Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:
Celebrate summer at the Shaker Library! At least, we
hope it will be summer soon after what seems like weeks of rainy, overcast
weather! We have several reasons for celebration right now: 1) we have a new fund
dedicated to children; 2) we have received awards for our library publicity;
and 3) we have some excellent summer reading programs planned.
This past month, the Ruth Levenson Fund for Children
was established with a $5,000 donation as a memorial from her two daughters,
Alice and Linda. The fund will be used
to purchase books for children ages 10 and younger.
Also, the American Library Association honored Shaker
Library with three awards for our publicity material. As part of ALA’s 2011 PR
Xchange, we received “Best of Show” in the Fundraising and Annual Reports
category and Honorable Mention in Children’s Summer Reading material category
for libraries with our size budget.
As usual, we will be kicking off the Summer Reading
Program with our annual Ice Cream Social at the Bertram Woods Branch Library
from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 10, Bring the kids and join us for an evening
of free ice cream, popcorn, and lemonade, along with a variety of games and
activities, including a “mini” book sale. This wonderful summer evening is
generously underwritten by the Friends of the Library.
“One World, Many Stories” is the 2011 children’s
theme—one shared by public libraries nationwide through the collaborative
summer library program. We will also
use the shared teen theme, “You Are Here,” and adult theme, “Novel
Destinations.” These programs help
children to maintain and increase reading skills over the summer, young adults
to read more, and adults to experience the joy of reading while fostering a common
family activity.
The dates for summer reading programs are June 6
through July 30. Young people ages 2 years to Grade 8 may sign up in the Youth
Services Department at either the Main Library or the Bertram Woods Branch
beginning June 6. Prizes can be earned
based upon the amount of reading completed.
There will be an outdoor story time for the whole family at 7 p.m.
Monday, June 27 at the Colonnade (or in the Community Building in case of
rain). Also, you can read to therapy
dog King from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays, July 1, 15, and 29. Reservations for these events can be made
online, by phone, or in person two weeks prior to the dates.
New for 2011, teens can email the number of hours
they read each week to enter weekly raffles for $10 gift cards. For every 25 hours of reading, a ticket will
be earned for the Grand Prize Drawing of a Nook,™an ebook reader. Teens will also get to sample the culture
and food from different countries on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. They can
experience Japan on June 15, Mexico on June 29, and Nigeria on July 13. Register for each program two weeks in
advance.
“Novel Destinations” for adults will be highlighted
by three special programs. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, we will host Plain
Dealer features writer Susan Glaser who will speak about Ohio
vacation ideas at Bertram Woods Branch. At 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Main
Library, Library Rob Erick of the Cleveland Photographic Society will present Organizing
Your Travel Photos. Our last program will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July
13 at Woods Branch when Cleveland Cultural Gardens Foundation
staff show and tell us about their Cultural Gardens. Following the program,
enjoy refreshments in the Woods Reading Garden.
Please excuse the construction activity in and around
the Main Library as our second story renovations and the neighboring Library
Court Apartments project near completion. We know parking is congested at times
and we ask for your patience. The library’s exterior brick repairs on the south
façade should be completed in July while the facility for low-income seniors is
expected to be ready for occupancy in September.
Luren E. Dickinson, Director
Photo by Caydie Heller