Annual report of the Cleveland Public Library for 1978

              COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD
OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
For most of Cleveland's public institutions and governing bodies,
1978 will be remembered as a year of crisis, both in terms of
leadership and finances. The troubled atmosphere in which the
Library operated intensified our resolve to keep this great institution
financially stable and to proceed toward our stated goals.
In 1978 Cleveland Public Library experienced the most significant
building program in its long history. This included eight new and
totally renovated branch libraries in various stages of construction.
Additional branch improvements are planned for 1979. The Main
Library building also received some much overdue attention.
All of our projects will pale in importance if the citizens of Cleveland
do not utilize these new facilities. Fortunately, the years of internal
as well as external improvements seem to be having the results 'Ne
had hoped to obtain. Circulation showed some very positive trends
for the first time in many years and the response to the newly
renovated branches was dramatic. As additional new projects are
completed, we hope to show year-to-year increases in circulation,
an astonishing turn-around in the face of decades of decline.
The many other improvements that were initiated during 1978, I will
leave to Director Gaines to detail in his report.
The single most positive asset that the Library has in its favor is a j
dedicated group of Trustees who work well with an outstanding
professional staff. Space does not permit me to give the credit that ..
is due to the unselfish and dedicated efforts of Trustees like
ONE
Reverend Dr. Lewis Raymond, Cheryle Wills, Carl Asseff, Julie Rak,
George Trumbo, John Kahl, Jr. They contributed enormous I
amount.s of their time and energy toward making Cleveland Public
Library a better institution. They ask for no recognition and receive
no remuneration except for the satisfaction of seeing services im­prove
for Clevelanders.
The professional staff of Cleveland Public Library, led by Dr. Ervin
Gaines, has continued to demonstrate that productivity and inven­tiveness
are attributes that can be part of public institutions as well .
as the private sector. Dr. Gaines' fine leadership in conjunction with
a reorganized administrative staff, has justly earned the Library the
reputation of an extraordinarily well run institution. Their ability to
team with the Board of Trustees in tackling complex problems has
resulted in many accomplishments and a minimum of roadblocks.
The coming year offers many additional challenges, although less
urgent in nature. During the past four years we have overcome what
seemed at times insurmountable financial shortages, low credibility
with the public, underpaid staff, dilapidated branches and a myriad
of internal operational disorders that have historically plagued the
Library.
During 1979 we will be initiating an in-depth study that will lead to a
specific program aimed at increasing juvenile reading. As I indi­cated
last year in my annual report comments, we must find ways to
bring Clevelanders back to reading and to their libraries. With
innovat.ive programs and better facilities and services. we believe
t.hat for the first time we are changing direction and are heading
upward from a long decline.
I ~!j~
L Lee C. Howley, Jr.
___________P_re_s_id_e_n_t~._B_o_a_rd_o_f_L_i_b_ra_ry_T_r_u_st_e_e_s--,
TWO
DIRECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1978
ERVIN J. GAINES
Nineteen seventy-eight was a year of trouble for the city, but owing
to the independent status of pUblic libraries under Ohio law the
Cleveland Public Library enjoyed a sound year financially and a
progressive year operationally.
BUILDING AND REMODELING PROGRAMS
The building program was the largest single enterprise to occupy
the Library Board's attention in 1976 and 1977; in 1978 the rate of
progress began to accelerate. The first of many branch library
projects was finished in October and a second was nearing comple-tion
in December.
In November the West Park Branch Library was rededicated after
.almost eighteen months of construction to enlarge the building and
'remodel the interior. In this, as in all the branch libraries of the
system, modifications were introduced to make the Library acces-sible
to handicapped people. Ramps instead of stairs, wide door-ways,
lowered drinking fountains, ample aisles, along with a parking
lot and attractive landscaping were designed to make the branch
more convenient for the entire community. Public response was
almost instantaneous: circulation of books increased by at least
70 percent and showed signs of continuing into the new year at that
accelerated pace.
THREE
Other community responsive building projects to be completed in'
1979 include Carnegie-West, Collinwood, East 131st Street, Har­vard-
Lee and South Brooklyn branch libraries. Two others, Eastman
and Glenville-Arlington, were in the final stages of design. Late in
the year the Library Board authorized two new remodeling projects:
Fleet and Rice branch libraries. A grand total of ten branch renewal
or replacement projects have been launched since mid-summer
1976, and the end is not yet in sight.
The downtown buildings also received considerable physical atten­tion.
Much of the effort on Superior Avenue was restorative and
quite necessary to forestall deterioration. The balustrade and cor- '
nice atop the Business and Science Building were dangerously
worn out and had become a threat to pedestrians below; the back
retaining wall abutting the roadway on Rockwell Avenue was con­demned
by the City Building Inspector and had to be rebuilt.
Much attention was given to interiors. The Business and Economics'
Department was overhauled and enlarged; the Documents Section
was moved from the basement to the street-level Marble Room at
the corner of Superior Avenue and East Sixth Street.
Many of the public reading rooms of Main Library underwent
changes. The Philosophy and Religion Reading Room was con­verted
to closed stacks, and its collections and services, along with
those of the Education Section, were incorporated into the Social
Sciences Department.
The Fine Arts Department received a new service desk to merge into
a single location what had been three service points in the room.
The phonograph record collection was updated, sorted out by
subject, and arranged in convenient browsing bins. The History
Department began a slow process of sorting out its collections; a
similar task was undertaken by the Foreign Literature Department.
Popular Library was completely decorated and re-shelved, and ,its'
service responsibilities were expanded to include current non-fIC­tion.
The attractive room qUickly became the focal point for the
FOUR
reader of new books, and its circulation rose rapidly. Popular Li­brary
also carried on the work of interlibrary loan and acted as a
back-up facility for branch libraries and services to hospitals and to
homebound readers.
As Popular Library focused its energies on providing current and in­demand
materials, the Literature Department undertook the heavy
task of rearranging the long-neglected older fiction, discarding
obsolete. and duplicate volumes while consolidating a half-dozen
separate collections into one, and sending substantial numbers of
little-used titles to the stacks.
The General Reference Department is readying itself to house the
Newspaper Room which will move up from the basement; the
Department will also become the center for maps and microforms.
Periodicals in Brett Hall will gradually be reassigned to subject
departments. In another new development, three Cleveland artists
were given commissions to' execute murals to complete, at long last,
the decoration of Brett Hall which was begun during the Great
Depression but abandoned at the beginning of World War II. These
new and exciting paintings will be completed and dedicated in the
spring of 1979. _
READER SERVICES
i The construction, the movement of books and furniture, and the
renovation of room interiors would not have much meaning were
. these activities an end in themselves. The cornerstone of the Li-
. brary's service is a strong collection of books in sufficient quantities
to meet demand, all made readily available to the community by an
able and helpful staff. The gigantic task of rearranging three million
books and the discarding of surplus copies was carried on not only,
downtown but everywhere within the system. Obsolete and worn-lout
books were withdrawn and their places taken by newer books
;with more current information. Last copies were retained for histori-
FIVE
cal research purposes. Popular books, whether novels or non­fiction,
were obtained in ever larger numbers and at higher speed.
Thousands of new paperbacks proved enormously popular, espe­cially
with younger readers.
While much attention was devoted to the popular, this fact should
not lead to the conclusion that other values were sacrificed. The
research collections were considerably augmented. The Library
cataloged a record 40,000 titles in 1978. Enrichment of the collec­tions
with so many unique items in so short a time increased the
utility and reliability of the whole. The Catalog staff audited and
reviewed the catalog records, making the Library easier for the
researcher and the student to use.
Newly acquired research tools enhanced the ability of the Librarians
to find more precisely and speedily the elusive fact or document.
Erudite indexing services and ready access to technical and schol­arly
data banks via computer and long-distance transmission,
greatly improved the Library's reliability and accuracy.
Public response to all these changes was noticeable. The amount of
reference work and the number of telephone inquiries, letters and
face-to-face questions provided important statistical evidences of
the renaissance of the Library in 1978.
As further testimony to the renewed importance of the Cleveland
Public Library, interlibrary loans to other institutions increased, not
only in Cuyahoga County but in other parts of the state and nation.
In 1978 the Library recaptured its leadership as the local institution
that lends the most books to its sister libraries in Cuyahoga County.
·Circulation of books to individuals for home reading showed signs
of revival. Although there was a slight net loss for the year, some
months showed a year-to-year gain; juvenile circulation actually
increased in three of the last four months of the year.
One service that has steadily grown, even in the period of greatest
decline in book borrowing, is the 16mm film collection. The use of
SIX
,....-----------------------------
the collection by individuals and organizations continues to expand,
and the range of titles and artistic quality of the films are impressive.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Administrative measures of performance showed healthy trends
during the year. Efficiency (as measured ,by the volume of work
performed by each employee) improved. To do all that the Library
undertook last year fewer people were needed, and by 31 Decem­ber
full-time employment had fallen from 576 the year before to 521,
a reduction of 55 employees. This marked the third successive year
of staff attrition without loss of service. Opportunities for further
contraction in employee numbers will clearly qiminish as we ap­proach
the minimal level of employment, but a 'useful goal for the
Library will still be the elimination of another 50 to 70 jobs over the
next several years-a target made realistic by the introduction of
computers. A new, large-capacity computer was delivered to the
Library in December. It is being programmed systematically to do
whatever Library work is compatible with computer operations.
Accounting, purchasing, payroll, indexing, acquisition of books,
inventory and circulation control-these and other functions will be
built into the system.
. Onesocial goal that seemed insurmountable three or four years ago
has almost been reached. Minority employment stood at 36 percent
as the year ended and it rapidly is approaching parity with the popu­lation
profiles of Cleveland. The one employment group where the
Library lags is in the professional ranks, but future turnover will pro­vide
opportunity to alter the proportion of minorities and whites.
Once balance has been achieved, a very grievous social injustice will
at last have been rectified in one public institution. The Cleveland
Public Library leads other local public agencies in addressing the
question of affirmative action, not only in its employment but in the
advocacy of compliance by the suppliers of goods and services.
SEVEN
Another indicator of growing internal strength and rising morale is
the diminishing use of sick leave. Absenteeism is a phenomenon
related to employee dissatisfaction; the Library's rate of absentee­ism
has been falling steadily during the past three years, reaching a
new low in 1978 when every month produced a better work attend­ance
record than the corresponding month in the preceding year.
Cataloging of books has been a chronic difficulty for the Library for
perhaps fifty years. Year after year, backlogs piled up despite the
most determined efforts of administrators. In 1978 the Catalog
Department was thoroughly reorganized and employee production
doubled. Problems which had seemed intractable and which had
. bred apathy and discouragement suddenly began to ease enough to
signal us that by the end of 1979 a half-century of inefficiency will
have disappeared.
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS
For the first time, the traditional Friends of the Library Book Sale
was moved outdoors to Eastman Garden, where the tents erected to
shelter the books and browsers from possible rain added a carnival
atmosphere. The new setting will continue to be used in coming
years as the Library's contribution to making downtown more
cheerful. The Flower Fair, sponsored by the Garden Center, offered
another bright attraction in Eastman Garden and provided the idea
for outdoor book sales.
Eastman Garden's sound system was upgraded and relocated to
make it possible for the public to enjoy musical programs without
having the sound interfere with the reading rooms facing the Garden.
A new sun dial in memory of Roberta Wolfer, a former employee,
was put in place during late summer.
EIGHT
The Friday Public Forum programs, begun five summers ago, have
now become a staple of the Library's programming. The 1978 series
was especially lively because of the controversial nature of some of
the issues discussed, especially school busing.
Later in the year the Library expressed interest in the Board of Edu­cation's
public radio station, which ceased broadcasting in October.
Negotiations were begun in December to have the license trans­ferred
to the Library. The Cleveland Public Library, which was once
.notable for its innovative efforts, might just possibly become the first
major metropolitan library to operate a radio station, following the
pioneering efforts in Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee,
where the public libraries have broadcast for many years.
FINANCIAL BACKGROUND
Keeping a major library from capsizing in the turbulent waters of
radical social change, inner city decline, fiscal disturbances of the
Cleveland government, and controversy over schools is a task
requiring vigilance and extraordinary effort. On the evidence it
seems fair to say that survival of the Library is now assured and that
some slow progress is being made against the troubling forces of
blight and decay.
Not all taxpayers realize that the Cleveland Public Library is a school
district library and, as such, is completely independent of city
government and free from the budgetary constraints of the Board of
Education. Operating income derives from the intangibles tax and
from a tax on real property within the Cleveland school district.
Total income from all sources, as the financial statement accompa­nying
this report shows, was $16,674,383, which represented an
increase of almost 9 percent over the previous year.
NINE
In the spring, when the Library was preparing its 1979 budget for the
County Budget Commission, the Cuyahoga County Library indi­cated
that it wished to challenge the formula under which the
intangibles tax receipts have been distributed during the last several
years, citing growth of the County Library system and population
losses in the city. The Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees
acknowledged that a review was justified by circumstances and
agreed, pending a more elaborate study, to forego 1 percent of its
accustomed share of the intangibles tax for the year 1979. Shifts in
population and redeployment of political and economic power will
doubtless have future impact on Library income, and it has seemed
wise to try to foresee change and adapt to it. The stability of the
budget over a period of several years has placed the Cleveland
Public Library in the minority among large city libraries, which
typically have had to retrench their services as local income de­clined.
Whether the Cleveland Public Library is pointing the way to
a new secure future for all libraries or whether it is in the eye of a
hurricane that will overwhelm it, cannot be accurately gauged at this
time. Gradually increased use of the Library by citizens in 1978
suggests renewed confidence in the institution. The reputation of
the Library is strong, and it is gratifying to know that suburban
communities join with C!eveland in supporting the Cleveland Public
Library, which epitomizes the city's greatness.
Libraries are not generally regarded as places of excitement, but a
close look at the Cleveland Public Library's operation in 1978 may
suggest to the astute observer or to the social engineer that it is
possible for a city in distress to arrest deterioration and to provide
services that rally citizens to a new show of spirit and determination.
We like to believe that the Cleveland Public Library is playing the
role of institutional leader in its community.
TEN
THE FRIENDS AND THE LIBRARY BOARD
There are men and women in Greater Cleveland who work loyally
and diligently for the Library-managing book sales, raising money,
mounting ceremonies. These people band together in a group
known as the Friends of the Library. They are friends, indeed, and
we are continually in their debt.
Finally, it has been our custom to acknowledge the support and the
hard work of the Library Board. We do so again, not out of any
sense of conventional courtesy, but because all citizens need con­stantly
to be reminded that there are dedicated men and women,
moved by the highest motives of public service, who tirelessly and
selflessly assume the responsibility for governing the Library. If the
work of the Library staff is good, it is owing to the example set by the
Library Board. To them we must acknowledge the community's
debt.
ELEVEN
HOW LIBRARY DOLLARS WERE SPENT IN 1978
Tota' Cash and Securities on hand
January 1, 1978 or received from all
sources during th~ year ----------------------- $ 23,899,174
Total expenditures and encumbrances -------- 18,113,130
Unexpended balances, December 31, 1978 --- $ 5,786,044
. .'
These receipts and expenditures are shown in more detail in the
major programs below.
GENERAL LIBRARY OPERATIONS
f---
$ 680,860
10,357,389
4,326,335
299,509
392,563
82,350
461,600
73,777
INCOME
I---------,.-----,.------,.-------~
Cash Balance, January 1, 1978 ----------------­Tax
Revenues-Intangibles -------------------
-Real Estate -------------------
State t\id -----------------------------------------
Interest Received ------------------------------­Fines
and Reimbursements ------------------­t\
djustments and Refunds --------------------­Miscellaneous
-----------------------------------
$ 16,674,383
Of this amount $4,537,831 was transferred
to the Building and Repairs Fund ---------' 4,537,831
t\vailable for general operations -------- $ 12,136,552
EXPENDITURES AND ENCUMBRANCES
1,193,978
350,430
2,155
12,136,552
$ 7,597,796
2,014,570
977,623
Salaries and contributions to
Pension Fund -------------------------------­Books,
Periodicals, Films, etc. ---------------­Fixed
charges and capital outlay -----------­Contracts
for services, equipment
and materials --------------------------------­Office
and maintenance materials
and supplies ----------------------------------
Refunds ------------------------------------------
Total expenditures during the year ------- $
TWELVE
BUILDING AND PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS I
Cash on hand January 1, 1978 --- $ 6,301,413
Transferred from
General Operations ----------- 4,537,831 $10,839,244
Expended and encumbered
during year --------------------- _~784,214
Balance, December 31, 1978 --- $ 5,055,030
These funds will be used for new buildings and remodeling of
existing structures.
SPEC1AL PROJECTS
----
The Library was engaged in seven special projects in 1978 for
which separate records were kept. These projects are of limited
duration and will not recur. Funding in all cases was from state,
federal or private sources:
Cash on hand January 1, 1978 --- $ 72,505
Received during the year ---------- 24,969 $ 97,474
Expended, transferred and
encumbered during the year - 62,293
Balances, December 31, 1978 ----- $ 35,181
PRIVATE ENDOWMENTS AND TRUSTS
The Library has accumulated many gifts over the years. It invests
the money received and expends income in accordance with
donor wishes. In general, the major portion of this money is spent
for books.
Cash Balances, January 1, 1978 -- $ 690,751
Interest, Dividends, Transfers
and new gifts ---------------- 135,153
Avai lable for use ------------------ $ 825,904
Expended and encumbered ---- 130,071
Total value of private funds,
December 31, 1978 ------------ $ 695,833
THIRTEEN
CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLECTIONS - 1978
Total System Titles ----------------------- 1,131,432
Total System Volumes ------------------- 2,713,079
MAIN LIBRARY
Adult Volumes ---------------------------- 1,853,435
Juvenile Volumes ------------------------- 109,988
Total Volumes ------------------------ 1,963,423
Microforms-Microfilm ------------------ 29,611
-Microfiche ----------------- 569,469
-Other Microforms -------- 358,374
.-
Films and Filmstrips ---------------------- 4,960
Pictures --_..._------------------------------- 974,233
Phonodiscs and Cassettes -------------- 19,176
Maps --------------------------------------- 103,000
BRANCH LIBRARIES
Adult Volumes ---------------------------- 407,438
Juvenile Volumes ------------------------- 342,218
Total Volumes ------------------------ 749,656
Paperback Materials --------------------- 72,970
Phonodiscs -------------------------------- 12,230
FOURTEEN
HOW CLEVELAND PATRONIZED ITS LIBRARY IN 1978
I
1977 I 1978
Library Cards Issued -------------------
Library Materials Loaned for Home Use
Main Library --------------------------
Branches ------------------------------
Other Community Services --------­Loaned
to Other Libraries ----------
lrotal ---------------------------------
Information Questions
lrelephone ----------------------------­In
Person ------------------------------
lrotal ---------------------------------
65,227
618,628 I
1,499,149
604,975
7,954
2,730,706
621,754
1,354,331
1,976,085
94,556
606,065
1,455,169
591,915
8,649
2,661,798
727,051
1,406,926
2,133,977
Programs and Meetings Held in the Library
Programs ------------------------------ 7,001
Attendance ---------------------------- 160,413
9,045
169,775
Attendance at Main Library
lrotal ----------------------------------- 865,006 821,004
Daily Average ------------------------- 2,836 2,692
(305 Days) (305 Days)
FIFTEEN
._------
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Mr. Lee C. Howley, Jr.
PRESIDENT
Rev. Dr. Lewis Raymond
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mrs. Cheryle A. Wills
SECRETARY
Mrs. Juliana T. Rak
Dr. Carl F. Asseff
Mr. George Trumbo
Mr. John J. Kahl, Jr.
ADMINISTRATION
Ervin J. Gaines
DIRECTOR
Marian A. Huttner
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR
Norma Braun
BUSINESS MANAGER
Ethel L. Robinson
HEAD, MAIN LIBRARY
Edward Seely
DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES
Norman Holman
DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL SERVICES
Andrew Venable
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
I FRIENDS OF THE CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, INC. II
Mrs. Ann Calkins
PRESIDENT
Mrs. Anne Burton
VICE-PRESIDENT
Gordon K. Mott
TREASURER
Mrs. Jeanne Warner
l SECRETARY
Ella Mae Howey
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SIXTEEN --------------------