Message to the community
from Luren E. Dickinson:
Last month I wrote about the many awards the
library received in 2009. I am quite proud of our accomplishments, and the
staff, and the Shaker community that made these awards possible. Now we move
forward into a new year and a new decade. Aptly, our program theme for 2010 is “Moving Forward,” and we invite you to
come along with us and take advantage of our many free programs and services.
There were some positive signs in December that
library funding may improve in the new year. First, our monthly Public Library
Fund receipts were only 11% below 2008. That’s good news compared to the
declines of more than 20% over the preceding months. Also, with the passage of
HB 318, libraries and local governments may see small increases. For us, it
will mean approximately $70,000 over the biennium, which will help to offset
the expected loss of $200,000 in reduced property tax collections due to
declining home values.
The best thing we can do to “move forward” in
2010 is to help our customers. This year, resolve to use the library! Check out
at least one book or movie; learn to knit; improve your computer skills; join a
book discussion or take your child or grandchild to a library program.
Can’t afford the high cost of a new book or the
gas to go buy it? Reserve it online from the convenience of your home, office
or phone. Want to stay up to date on the latest new books? Sign up for “Good
Reads” newsletters and choose categories ranging from arts & crafts to African-American
authors to romance to children’s books. All you need is an e-mail address to
register at: http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/bookletter/addnluser.html?sid=6795
Resolve to never pay another overdue fine! Sign
up for NetNotice at: www.clevnet.org/netnotice.php and renew your items from
your home, office or phone before they’re due. Need a place to meet? The
Library offers meeting rooms to suit both small (5 people) and large groups (up
to 100). Reserve and pay for a meeting room online. We have downloadable
materials for you, too. To find the audiobook, ebook, music, or movie you want,
go to our eMedia page at
http://dlc.clevnet.org/8C91B3FB-F01E-4819-8860-FB0BFA2B9C50/10/241/en/Default.htm
Our 12th Annual MLK Student Writing
Contest Awards ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, January 15 at the
Main Library. Meet the winners and hear them read their affirming essays. Then
join us at the citywide MLK celebration at 7 p.m. January 20 at the Stephanie
Tubbs Jones Community Building when the MyCom collaborative receives the 2010
Human Relations award.
And there is so much more. Percy Jackson fans
and their families can warm up their winter nights with a Camp Half-Blood
program at Main Library from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, January 28. We have extended
the popular Teen Yoga program cosponsored with MyCom through January. Our
collaboration with Shaker Arts Council yielded a fine exhibit, “Of Shaker, By Shaker,” which continues
through January 14, and will be followed by Winter
Blues to Winter Hues. Meet the artists at a gallery-opening reception from
2-4 p.m. Sunday, January 31. For newsworthy entertainment, come to Bertram
Woods Branch at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 20 and meet John Tidyman, author of Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart, who will talk
about the glory days of Cleveland newspapers. Poetry is alive and well at the
branch as we continue the longest running poetry series in a library, Poetry
Back in the Woods, featuring monthly performances by regional poets. We
continue to find new ways to use our grant-funded computer games and flatscreen
TV. In addition to our afternoon Wii® for Seniors we will begin a
special Game Girlz program for girls from 8 to 108!
I have listed just a few highlights of this
month and there’s more to come throughout the year. I invite you to take
advantage of all the free programs and services your library has to offer.
Visit us in person or on the web at www.shakerlibrary.org
Luren E. Dickinson, Director
dickinson@shakerlibrary.org