Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:

We began creating annual programming themes for the library in 2006 with the theme “Healthy, Wealthy and Wise” to celebrate the 300^th anniversary of Ben Franklin’s birth. Since then, despite economic downturns, Shaker Library has had some good years. Therefore, in the year 2011, our programming theme will be “Building on Excellence!” This theme affirms our commitment to completing the renovation of the Main Library’s second floor as well as our pledge to provide excellent service to you, our customers.

In addition to recording high levels of circulation and receiving a variety of national awards and honors, we continue to strive to make improvements. Here, then, is our Top 10 list of things we wish to accomplish in 2011 to build on that excellence:

10. We want to continue to be among the Hennen American Public Library Rankings as one of the “Top 10” libraries in the nation for libraries of our size. We were on that list in 2009 and in 2010, and would like to make it three years in a row!

9. We have been recognized by Library Journal as one of America’s best libraries for our size and we want to continue to merit that designation in 2011. Not only have we earned this rating for three consecutive years, but we have also been awarded the highest “5-Star” designation.

8. While we have experienced a slight decrease in the number of items checked out by the public due to a reduction in library hours and a cutback in the materials budget, we plan to remain one of the top ten busiest libraries in the country on a per capita basis.

7. Having been awarded a number of grants in recent years, we will continue to pursue grant opportunities and to seek outside funding to support our innovative programs and services.

6. We look to 2011 as the year when we will bolster our efforts to increase the Shaker Heights Public Library Endowment Fund of the Cleveland Foundation and to focus on the long-term capital needs of our facilities.

5. We will be “Building on Excellence” literally in 2011, when we complete the new Computer Center and Training Lab at Main Library and create a Community Entrepreneurial Office (CEO), a new, grant-funded initiative that will be the first of its kind for Ohio libraries.

4. We will pursue a variety of technological advances, including self-service checkout stations and other online offerings, as we strive to be more responsive to the community’s needs.

3. Where would we be without Friends of the Shaker Library and our other partners? 2011 should be another banner year for our library support group and we look forward to a variety of cooperative efforts with community agencies.

2. We could not do what we do without the generous financial support we receive through property taxes and state funding. We will continue to manage our tax-supported budget wisely and to advocate for the protection of Ohio’s Public Library Fund.

And our Number 1 priority is… to provide excellent customer service!

We will continue to improve our service to the public as we make Shaker Library a welcoming, comfortable, and helpful place for all!

Luren E. Dickinson, Director

dickinson@shakerlibrary.org