1 To - Cleveland Heights - University Heights Public Library

To: The Board of Library Trustees Agenda Item 8 (a)
From: Cathy Hakala-Ausperk December 13, 2010
DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT
December, 2010
TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT & VOLUNTEER NEWS (Heather Howiler)
� In November, 43 staff members participated in training and development activities. That’s a
total of 181-hours spent on training/development. Below is a list of the some of the events
that occurred this month.
� New Employee System Orientation, Part III (CH-UH) – Attended by Molly Riffle, Lisa
Smilnak, Tara Coulter, Tim Pasbrig, Shannon Horrocks and Reggie Rudolph.
� In-Charge Training (CH-UH) – Attended by the following in-charge staff: Heather Howiler
� Chuck Collins, Jenny Greene, Joseph Kaiser, Becky Katzenmeyer, Ben Gulyas, Amanda
Rome, Sarah Biscuso, Serena Olson, Mary Murphy, Aurora Martinez, Jessica Robinson, Sam
Lapides, Steve Haynie and Nancy Zelman.
� StaffSpace Training (CH-UH) – Attended by the following Circulation Services staff: Gloria
Nobles, Larraine Parker, Mary Ann Rodewald, Elizabeth Tkachev, Leola Capers, Ann
Gornik, Ella Davis, Monica Alexander and Yvonne Mariano.
� Solving the Personality Puzzle: Who’s Who in the Puzzle? (NEO-RLS) – Attended by Mary
Ann Rodewald, Pam Spangler and Teanna Weeks.
� The Tina Project: A Comprehensive Curriculum and Community Approach to Addressing
Teen Dating Violence (other) – Attended by Maggie Lindsey.
� Engaging Youth Making Connections (other) – Attended by Constance Dickerson
� Your Library Your Community (OHIONET) – Cathy Hakala-Ausperk, Constance Dickerson,
Steve Haynie and Tonya Davis presented the program “Burgers, Babyshowers, and Hot
Nosh: Exciting Local Library Partnerships.” Event was also attended by Dean Schnurr,
Aurora Martinez and Pam Spangler.
� A Day for All Staff: Customer Service, Working with Teens, Change, and so Much More
(NEO-RLS) – Attended by Nancy Zelman.
� Wild Wild (mid) West e-Books (NOTSL) – Attended by Alice Iden and Jen Mihalik.
� Youth Services Performers Showcase (NEO-RLS) – Attended by Susan Black and Maggie
Lindsey.
� This month, the library said goodbye to our apprentices Lauren Reiter and Juliana
Lytkowski. Lauren, under the direction of Adult Services Librarian Jenny Greene, shadowed
the adult reference staff and assisted with several projects and programs in the department.
Juliana had a similar experience in the Children’s Services department with the help of
Children’s Librarian Amanda Rome. For both Lauren and Juliana, the experience confirmed
their desire to pursue librarianship as a career.
� Hopefully by the end of the year, we will begin advertising for “local history” volunteers.
Local history volunteers will assist Heights Library in adding content to an online database
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for the library’s local history project. Also, the volunteers will file the photos in archivequality
folders and boxes. Presently, all local history information is in file cabinets in the
Administration office at Lee Road; it is our intent to file and store photos, clippings, etc.
Volunteers:
o Must be proficient with computers; knowledge of Windows 7 helpful, but not necessary.
o Must know how to use scanner for scanning photographs and other materials (pamphlets,
newspaper articles, etc.)
o Must know how to crop photos using Paint software
o Must be comfortable entering information into online database
This project is open-ended, and the time commitment is therefore flexible. However,
volunteers must commit to at least 2 hours per week. Volunteers may do work any time we
are open, barring special exceptions.
� In-Charge Training Video (Done) – This month I uploaded the video of November’s In-
Charge Training to YouTube and embedded the link in a document in the Training space of
StaffSpace.
� Additional In-Charge Training – How to Close and Lock Up Lee Road (in-progress) –
Security Team Supervisor BJ Loggins will walk Lee Road In-Charge staff through closing
and locking up the building in early December.
� OLC North Chapter Action Council (in-progress) – This month, I confirmed the speakers in
my room assignment for April’s North Chapter Conference in Twinsburg. As the
membership rep. for our chapter’s action council, I am in the process of following up with
various libraries in the region to confirm their OLC Library Recruitment Officer for 2011.
� Moodle (in-progress) – Investigate the possible uses of Moodle at the library. Moodle is a
free, open source e-learning software platform (also called a learning/course management
system), which the library can use to create and offer online training modules to staff. This
will be a great help in terms of New Employee Orientation topics.
� Violent Intruder Response Strategies (in-progress) – Working with Security Team Supervisor
BJ Loggins to turn the information presented at the NEO-RLS workshop in a training session
for all staff. BJ summarized the workshop’s key points at Part III of New Employee System
Orientation.
� StaffSpace Online Tutorial (in-progress) – Sometime before the end of the year, I want to
create a How to use StaffSpace online tutorial using the free, open source software program
CamStudio.
� Page Orientation sheet (done) – I created a “welcome” sheet for all new Pages, which will be
included in a folder with other orientation information for new Pages. Lee Road Library’s
three new Pages became the first to receive the “orientation” packets.
� Volunteers / Backpack for Kids Program (In-progress) – Still waiting to hear if the library
will be a site for this program from the Cleveland Food Bank.
� Volunteers (done) – I emailed the AST/PST group asking for information on upcoming
opportunities for volunteers next year. So far, Kirsten Rosebrock-Hayes is looking for
volunteers to help upload historical information (documents and photos) into Cleveland
Memory Program. Hopefully, we will have a volunteer description ready to post on the
website by Christmas.
� Rewards and Recognition Committee (Done/In-Progress) – Ballots for the Kleiner and
Fabian awards were sent out on Wednesday, November 3. The deadline for submissions is
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December 1. Winners will be announced at the All-Staff Meeting on December 14. Using
money given to the committee by the Friends of Heights Library, the committee will thank
the departments/buildings for all their hard work this year by purchasing fresh fruit baskets
from Zagara’s Marketplace. Each basket will also include coffee and tea from Phoenix
Coffee.
� Supervisor Track (started) – contacted Laurie and Alice about developing a plan for next
year’s “new supervisor” training initiative. Laurie and I plan to work on an outline for the
program starting next month.
� Celeyix (time and attendance) training (in-progress) – Laurie and I have begun discussing
how train staff on Celeyix. In addition to the training the company will do for us, we will
create an online tutorial using CamStudio to train future employees on how to use the
software.
� New Employee Orientation and the Training Branch (resumed) – I recently revised the
original proposal for a revised new employee orientation and the development of Coventry
Library as our “training” location for new employees. The revised proposal will be sent to
Cathy and Nancy once it has been reviewed by Pat and Laurie.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES (Constance Dickerson)
� Constance attended the Engaging Youth Making Connections conference hosted by
MyCOM. The conference highlighted successful after school programs and brought to light
the correlation between gender and brain functions in children and teens.
� As part of the Library’s panel, Constance co-presented Burgers, Baby Showers and Hot
Nosh: Exciting Local Library Partnerships, at the “Your Library, Your Community”
conference at the OCLC Conference Center in Columbus.
� All CSD librarians completed In Charge training this month.
� This month Constance and Amanda met with architect Dru McKeown and visited East
Cleveland Public Library and the Play and Learn Center at Shaker Library in planning for
Noble’s PLAYroom. They also met with a rep from A.W.E. (Advanced Workstations in
Education, Inc.) and previewed their early literacy station. They have begun to select toys
and furnishings for the PLAYroom.
� Because of low attendance we decided to discontinue the GASP program and instead to offer
occasional After School Specials, offer a book discussion, and provide outreach to aftercare
programs at all of the elementary schools in the district. By reaching out to aftercare, we will
be able to reach many more children, serve the underserved, and strengthen ties with the
schools. Sarah Biscuso and Constance met with Joan Bacon, the district’s Aftercare
Coordinator who enthusiastically worked with the schools to make arrangements. We will
begin visits next month and will visit the schools on a monthly basis.
� Art Antics, a three-part After School Special drew 90 children, over three times the number
of the average Tuesday GASP programs.
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� The Library received an Ezra Jack Keats $500 mini-grant to do a program based on one of
Keats’ books. Constance has planned a Pet Show inspired by the book of the same name.
The Pet Show will take place in Summer 2011.
� Constance partnered with the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Public
Library, and Cleveland Public Library to win a FLIP (Family Literacy Involvement Program)
award to circulate 20 kits that focus on early literacy activities for families to practice in
conjunction with a children’s book. Implementation will occur in Summer 2011, and we
will plan joint programs with the Children’s Museum. As part of the award, we will gain
access to hundreds of kit plans and hope to get funding to expand the program beyond the
initial award.
� CSD staff participated in a Readers’ Advisory and Blogging workshop to sharpen RA skills
and revitalize Charlotte’s Weblog. Constance added all CSD staff as editors (CATS), and
two days later newly appointed CAT, Shamekia Chandler responded with her first four book
post. This is a great way to share our passion for Children’s Literature with customers and
staff alike, and with so many editors, it should be much easier to keep the postings fresh.
� The early childhood play area is complete with the addition of two more play tables and six
soft stools. The window in the Story Room now sports a purple curtain making it more
puppet show ready and adding more color to the room, complementing the green and purple
accent walls.
ADULT SERVICES (Alice Iden)
� Our Senior Outreach services continue to deliver librarian led book talks at our senior center
patrons. Becky Katzenmeyer and Kathy Farago each visited a location this month. Shelley
Morris was successful in adding Ambleside Towers as one of our materials lending sites.
� Jen Mihalik and Alice Iden attended a workshop titled The Wild, Wild (mid) West of
eBooks. The session was presented by the Northeast Ohio Technical Services Librarians
(NOTSL) members and focused on eBook lending and cataloging topics.
� Phase one of second floor reorganization is nearing completion. A new magazine reading
area has been created and new reading tables and carrels with power have been set in place.
� We successfully completed our series of classes for the deaf community. We enjoyed
providing this service to the deaf community and we are looking at possible further services
and classes in 2011.
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� With ASD changing the magazine browsing area we had Buildings move a wire display wall
from the 2 nd floor to the Computer Gallery. We now have on displayed class handouts for
customers to take and use at their pleasure. We will keep the basic courses out at all times
and will add one or two Web Trend or Employment etc class to tie with classes and events
here at the library.
COVENTRY (Pat Gray)
� The Coventry Writers’ Club, led by Cynthia Larsen, drew ten students each week at
Coventry (as well as many other students at University Heights and Lee Road) to create
stories and poems. Their anthology is available at each building. This has been a great
program for tweens and teens. Thanks to Steve Haynie, Nancy Levin, and Dean Schnurr for
planning and to Cynthia Larsen and Amy Rosenbluth for their commitment to developing
kids’ creativity.
� An enthusiastic group gathered to hear Regina Brett read from her bestseller God Never
Blinks. Regina appeared at Coventry as part of our Cedar-Coventry Local Author Series,
collaboration with Mac’s Backs and Appletree Books.
� The sprucing up of the Deaf Collection continued this month with the painting of the wall
behind the shelves. Thanks to Tim Pasbrig for his good work on this.
� Step Out of Time meditated to the rhythms of a drumming circle led by Cindy Hill this
month. Cindy brought a large collection of beautiful drums; participants lowered their blood
pressure and elevated their endorphins through the ancient tradition of drumming. It was fun,
too!
� Our twice weekly Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes continue to draw new participants. We have a
full house most Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and the frequent news stories about the
benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong spark new interest.
� Ukulele Jam also had a capacity crowd this month. The strumming and singing are
contagious.
� Author Nick Humez discussed his book On the Dot: the Speck That Changed the World. This
Oxford University Press book explores language and symbology, poetry and logic with
humor as well as erudition. Humez may live in Painesville, but his mind moves with familiar
ease from ancient Egypt to WWII Germany. This was definitely an evening of delightful
learning.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS (Aurora Martinez)
� Preliminary work has begun on the process of modernizing the UH wheelchair lift. Some
modifications to the elevator shaft must be made before the new unit can be installed, and
construction contractors have begun this work.
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� An additional security camera for our front walkway area is in the process of coming as well.
The installers met with UH staff and Security Coordinator BJ Loggins to decide on
placement of the new camera.
� Aurora Martinez and Dean Schnurr represented the library at a community meeting of the
“West 5” neighborhood of South Euclid, which is part of the CH-UH school district and
includes many who regularly use our library system. Community members expressed their
appreciation of the outstanding customer service and unique environments of our buildings.
There were questions about the tabled proposal to build a new County library on the Coral
property across from the UH branch, and it was a good opportunity to hear people’s concerns
and provide facts to clarify the matter.
� Aurora Martinez and Adult Services Librarian Pam Spangler attended the “Your Library,
Your Community” day-long workshop at the OCLC campus in Columbus. They enjoyed a
variety of engaging sessions which focused on library advocacy, tracking trends and using
demographic information, building partnerships, and more.
� Aurora Martinez and YA Coordinator Steve Haynie represented the library at the Wellness
Fair at Cleveland Heights High School.
� Children’s Services Librarian Jessica Robinson presented a lively “Stories, Snacks, and
Crafts” monthly program at Whole Foods for about 20 participants, who enjoyed stories
about being thankful and a Thanksgiving craft.
� Local author Bebe Katz delighted a group of 15 with a creative writing program that invited
school-age children to explore their “wizarding” talents.
� The Noble Knitting Group continues meeting at UH during the renovation of the Noble
library. A display of books about knitting/crocheting on our main floor sparked a few
conversations resulting in some new faces at the knitting program.
� Senior Spot participants were treated to a visit from two members of Cleveland’s Burning
River Roller Girls (roller derby) team. Also this month, Adult Services Associate Zahir
Sutarwala led a senior tech training session on using online databases, and a program on
making simple treats with cranberries. Adult Services Librarian Pam Spangler hosted the
monthly senior book discussion, with this month’s selection The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
� The city of University Heights continued the Senior Network program series at UH Library
this month, with guest speakers from Case Western Reserve University and John Carroll
University , along with a speaker who addressed health care reform and how it affects older
adults. These popular weekly gatherings attract about 20-30 participants and are arranged by
UH Senior Services Coordinator Walter Stinson.
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