Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:

After much planning, several projects are getting the “go ahead” this month. Foremost is the renovation of the unfinished areas on the second floor of the Main Library, which involves scheduling the Friends Fall Book Sale slightly earlier this month. Some of our grant applications have been funded and we will begin the planning processes with them, as well.

The Board of Education approved bids for the second floor renovations at its regular meeting on September 14. Work will begin this month to create large new spaces for the Computer Center and Training Lab facilities, which will double the current capacity. We will also have new offices for staff, storage room, a maintenance workshop, and a Friends book sorting area.

In preparation for construction, the Friends Fall Book Sale, held on the second floor of the Main Library, was moved up a week early and will begin with a “Members Only” sale from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 7. The public sale opens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9, and the bargain “Bag Sale” ($5/bag for hardbacks and $3/bag for paperbacks) will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 10.

As the Shaker Library anticipates enhanced computer and training space, we are proud to report that some of our recent applications for grant funding in this area have been approved. A partnership with the statewide Connect Ohio group will bring added publicity, additional training support, and funds for some new equipment for the Main Library. The second year of our Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant, which has funded new equipment at Bertram Woods Branch, is also being authorized.

Having received a $6,900 grant earlier this year through the State Library’s LSTA program for our community gardening efforts, we were heartened to learn that the State Library Board approved our $50,000 Library Entrepreneurial grant application late last month. Through this project, we will be begin to operate a Community Entrepreneurial Office (CEO), which will be aimed at helping volunteer agencies, families small businesses.

The CEO will be housed in the room currently occupied by the Computer Center on the Main Library second floor. In addition to computers with Internet access, it will offer specialty equipment, including a fax machine, color copier, commercial quality printers, laminator, scanners, etc. at modest rates, which we hope will become self-sustaining, as well as provide a boost to the local economy.

We have also learned that we will receive $20,000 through the MyCom program for out-of-school-time activities during the 2010-2011 school year. Half of this grant money will fund our Homework Center and half will be used to fund Teen Center programs. Since planning funds were first awarded in mid-2008, Shaker Library has received more than $70,000 in grants through MyCom, and the South Shaker Neighborhood Council has brought in more than $500,000, including $150,000 in summer jobs for teens.

In addition to a full complement of children’s activities, we have several programs of interest to adults. Our Tuesday afternoon job-hunting series continues at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 19 when Giannoula Regan, a manager for Staffing Solutions, presents “Interviewing Strategies, Part I” at the Main Library. Poetry Back in the Woods continues its series with a performance by Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 28 at Bertram Woods Branch. Teens are encouraged to express themselves at a book-making program, Express Yourself! Create Your Own Book at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, October 23 at Bertram Woods Branch.

Luren E. Dickinson, Director

dickinson@shakerlibrary.org