaiser Family
Foundation • Irving Rothchild Trust • Western Reserve Kennel Club
Grants
• Senior Success Vision Council – Senior Gateway to
Information Initiative – $ 293,238 ( December 2005
through November 2006, the fourth year of a multi- year
project)
• The McGregor Foundation – $ 25,000 for SeniorsConnect
Other Funds Received Regularly
��� Friends of the Cleveland Public Library – $ 26,918
for program support
• Estate of Anna M. Schweinfurth – $ 24,797
for the purchase of architectural materials
• Frederick W. and Henryett Slocum Judd Fund – $ 194,216
for the Library’s Homebound Service
• Lockwood Thompson Memorial Fund – $ 209,794
for the purchase of fine arts materials, lectures, staff
recognition and travel expenses
• Winifred Beech Young Testamentary Trust – $ 47,442
for services to blind persons of the Connecticut
Western Reserve
Donors
The following individuals and organizations made generous donations to the Library in 2005.
Some gifts were made in honor of loved ones, while others were made to enhance specific
library services, programs, or collections. All gifts to the Library are greatly appreciated as they
improve our ability to deliver high quality service and to build outstanding collections.
Your Library received a grant for $ 25,000 from The McGregor Foundation to teach those who work with and
support senior citizens how to best utilize the vast resources of SeniorsConnect. org. Also
known as “ The Web Site for People Who Weren’t Born Yesterday,” SeniorsConnect. org helps older adults and those
who care for them connect to vital information and resources on successful aging. The McGregor grant will help more
seniors gain access to this digital “ North Coast” community.
SENIORSCONNECT. ORG
ACCESS TO OUR RESOURCES
“ The awarding of the McGregor grant enabled SeniorsConnect. org to partner
with Web Wise Seniors to train senior service providers on the Library’s online
resources, adaptive technology, and computer and Internet basics.”
— Mark Weiker, VP of Web Wise Seniors, Inc.
Web Wise Seniors instructor
Matt Godlaski works with
senior service providers at the
Margaret Wagner House.
A notable purchase from the
Schweinfurth Fund was the 1915
architectural rendering of the Bingham
Building. Located in the downtown ware-house
district, this building was designed
by Walker & Weeks for the hardware
company, the W. Bingham Company. The
drawing, executed in watercolor and pastel,
received conservation treatment at the
Intermuseum Conservation Association.
The Team
Literature Department
Popular Library
Youth Services Department
Friends of The Cleveland
Public Library
Anne Marie Warren, President
Robert F. Pincus, Vice President
J. Stefan Holmes, Secretary
Willie Ann Maddox, Treasurer
Mary Scelsi, Director
Thomas Feczkanin, Associate
Pamela Blake, Tracy L. Conn,
Melissa M. Gleespen, Lute Harmon, Sr.,
Patricia S. James, Meryl N. Levin,
Amy McMaken, Trustees
Administration
Andrew A. Venable, Jr., Director
Holly Carroll, Deputy Director
Joan L. Clark, Head of Main Library
Janice M. Ridgeway, Head of Branches
and Outreach Services
Robert T. Carterette, Head of
Automation Services
Timothy R. Diamond, Head of Planning
and Research
Michael A. Janero, Chief of Security
Patricia E. Lowrey, Head of Technical Services
Myron Scruggs, Facilities Manager
Joan L. Tomkins, Head of Financial Services
Sharon L. Tufts, Head of Human Resources
David L. Williams, Head of Marketing
and Public Relations
M. Main Library*
325 Superior Avenue
( 216) 623- 2800
Public Administration Library
( in City Hall)
601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 100
( 216) 623- 2919
1. Addison
6901 Superior Avenue
( 216) 623- 6906
2. Broadway
5417 Broadway Avenue
( 216) 623- 6913
3. Brooklyn
3706 Pearl Road
( 216) 623- 6920
4. Carnegie West
1900 Fulton Road
( 216) 623- 6927
5. Collinwood
856 East 152nd Street
( 216) 623- 6934
6. East 131st Street
3830 East 131st Street
( 216) 623- 6941
7. Eastman*
11602 Lorain Avenue
( 216) 623- 6955
8. Fleet
7224 Broadway Avenue
( 216) 623- 6962
9. Fulton
3545 Fulton Road
( 216) 623- 6969
10. Garden Valley
7100 Kinsman Road
( 216) 623- 6976
11. Glenville
11900 St. Clair Avenue
( 216) 623- 6983
12. Harvard- Lee
16918 Harvard Avenue
( 216) 623- 6990
13. Hough
1566 Crawford Road
( 216) 623- 6997
14. Jefferson
850 Jefferson Avenue
( 216) 623- 7004
15. Langston Hughes
10200 Superior Avenue
( 216) 623- 6975
16. Lorain
8216 Lorain Avenue
( 216) 623- 7011
17. Martin Luther King, Jr.*
1962 Stokes Boulevard
( 216) 623- 7018
18. Memorial- Nottingham*
17109 Lake Shore Boulevard
( 216) 623- 7039
19. Mt. Pleasant
14000 Kinsman Road
( 216) 623- 7032
20. Rice
2820 East 116th Street
( 216) 623- 7046
21. Rockport
4421 West 140th Street
( 216) 623- 7053
22. South
3096 Scranton Road
( 216) 623- 7060
23. South Brooklyn*
4303 Pearl Road
( 216) 623- 7067
24. Sterling
2200 East 30th Street
( 216) 623- 7074
25. Union*
3463 East 93rd Street
( 216) 623- 7088
26. Walz
7910 Detroit Avenue
( 216) 623- 7095
27. West Park
3805 West 157th Street
( 216) 623- 7102
28. Woodland
5806 Woodland Avenue
( 216) 623- 7109
13
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17
11
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18
24
28
10
2
25
8
6
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12
14
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21
27
1
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W 120th ST WAGER MADISON
WEST
BLVD
BROOKPARK
HUMMEL RD
SMITH W 150th
PURITAS
HENRY FORD
W 140th
W 117th
W 130th
W 105th
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CLARK AV
BERE A
FULTON RD
W 11th
STATE RD
MEMPHIS AV
SCRANTON
W 65th
FULTON
PKWY
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FLEET AV
MAYFIELD RD
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HAYDEN E 140th
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UNION
E 169th
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CORLETT AV
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LEE RD LEE RD
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BUNTS
CLINTON
ASPINWALL
W157th
ROCKYRIVER
GRAYTON
FRANKLIN
WARRENRD
LORAIN
BELLAIRE
TIEDEMAN
RIDGE RD
TRISKETT
JENNINGS RD
DENISON AV
BROADVIEW RD
PEARL RD
FULTON
W 25th
W 9th
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EUCLID AV
CEDAR AV
EUCLID HTSBLVD
CARNEGIE AV
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ADDISON
WADE PARK
SUPERIOR AV
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LAKEVIEW
COIT
SHAW AV
WOODHILL
WOODLAND
HARVARD AV
MILES AV
MILESRD
LIBBY RD
GRANGERRD
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BROADWAY
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TURNEY RD
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GARFIELD
GRANT
SCHAAF RD
MCCRACKEN
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MLK BLVD
DR MLK BLVD
KINSMAN
NOBLE
COVENTRY
FAIRMOUNT BLVD
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BUCKEYERD SOUTH WOODLAND
VAN AKEN BLVD
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CRAWFORD
JEFFERSON
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PERSHING
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LAKE AV
CLIFTON
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LORAIN
DETROIT
N
S TAYLOR
Cleveland Public Library
System Map
M
Library for the Blind &
Physically Handicapped*
17121 Lake Shore Blvd.
( 216) 623- 2911
( 800) 362- 1262
* All sites feature high- powered closed- circuit TV enlargers
for people with declining vision. These sites feature additional
adaptive equipment for people with special
needs. Call ( 216) 623- 2911 for details.
18a.
Annual Report Credits
RESEARCHER, WRITER, EDITOR.
Lyz Bly, newsense enterprises
DESIGNER. Pam Cerio Design
PHOTOGRAPHY. The following photographers’ work was
used in this publication: Rodney Brown, Diana McNees,
Thomas Darryl Polk, William Rieter ( Cleveland State
University), Tim Safranek, Don Snyder, and Subliminal
Kid, Inc. ( DJ Spooky background photograph)
The People’s University
on Wheels”
Mobile Services
( 216) 623- 7114
“
This year the Library’s Staff
Holiday Chorus gave its ninth
annual concert in the Louis
Stokes Wing of the Main
Library. The festive chorus
was established in 1997 and
performs under the direction
of Andrew A. Venable, Jr.
Celebrating
with the
Holiday Chorus
20
DEPARTMENTS COLLABORATE ON EXHIBITION
Behind the Scenes
As a means of literary and visual expression, graphic storytelling is an
exceedingly popular part of your Library’s collection. Its popularity is not
only prevalent among teens, adults are also beginning to enjoy intricate
fictional and non- fictional narratives that are presented in graphic formats.
To appeal to our patrons who already
voraciously read comics and graphic
novels, and enlighten others, the staff of
the Main Library mounted an exhibition—
“ The World of Graphic Storytelling...
from Asterix to ZAP and Beyond!”
Superman 2, Warner Brothers, movie still from the Library’s Photograph Collection.
“ The World of Graphic Storytelling...
from Asterix to ZAP and Beyond!”
Taking an exhibition concept from idea to reality involves
the work and dedication of staff members from throughout
your Library. This concept was inspired by a workshop,
led by Mike Pawuk of the Cuyahoga County Public Library,
which was part of a staff development event. All staff who
worked on the exhibit are personally interested in graphic
storytelling, or wanted to learn more because of patrons’
fascination with the subject.
The team included staff from
the Literature, Popular Library, and Youth Services Departments, as well as
staff from our Graphics Department and Photograph Collection.
STAFF DISCUSSES
IDEA FOR AN
EXHIBIT
Additional Collaboration
Graphics Department
Photograph Collection
Ground- breaking interdepartmental cooperation
was at work, displaying the riches of the Library's
collection— this is what our staff loves to do!
— Evelyn Ward, Head of Literature Department
Wonder Woman played by
actress Linda Carter,
ABC press release, from the
Library’s Photograph Collection.
( right) Rurouni Kenshin, volume 13,
by Nobuhiro Watsuki, was the best
selling manga title in the U. S. in
2004.
( center) Mom’s Cancer, by Brian Fies,
received the Eisner Award, one of the
premier awards given for comics and
graphic novels.
Display cases focusing on Japanese manga and anime, Superman and the
history of graphic storytelling, Ohio authors and artists, underground comix
and independent publishers, and superheroes were divided among the mem-bers
of the exhibition team; each person arranged at least one case. Members
of the team included materials from their own personal collections, and James
Eritano of Barberton, Ohio, loaned a unique collection
of Superman memorabilia. Didactic text—“ Why
Should the Cleveland Public Library Collect Graphic
Novels?”— explained the
importance of this popular
literary medium.
CPL Staff Development Day
“
The Quitter, by Cleveland author
Harvey Pekar, art by Dean Haspiel
with Lee Loughridge.
“
The “ Graphic Storytelling” exhibit was
seen by 1,000s of Main Library patrons.
Staff members who made the compelling
exhibit a reality were rewarded; each
day, people of all ages took pleasure in
viewing the displays and learning more
about graphic novels, comics, anime,
and manga.