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CLEVELAND POBLIC LIBRARY
ANNUAL REPORT ·1981 ~ ~
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Cover: Rosettes set in pierced panels are a major decorative motif in the John G. White Department
ANNUAL REPORT 1981
CLEVELAND paBUC UBRARY
Cleveland, Ohio
Comments From The President
Of The Board Of Ubrary Trustees
It is with great pride that I introduce the Annual Report of the Cleveland Public
Ubrary to the citizens of Greater Cleveland, the "All American City." The
nation's eyes have been upon us, to see where we were, what we are and what
we are doing to tum our city around.
Your library is also an "All American." We are fulfilling your needs to the best of
our ability, yet always strive to do better. You, as well as the nation, are looking
to us for leadership in library science and service. You have blessed us with
adequate financial support, both by your tax levies and intangible property
monies. We have used these well.
The physical improvements to buildings, equipment, resource materials and
collections are constantly being updated. The dedication of the staff continues
to reach the highest levels. And you, the consumers of our service, have shown
your approval by your requests for additional books and services.
This year our computer program has become the envy of public libraries
throughout the nation. Conferences were held; professionals from other cities
came to see what we had and left with a model to duplicate. Soon the entire
branch system will be fully on-line with the computer. At that time you will be
able to locate any book in the entire system, and if available, have it
within a day.
The decade of the 80's will be filled with exciting and better things - a better
quality of life for ourselves and a renaissance city under active reconstruction.
We will know we have contributed to the city's success ifwe provide the means
for the citizens to be better informed. We accept this challenge and pledge
ourselves to be ready to meet the needs and demands of the people.
The new spirit of Cleveland is everywhere. Let us, the trustees and staff of the
Cleveland Public Ubrary, and you, the "All American" citizens, work together to
keep that spirit going. We have come too far to fail now.
My fellow trustees, Juliana Rak, George Trumbo, Lewis Raymond, Ardelia
Dixon, David Novak, Paul Degrandis, Jr., and I take pride in being a part ofyour
achievements. We pledge ourselves to continue to provide the finest possible
library service in the nation.
Carl F. Asseff, M. D.
President
Board of Ubrary Trustees
~ PAGE 1 • ANNUAL REPORT OF TIlE CLEVElAND P<1BUC UBRARY 1961
Report From The Director
The Cleveland Public Ubrary made significant gains in 1981. Rehabilitation of
buildings and renewal of book collections, begun five years ago, continued
and seemed almost routine. Automation of the Ubrary's work, modernization
of services, the introduction of new programs financed by substantial grants
from govemment and private sources, and steadily increasing use by the
public provided new excitement and attracted attention -- both local and
national -- to the institution.
A brief review follows:
The Main Ubrary facade was cleaned, restoring the white exterior marble to its
original luster. The completion of repair work on the retaining walls and the
stripping of black paint from the great lanterns over the entrance to reveal the
rich bronze beneath, gave a renewed dignity and grandeur to the building.
During the autumn the Ubrary gleamed in the sunlight, giving Clevelanders
some feeling for the original structure, opened in 1925 when the city was
growing and full of confidence.
Interior air conditioning, which had worked only intermittently a year earlier,
was brought to acceptable operating levels, providing year round comfort to
readers and staff. By replacing old incandescent fixtures with fluorescent, the
Ubrary brought interior lighting to modern standards in reading room stack
areas. With these changes Main Ubrary will be serviceable for many years
without further investment.
To improve book service, the Ubrary ordered 29,000 additional linear feet of
shelving for installation on the fifth floor. When completed, this addition will
provide storage for almost one-quarter million books to supplement the
collections on open shelves in the reading rooms.
"Rehabilitation of buildings and
renewal of book collections ...
continued and seemed almost
routine."
The only publicly visible changes planned for the near future are the
resurfacing of Eastman Reading Garden and the addition of a decorative
fountain expected to be ready for the opening of the Garden in May, 1982.
Branch library construction and remodeling continued at a rapid pace. During
the early spring Mt. Pleasant Branch Ubrary was rededicated after a protracted
renovation effort. Jefferson Branch Ubrary in the Tremont area acquired a new
look, prompting a retired former head of the unit who came to the rededication
to exclaim, "I thought I had died and gone to heaven." The touch of elegance in
that modest community was much valued by neighborhood residents. During
the autumn a new Fleet Branch Ubrary emerged proudly and very visibly at the
intersection of Fleet and Broadway, replacing a rented storefront nearby.
Accompanied by much political fanfare, the Ubrary purchased a run-down
motion-picture theater which had been showing pornographic movies to the
dismay of its neighborhood. Assisted by a pledge from the Mayor and City
Council of $150,000 in Community Development money to landscape the
project, the Ubrary proceeded to demolish the structure to make way for still
another new branch, on Fulton Road on the west side. Simultaneously, the
Ubrary concluded its long search for an east side location on 93rd Street for a
new Union Branch Ubrary, which, like Fulton Branch, is expected to open for
service in the summer of 1982.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ClEVELAND PUBLIC L1BRARV 1981 • PAGE 2 ~
In a different sort of move, the Ubrary transferred ownership of the old Alta
Branch to the Settlement House, which pledged to employ its staff to
continue library service for at least the next five years. As part of the contract,
the Ubrary agreed to supply the book collections.
Although the Ubrary has now financed some 14 building projects in the
neighborhoods, several remaining substandard structures will require major
attention dUring the 1980's.
The long task of shaking out the branch library book collections was
completed in 1981. Every branch librarynow is stocked entirelywith newtitles
and new editions of older books. TIred, shabby, and faded books have been
retired, and the fresher texts are drawing patrons to the libraries. The public has
demonstrated its preference by its behavior, and the Ubrary has tried to be
sensitive to the physical attractiveness of its books as well as to the worth ofthe
contents.
For the third successive year, the Ubrary recorded a substantial increase in the
borrowing of books for homeuse. Branch library circulation, which comprises
nearly four-fifths of the total, grew by a vigorous 12% in 1981. The Ubrary staff
attributes this prosperity to its renewal programs.
During the year, conscious and deliberate experiments were made with the
collections and programs in a continuing effort to leam more precisely what
the citizens want and will use. Comic books, for example, were introduced in
large quantities in the face of considerable skepticism by staff as to whether
they were worthy and socially useful. To the surprise of everybody, the comic
books attracted in large numbers children who had not previously used the
Ubrary, and those same children immediately expanded the range of their
attention to include books. The result? Juvenile circulation, which had been
shrinking for years, suddenly bloomed again.
Branch librarians with a shrewd eye for patron behavior began to notice that
programs within the Ubrary seemed to make minimal impact on the use of
books. A visit to a branch to view a film did not fan an interest in reading. Their
curiosity aroused, some librarians deliberately reduced programming and
were rewarded by an increase in book use. When one branch library lost its
movie projector to thieves and decided not to replace it, the movies were not
missed and reading quickly filled the gap.
As the Ubrary's staff responded to these experiments and began to retreat
from the promotion of visual images as a supplement to books, readers
seemed ready to react positively to the shift. The Ubrary is nowencouraged to
hypothesize that there has been a subtle shift in public taste and that the
tedium of pictures is stimulating a retum to the printed word. In the years
ahead, the Ubrary will pay close attention to these incipient signs of change.
We have said so before, but we believe it worth repeating, that the single most
revolutionary development in library work in recent years has been the
introduction of computers. Given the enormous volume of data to be
processed every day, libraries inevitably tum to computer technology to bring
the price of data processing low enough to be within reach of modest library
budgets.
~PAGE 3. ANNUAL REPORT OF TIiE ClEVElA!'lD roB"C "BRMY 1981
"For the third successive year,
the Ubrary recorded a substantial
increase in the borrowing of
books for home use."
Perceptions
..... Cleveland Public Ubrary introduced its computermade
microfilm catalog..."
" ... and followed it a short time later with a prototype
of a direct on·line catalog."
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ClEVELAND PUBUC UBRARY 198) • PAGE 4 ~
"A museum-quality display case ... was installed on the third floor of Main
Ubrary."
" ... the Ubrary worked hard all year to draw attention to its innovations. Among other things it
collaborated with the Friends of the Cleveland Public Ubrary to open a tiny gift shop ... with the
tantalizing name of 'S-h-h-h!'"
~.P_A_G_E_5_e_A_N_N_UA_L_R_E_PO_R_T_O_F_T_H_E_C_L_EV_ELA_N_D_P_U_B_U_C_U_B_RA_R_Y _19_8_1 _
" ... the new electronic world
invaded the Ubrary in a great
rush."
The Cleveland Public Ubrary has dabbled with computers in a tentative,
experimental way for many years. However, in 1980 and 1981 the new
electronic world invaded the Ubrary in a great rush. In 1980 the Cleveland
Public Ubrary introduced its computer-made microfilm catalog, and followed
it a short time later with a prototype of a direct on-line catalog. In 1981,
automated circulation control was begun in eleven of the busiest branch
libraries, even as SOO,OOO catalog entries were being made available to all
library service points equipped with computer terminals.
With such an extensive catalog now available to the neighborhoods, the
Ubrary has begun the systematic withdrawal of its traditional card catalogs,
thereby reducing clutter and drudgery in the branches. Within another year
or so the card catalogs will disappear entirely from the system, to be replaced
by terminals for every patron to consult while browsing through the vast
collections of the Ubrary.
The conversion from paper records to electronic signals proceeds at high
speed, and, so far as can be determined, the Cleveland Public Ubrary has
advanced along the new computer road farther than most public libraries in
the United States.
The Cleveland Public Ubrary has long enjoyed a reputation for success in
bringing service to people who cannot come to it Cleveland pioneered in
service to the blind, to patients in hospitals, and to unfortunate people confined
to their homes by disabilities.
In 1981 the Ubrary introduced new techniques for streamlining its "remote"
services. Computer efficiency spurred the circulation ofbooks to the blind and
physically handicapped people of northem Ohio to historic highs and
simultaneously made possible a work force reduction oftwojobs in that area of
service.
Whenever service increases as labor dependency declines, we try to identify
the nature of the achievement for emulation in other departments. Direct
delivery of service by staff members to homebound people in Cleveland was
replaced in 1981 by United Parcel-delivery of books ordered by telephone.
Again, the speed of service accelerated at the same time that costs decreaseda
double gain. Patron satisfaction rose despite the withdrawal of face-to-face
meetings with library staff.
More changes than can adequately be detailed occurred during 1981. So as
not to tax the reader's patience, this report will simply summarize other
innovations.
The Ubrary received over $300,000 in grants from govemmental and private
sources, nearly $200,000 of which came from the National Endowmentfor the
Humanities to support a two-year program to explore Cleveland's ethnic
heritage. Under the able leadership of Dr. Thomas Campbell of Cleveland
State University, a comprehensive mix of lectures, workshops and research
projects was launched in 1981 and will continue until 1983.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ClEVELAND P<JBOC OBRARY 1,"1 • PAGE 6 ~
A project to preserve and disseminate the Cleveland Picture Collection was
underway in 1981. Expansion of the database to include periodicals no longer
published or subscribed to was started with federal funds. A research project,
funded earlier by the Cleveland Foundation, focused attention on the
problems related to literacy in children. The notable authority on literacy,
Jonathan Kozol, submitted a report in January urging the Cleveland Public
Ubrary to undertake a massive book·give·away program. As the year ended the
Ubrary was negotiating to appoint a project director for this new and unique
enterprise, which will be undertaken in the hope that it will be a pilot program
for a broad·scaled effort to eradicate illiteracy.
In public relations the Ubrary worked hard all year to draw attention to its
innovations. Among other things it collaborated with the Friends of the
Cleveland Public Ubrary to open a tiny gift shop on the street level of the
Business and Science Building, with the tantalizing name of "S-h·h·h!"
A museum·quality display case, financed by the Cleveland Foundation and the
Friends, was installed on the third floor of Main Ubrary.
The Films Department, formerly known as the Audio·Visual Department, was
relocated to a more accessible and better location, from the third to the second
floor of the Business and Science Building.
Always restless about awkward work caused by poor layout, clumsy organization,
or use of obsolete methods, the Ubrary moved its collection of U. S.
patents to the Documents Department, and at the same time replaced
volumes with microform duplicates, which occupy only a fraction of the
original space.
The compression into smaller quarters by reduction or miniaturization of its
collections affected other areas as well. The Ubrary discarded runs of 154
periodicals and replaced them with microfilm editions of the texts to add to
what is now one of the nation's largest collections of microfilm editions of
periodicals and newspapers in a public library. The advantages of this
compression have become obvious to all observers: spacesaving, textual
integrity, speed of access for public use and increase in the numberand variety
of titles.
The productivity of the Ubrary improved measurably with new methods of
service, increased use ofthe Ubrary by its constituents, improved environment,
and staff reductions. The number of full-time employees dropped from 499 to
494 over the year, while the number of full-time equivalents (part-times
included) declined from 577.5 to 563.
The fact that the Cleveland Public Ubrary delivered more service -- more
economically -- to more people in 1981 made us proud.
Ervin J. Gain
Director
~ PAGE" ANNUAL REPORT OF TliE CLEVELAND P<JBUC UBRARY 1061
" ... Cleveland Pub6c Ubrary
de6vered more service - more
economically - to more people
in 1981 ..."
How Cleveland Used Its Ubrary 1981
Ubrary Materials Loaned for Home Use 1980 1981 Increase
Main Ubrary ................... 654.568 721.842 10%
Branch Ubraries ............... 1.864.733 2.092.389 12%
Other Community Services ...... 587.062 542.350 (7%)
Loaned to Other Ubraries ....... 11.643 12.227 5%
Total ..................... 3.118.006 3.368.808 8%
Ubrary Cards Issued ................ 129.591 126.135 (3%)
Information CAJestions
Telephone .................... 909.720 1.054.103 15%
In Person ..................... 1.645.715 1.640.766 <0.3%)
Total ..................... 2,555,435 2.694.869 5%
Programs and Meetings Held in the Ubrary
Programs ..................... 7.300 6.913
Attendance ................... 171.533 148.743
Attendance at Main Ubrary
Total ......................... 840,409 830.859
Daily Average .................. 2,737 2.724
(307 Days) (305 Days)
Cleveland PubUc Ubrary Collection 1981
Total System Holdings
Titles .
Volumes (including paperbacks) ..
Jlr\icroforms
Microfilm .
Microfiche .
Other Microforms .
Films and Filmstrips .
Pictures .
Phonodiscs and Cassettes .
Maps .
Main Ubrary
Total Volumes .
Branch Ubraries
Total Volumes .
1,160,600
2,521,139
39,777
791.700
368,410
6.199
2.230.000
36.955
93.705
1,916.107
502.216
1,181.865
2,413.865
46.814
884.925
373.274
5.300
2,230.000
46.989
98.123
1,924.185
489.680
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ClEVELAND ,"BUC L1BRIIRY 1981 • PAGE B ~
How Ubrary Dollars Were Spent in 1981
Total Cash and Securities on hand, January 1, 1981
or received from all sources during the year .
Total expenditures and encumbrances .
Unexpended Balances, December 31, 1981 .
These receipts and expenditures are shown in more detail in the major programs below.
$
$
29,703,087
24,801,915
4,901,172
General Ubrary Operations
elncome·
Cash Balance, January 1, 1981 .
Tax Revenues - Intangibles .
- Real Estate .
State Aid .
Interest Received .
Fines and Reimbursements .
Adjustments and Refunds .
Miscellaneous .
$
$
1,390,144
12,785,857
3,181,068
489,899
877,350
90,312
184,231
193,752
19,192,613
e Expenditures and Encumbrances e
Salaries and contributions to Pension Fund .
J'<\aterials .
Fixed Charges and Capital Outlay .
Contracts for services, equipment and materials .
Office and maintenance materials and supplies .
Interest on Debt : .
Refunds .
Total Expenditures dUring the year .
Unexpended,December31,1981 .
$
$
8,992,934
3,046,383
1,951,436
2,003,085
747,587
121,875
1,045
16,864,345
2,328,268
19,192,613
Building and Pennanent Improvement Funds
Cash on hand, January 1, 1981 .
Expended and encumbered during the year .
Balance, December 31,1981 .
$
$
6,362,155
4,948,685
1,413,470
These funds will be used for new buildings and remodeling of existing structures.
Special Projects
Cash on hand, January 1, 1981 .... . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 23,877
Received during the year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160,471
Available for use .
Expended and encumbered during the year .
Balances, December 31, 1981 .
$
$
$
184,348
134,470
49,878
1,109,037
1,463,452
354,415
$
$
Private Endowments and Trusts
The Ubrary 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, 1981 $892,099
Interest, Dividends, and new gifts. . . . . . . . . . . . . 571,353
Available for use .
Expended and encumbered .
Total value of private funds,
December 31, 1981 .
~ PAGE 9 • ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CLEVELAND I'{JBUC UBRARY 1981
Cleveland Public Ubrary
325 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1271
(216) 623·2800
Main Library Hours
9:00-6:00, Monday-Saturday
Board of Ubrary Trustees 1981
Dr. Carl F. Asseff, President
Juliana T. Rak, Vice President
George W. Trumbo, Secretary
Rev. Dr. Lewis Raymond
Ardelia B. Dixon
David M. Novak
Paul J. DeGrandis, Jr.
Administration 1981
Dr. Ervin J. Gaines, Director
Marian A. Huttner, Deputy Director
Joan Tomkins, Business Manager
Ethel L. Robinson, Head of Main Library
Edward Seely, Head of Technical Services
Norman Holman, Director of Personnel Services
Andrew A. Venable, Head of Community Services
Friends of the Cleveland Public Ubrary, Inc. 1981
Gordon K. Mott, President
Albert I. Borowitz, Vice President
Nancy Dwyer, Treasurer
Kathy Browning, Secretary
Ella Mae Howey, Executive Director
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ClEVElAND PUBUC LIBRARY 1981 • PAGE I0 ~
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