FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington-Centerville Library
CONTACT: Georgia Mergler
DATE: 1/6/09
TELEPHONE: 433-8091
FAX: 610-4455
EMAIL: gmergler@wcpl.lib.oh.us
Library Selects Interim Director
Washington-Centerville Public Library Board of Trustees announced today that G. Tracy Williams will serve as the Interim Director for the 10th busiest library in Ohio. Mr. Williams succeeds Cynthia Klinck who directed the library for 31 years, growing it from a small community library to a nationally acclaimed organization known for exceptional customer service and innovative collections and services.
Mr. Williams has served as the West Carrollton City Manager for the past 30 years, where he managed over 130 staff and a $20,000,000 budget. His success in that role is evidenced by several professional awards and honors including two Management Innovation Awards from the International City/County Management Association and a Public Manager of the Year Award from the Dayton Area Managers Association. “We interviewed several very qualified candidates using a process that included representatives from the Board of Trustees, management and library staff,” said Richard Carr, Library Board President. “Ultimately, Mr. Williams was selected because of his proven track record of excellent public administration. Mr. Williams brings 32 years of management experience and a vast knowledge of the regulatory and fiduciary climate of public funding. Plus, he is highly regarded in the Miami Valley,” continues Mr. Carr.
Mr. Williams will assume the duties of Interim Director in early February. “We are thrilled to have Mr. Williams serve as Interim Director while we conduct the search for the successor Director,” comments Mr. Carr.
Mr. Williams holds a Masters of Public Administration from Brigham Young University and a Bachelor of Science in Regional and Urban Planning from Ball State University and resides with his wife, Karen, in West Carrollton.
For more information on the Washington-Centerville Public Library visit www.wclibrary.info .
Cleveland, OH — The Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Public Library has selected Felton Thomas (December 1993 graduate) as the new director of the library system with its renowned Main Library, a complex of neighborhood branches, and important regional and state-wide computer-based information services. Mr. Thomas presently is Director of Regional Branch Services for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (LVCCLD).
“Mr. Thomas has more than 20 years of service in the library field and is highly regarded as an innovator and a rising star in the library world,” said Board President Alice G. Butts. “We feel very fortunate to have been able to attract him to a great library system where he will lead our efforts to keep pace in a challenging and rapidly changing library environment. His vision for the Cleveland Public Library and inspiration for the future were most compelling.”
Ms. Butts said the selection of Mr. Thomas was made difficult because of the high quality of final candidates Library Trustees interviewed. Each would have made a very good director for the Cleveland system and others had more years of experience than Mr. Thomas. However, Mr. Thomas demonstrated “the highest quality of leadership and innovative approaches to addressing urban public library issues,” said Ms. Butts.
“The library world is changing rapidly with new technologies and demands for information and services. We felt that Mr. Thomas brings the combination of leadership, experience and intellect that will be needed to ensure that Cleveland Public Library maintains its role as a vital institution in our community,” Ms. Butts added.
Mr. Thomas succeeds Andrew Venable Jr., who retired June 30 after 10 years at the helm of the Cleveland Public Library. Mr. Thomas said he was inspired to become a library director years ago after meeting Mr. Venable at a library conference. Mr. Thomas will take the lead of a renowned Main Library, 28 neighborhood branches, the CLEVNET consortium for automation and online services for 30 library systems in nine counties, the federally-assisted Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Ohio Center for the Book, and two mobile libraries.
Reflective of the economic challenges facing other libraries and businesses in Ohio and the entire country, Cleveland Public Library also is experiencing budget reductions. On Thursday, December 18, the Board of Trustees rescinded a 2007 resolution that granted across-the-board increases to all non-bargaining unit library employees. Passed unanimously by the board, this act eliminates a 3% pay increase for 2009. Bargaining unit library employees are not affected by the decision. The current union contracts expire at the end of 2009, with negotiations expected in the Fall of 2009. Budget reduction challenges await the new library director, but the most recent levy passage showed strong local support.
Remarking on the selection, Patrick Losinski, Executive Director of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Chair of the Executive Board of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) said: “I am very glad to see Felton Thomas accede to Cleveland. The ULC is proud of him as a star graduate of our Executive Leadership Institute and we are delighted as the emerging generation of library innovators takes the stage. We welcome him as one of the metropolitan library directors in Ohio. He will bring a fresh perspective and help us shape library policy on a statewide basis.”
Mr. Thomas’ entire career in libraries has been at the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District where he gained attention in the library world with a proven record of success in assuming increasing levels of responsibility. He received a Master’s of Library and Information Science at the University of Hawaii and is a Ph.D. candidate in Managerial Leadership in the Information Profession at Simmons University.
CONTACT: Tena Wilson
Interim Public Relations Administrator
(216) 623-2955
tena.wilson@cpl.org
Retiring Warren brought changes to system
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Grant Segall
Plain Dealer Reporter
Lakewood- Lakewood’s top librarian is stepping down, after outlasting his crosstown rival.
Kenneth Warren will retire next July, nearly a year after Stephen Wood ended a somewhat parallel career in a somewhat parallel suburb, Cleveland Heights.
The short, formal, outspoken Warren admits to competing with the big, spontaneous, outspoken Wood since coming to Lakewood in 1984.
“Cleveland Heights Public Library had the reputation of being the best public library in Ohio,” says Warren. “I wanted to do better.”
Does he think he pulled it off?
“I do,” Warren says with a small smile. “I’ll say it simply on the hours of access.”
Warren keeps his main branch open a rare 80 hours per week, including all seven evenings to 9 p.m.
Both Warren and Wood automated their libraries and made them bustling multipurpose centers. Both have remade their main branches in recent years and stayed two years longer to shake them down.
“You need to deploy,” Warren says. “You need to occupy.”
Both librarians drew fire at times from constituents. The free-spirited Wood spanned Heights’ main drag with a skywalk and hid public computers behind privacy screens. The vigilant Warren has deployed staffers to oversee patrons’ screens and, at least once, from a remote computer.
Warren, 55, does everything with energy, method and purpose. He usually wears suits. He keeps no decorations in his office. He speaks in full, round sentences dotted with obscure words like “meme,” which means an idea or behavior that others can learn or imitate.
Warren does things Warren’s way. While most libraries integrate media, he keeps computers and books in separate rooms so they don’t distract from each other. He gives troublesome young patrons “individual library plans” with goals like “honor silence.”
Warren has hosted everything at the library from variety shows to food distributions to an event called “Night of the Living First Novelist.” He also paid for the definitive Lakewood demographic analysis, often used by other officials.
On the side, Warren is a respected poet, critic and editor. He helped found and lead many civic organizations, such as the Lakewood Observer and Lakewood Earth and Food Community. He has run the Lakewood Christian Service Center, the Lakewood Kiwanis and the Ohioana Library Association.
Locals say Warren’s strong style clicks in Lakewood.
“He has strong opinions that seem to match the community’s,” says Linda Murray of the Ohio Library Association, who will help Lakewood search for a new director.
“Some people think he runs too tight of a ship, but he’s doing that partly because he has seen a slow decay in civilized society,” says Mayor Ed FitzGerald. “It’s hard to argue with his results.”
Even Warren’s arch rival compliments him. Woods, retired from 31 years in the Heights, says, “His style works for him. Both communities are heavy users of their libraries and love what they have.”
Warren comes from Queens, N.Y., and got a master’s degree in library science from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
To broaden his horizons, he worked in a children’s department in Waco, Texas. Then he ran two libraries in New Jersey. In 1984, Ohio’s reputation for great libraries helped lure him to Lakewood.
Like most contemporary librarians, Warren added CDs, DVDs, talking books and more. He persuaded voters to pass all his tax measures. He created a foundation to pay for extras.
Warren may be most remembered for the main library’s $16 million remake. He doubled the space and made the new place look more traditional than ever, with tall columns and high ceilings.
“It’s about giving a sense of elevation and Carnegie ideals,” Warren says, invoking that generous patron, Andrew Carnegie.
The library doesn’t lack for fun, though. It sports big windows, a section called “Wild Ideas,” and a children’s area called “Lakewood Libranium.”
Warren plans never to hold a steady job again. And he vows never to leave Lakewood, where he and his wife, Suzanne, raised two sons, both writers.
He will keep editing the literary journal, “House Organ.” He plans to write “The Emperor’s New Code, ” a “psycho-poetic” study of two rival poets from Gloucester, Mass. He already has co-edited one of those poets’ collections.
Warren says he’s retiring young to live his “unlived life.”
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
gsegall@plaind.com, 216-999-4187
Local governments can now apply for an International City and County Management Association (ICMA) Public Library Innovation Grant. With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ICMA will provide $500,000 in grants to cities, towns, and counties that are committed to using their public library as a vital tool in addressing community priorities and issues in a unique, nontraditional manner. Individual grants will range from $20,000 to $60,000 and be 18 months in length.
All Innovation Grants will be anchored by a partnership between the office of the chief administrative officer (city, county, and town manager) and the public library. A series of leadership workshops and project coaching will support grantees in solidifying the manager/librarian partnership, ensuring the short-term success of the project, and developing the capacity to support the long-term use of libraries to meet community goals.
Details and application at
http://www.icma.org/main/bc.asp?bcid=1080
Michael Dowling
Director
International and Chapter Relations Offices
American Library Association
50 E Huron St
Chicago, IL, USA
p +1 800-545-2433 ext 3200
f +1 312-280-4392
www.ala.org
Are you interested in providing an affordable digital materials collection to your patrons? If yes, contact Nicole Merriman at the State Library of Ohio, nmerrima@sloma.state.oh.us, by Tuesday, December 16, 2008 to inquire about enrolling in the Ohio eBook Project. All libraries in Ohio that can meet the enrollment requirements are welcome to enroll.
The State Library of Ohio launched the Ohio eBook Project (OEP) in summer 2005. Since that time, our project has grown to include thirty-five libraries, nearly 6000 individual titles, and over 8500 copies. This multi-type library, statewide project allows Ohio libraries to provide digital materials to their patrons at a considerable savings because the State Library assumed the project’s start-up cost and pays the monthly maintenance fee. All member libraries add to and share the digital materials collection. Visit the Ohio eBook Project web site, http://ohdbks.lib.overdrive.com, to view our collection.
In order to be included in the Ohio eBook Project, your library will be required to:
* Pay a $1,500.00 one time set-up fee to OverDrive, Inc. OverDrive is our digital materials provider.
* Be SIP/SIP2, Patron API, or RPA complaint. Talk to your ILS vendor if you are not. Upgrading will involve a cost from your ILS vendor. EZproxy is another option we may be able to work with.
* Pledge 1% of your print book and monograph and AV collection budget per year to the OEP collection. If 1% of this portion of your budget is more than $15,000, your contribution will be capped at $15,000 per year. If 1% of your budget is below $500 per year, your contribution must be a minimum of $500. In subsequent membership years, your pledge amount will drop to .5% of this portion of your budget or $500, whichever is more; or $10,000 per year if your first year’s contribution was capped at $15,000.
* Agree that all digital materials will be added to the shared OEP collection.
* In addition to the 1% pledged amount, pay a $1.00 fee for the accompanying MARC record of any title your library purchases that are new titles to the OEP collection.
* Agree that any books your library purchases for the OEP collection will remain in the OEP collection in the event that your library leaves the OEP.
The e-books are in Adobe and Mobipocket Reader formats, e-audio books and e-music are in windows media audio (.wma) files, and e-video is in Windows Media Video format. E-audio, e-music, and e-video are delivered through the OverDrive Media Console software. Mobipocket Reader and Windows media files are not compatible with Apple computers at this time and cannot be used with iPods.
New! With the OverDrive Media Console for Mac, OverDrive MP3 audiobooks can now be downloaded and enjoyed on Macs. The built-in Burn Wizard can be used to burn MP3 audiobooks to CD, and the Transfer Wizard allows quick and easy transfer to Apple devices, including iPods.
Patrons can download the Ohio eBook Project materials from computers in their homes, offices, or at your library if you choose to allow downloading on your computers.
An FAQ is available at http://www.library.ohio.gov/publib/oep_faq.html. If you are interested in joining the Ohio eBook Project for a January 31, 2009 launch, please contact Nicole Merriman by Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at nmerrima@sloma.state.oh.us, or call (800)686-1532.
Call for Papers
2009 Library Research Round Table Forums at ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
The Library Research Round Table (LRRT) will sponsor two Research Forums at the 2009 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL (July 9 – 15). The LRRT Forums are a set of programs at the ALA Annual Conference featuring presentations of LIS research, in progress or completed, followed by discussion. Two LRRT Research Forums are scheduled for 2009, one on general LIS research and one on a more specific topic that will emerge as we evaluate the submissions. The two forums are:
Research to Understand Users: Issues and Approaches
This session will feature three library-related research papers investigating users and their use of libraries and information. An LRRT committee will select the winning papers based on quality of study design, significance of the research topic, and potential for significant contribution to librarianship.
Four-Star Research
This session will feature three library-related research papers describing studies of libraries and librarianship. An LRRT committee will select the winning papers based on quality and creativity of study design, significance of the research topic, and potential for significant contribution to librarianship.
This is an opportunity to present and discuss your research project conducted in the broad area of library and information science or in a more specialized area of the field. LRRT welcomes papers emphasizing the problems, theories, methodologies, or significance of research findings for LIS. Topics can include, but are not limited to, user studies and user behavior, electronic services, service effectiveness, organizational structure and personnel, library value determination, and evaluation of library and information services. Both completed research and research in progress will be considered. All researchers, including practitioners from all types of libraries, library school faculty and students, and other interested individuals are encouraged to submit proposals. LRRT Members and nonmembers of LRRT are invited and welcomed to submit proposals.
The Committee will use a blind review process to select a maximum of six projects, three for each of the two forums. The selected researchers will be required to present their papers in person at the forums and to register for the conference. Criteria for selection are:
1. Significance of the study to library and information science research;
2. Quality and creativity of the methodology;
3. Potential to fill a research gap or to build on previous LIS studies;
4. Adherence to submission requirements (see below).
Please submit a two-page proposal by Friday, December 19, 2008. Late submissions will not be considered, and submissions must be limited to two pages in length. On the first page, please list your name(s), title(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact information (telephone number, mailing address, and email address). The second page should NOT show your name or any other identifying information. Instead, it must include: 1) The title of your project, and 2) A 500-word abstract. The abstract must include a problem statement, problem significance, project objectives, methodology, and conclusions (or tentative conclusions for work in progress), and an indication of whether the research is in-progress or completed. Previously published research or research accepted for publication by December 19, 2008, will not be considered.
Notification of acceptance will be made by Monday, February 27, 2009. Please send submissions (via email or snail mail) to:
Larry Nash White, Ph.D.
Library Research Round Table Chair-Elect
Assistant Professor
1108 Joyner Library
Department of Library Science
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
Phone: 252-328-2315
Email: whitel@ecu.edu
Six Ohio public libraries have been ranked number one in their population categories, in the 2008 Hennen American Public Library’s Ratings (HAPLR) report. The 2008 number one libraries include: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Washington-Centerville Public Library, North Canton Public Library, Twinsburg Public Library, Columbiana Public Library, and Grand Valley Public Library.
“Ohioans are not only enriched by the information and resources found in their local libraries, but also by their ability to bring people of all ages together,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. “I congratulate the libraries recognized in this year’s rankings and celebrate their role in making their communities a great place to live and work.”
Thirteen public libraries in Ohio were recognized in the top five within their categories in the 2008 report including: Crestline Public Library, Centerburg Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Euclid Public Library, Madison Public Library, Medina County District Library, North Canton Public Library; Orrville Public Library, Porter Public Library, Twinsburg Public Library, Upper Arlington Public Library, Wadsworth Public Library, Wagnalls Public Library, Washington-Centerville Public Library, Worthington Public Library, and Wright Memorial Public Library.
According to Thomas J. Hennen Jr., his report identifies “the public libraries in America with the highest input and output measures. Statistics alone cannot define library excellence, of course, but I believe that the ratings numbers are still important.” Each library is rated within population categories ranging from 1,000 to 500,000 or more residents. Strong support for libraries in Ohio is a key factor in their success. Hennen factors state and local funding as well as spending and usage, and rates libraries higher for spending larger percentages of their budgets on library materials.
Ohio has a strong history of libraries achieving this recognition. The HARPLR reports began in 1999 and Ohio libraries have ranked in the top 10 for all reports. In overall scores the report has recognized the state of Ohio with a number one ranking in the country in every report. HARPLR is not an annual report and was not published in 2007. Libraries that have ranked in the top five in each the past five reports within their categories include: Columbus Metropolitan Library (number one in 2005 & 2008); Cuyahoga County Public Library (number one in 2004 & 2006); Medina County District Library, North Canton Public Library (number one in 2006 & 2008); Twinsburg Public Library (number one in 2003, 2004, 2006 & 2007); and Washington-Centerville Public Library (number one in 2004 & 2005).
Twelve libraries were honored within the top 10 rankings including: Bristol Public Library, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Columbiana Public Library, Geauga County Public Library, Grandview Heights Public Library, Kinsman Free Public Library, Lakewood Public Library, Perry Public Library, Rocky River Public Library, Stark County Public Library, Way Public Library, and Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library.
“We are fortunate in Ohio to have the support for libraries by local communities, and state and federal government,” said State Librarian Jo Budler. “It’s an honor for libraries in our state to be recognized as the best. With ongoing support Ohio’s public libraries will continue to provide this level of access to vital information and materials, online resources, and programs and services to all residents.”
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:07 AM EDT
By Michael C. Butz
Seven public libraries from The News-Herald coverage area were recently ranked as some of the nation’s top libraries in the 2008 edition of Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings.
The rankings are broken down by service population sizes. In the category for serving 50,000, Euclid Public Library came in tied for third, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library ranked sixth and Geauga County Public Library seventh.
“Our circulation is up, and we provide more reference help, but our funding has not increased,” said Kathy Dugan, library director for Willoughby-Eastlake. “Our high ranking … really demonstrates that we are managing our resources and tax dollars efficiently as we continue to provide high-quality service to our patrons and respond to their changing needs.”
Geauga Library Director Deborah F. O’Connor said it’s an honor to be recognized by peers.
“We always like it when there’s outside validation of what we’re doing, but I could’ve told you our library was wonderful without Mr. Hennen’s rankings,” she said.
Director Donna Perdzock felt that like most libraries on the list, one of the things that got Euclid’s library recognized were the services it offers its patrons.
“I think we have a strong collection and a lot of programs for children,” she said. “We have good, up-to-date computers and easy access to the Internet, and in these economic times, those resources are well used.”
The rankings are independently compiled by Thomas J. Hennen Jr., who rates, scores and ranks libraries on 15 input and output measures that take into account circulation, staffing, materials, reference service and funding levels.
In the category for a service population size of 10,000, Wickliffe Public Library ranked second while Madison Public Library ranked fourth.
“It means we’re working and doing the right things for our public,” said Wickliffe director Nancy Fisher. “We’d like to be No. 1, but we’re happy to be in the top 10, and we’ve been there this entire century.”
Perry Public Library ranked ninth in the category for libraries serving 2,500, marking the first time Perry has made the list.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” said director Virginia Sharp March. “Obviously, we don’t work to make the rankings, we work to serve the patrons. When our patrons are happy, we’re happy.”
The other local library to make the list was the Cuyahoga County Public Library, which ranked second in its category.
Centerville, OH – After 38 years of committed service to public libraries, Cynthia Klinck, Director of Washington-Centerville Public Library, announced her retirement effective February 28, 2009, at this month’s Library Board of Trustees meeting. Ms. Klinck has served as Director for the past 30 years, since 1978. Through Ms. Klinck’s vision, Washington-Centerville Public Library has grown from a small suburban library to a #1 nationally ranked mid-sized library providing excitement, enlightenment and entertainment to almost 70,000 cardholders.
Over the past 30 years, Klinck has worked passionately to grow the Library into the progressive organization citizens know today. Under her leadership, the Library grew from one small library and a branch, with a staff of 7 and a budget of only $660,000, to today’s 2 full-service libraries with 150 employees and an annual budget of $7.2 million. “Cindi is truly the founder of the Library as we know it. Her visionary, patron-centered, yet business-like approach to growing the organization has certainly produced a great community resource,” says Richard Carr, Library Board of Trustees President.
Klinck has worked diligently to ensure the community had libraries of sufficient size, as well as collections, programs and services that exceeded the expectations of the public. As a result, citizens enjoy more than 380,000 books, movies, music and videogames for pleasure and research; and more than 60 value-added library programs and services – many of which can be accessed through an online library at www.wclibrary.info. “Cindi has really made the Library the heart and soul of this community. Our high quality library system embodies our community’s commitment to education and learning,” says Mr. Carr.
Library usage reflects the impact of Ms. Klinck’s work. During her tenure, check out of library materials has grown from a mere 250,000 to more than 2.2 million – a 754% increase, making Washington-Centerville Public Library the 12th busiest in Ohio. “The honor has been mine to grow the Library, but that success is shared with a supportive community of citizens who love their library, a very talented staff and a dedicated Board of Trustees,” comments Ms. Klinck.
Ms. Klinck’s contributions extend outside the local library as well. She actively participated in state library associations in Kentucky and Ohio, including serving in several leadership roles with the Ohio Library Council. Ms. Klinck has also volunteered countless hours to improve other community organizations like the South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Hithergreen Center. In 2005, she was recognized for her professional and personal contributions as one of Dayton’s Top Ten Women.
Ms. Klinck looks forward to the next chapter of her life and believes the Library is well-positioned to accomplish great things. “I’ve always been interested in planning for the future, whether it is new library buildings, service opportunities or organizational design. Now, I’m looking forward to my personal future. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished at the Library. I leave behind a talented group of library staff and management that are sure to continue the long tradition of outstanding library service,” comments Ms. Klinck.
Prior to joining Washington-Centerville Public Library, Ms. Klinck was Director of Paul Sawyier Public Library in Frankfort, Kentucky. She and her husband, Andrew, plan to stay in the Centerville area. The Library Board of Trustees plans to hire an interim Director, who will serve while a nationwide search is conducted for a successor.
For more information on the Washington-Centerville Public Library visit www.wclibrary.info.