Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:
Perhaps the
brightest news is that the Friends of the Shaker Library have agreed to go “25
for 25.” That is, they are going to give the Shaker Library $25,000 in support
of a variety of library programs and purchases to mark their 25th
anniversary. Friends of the Shaker Library will continue to underwrite the
annual summer reading program with a cash donation of $5,000 for 2006, which
represents a 25% increase over last year. The Friends have also approved
$11,500 for programs for adults, teens, and children, including $2,500 to be
used to start a Homework Help Center. Other approved funds would be used for
equipment ($3,900), movie licensing rights ($1,200), art ($1,000), and a
variety of other special grants ($2,400).
Despite
financial pressures, due to a continued freeze in state funding for the next
three years, we have been fortunate not to experience the devastating cuts seen
in other states. Nor have we had weather disasters like those around the world,
with the tsunami last December, and in our own country, with recent hurricanes
that have centered on Louisiana. In an effort to help libraries affected by the
tsunami victims, Shaker Library donated overdue fines collected from February
13-19 to a Sri Lankan disaster relief fund for libraries. Likewise, for the period
September 18-24, all overdue fines will be donated to the Louisiana Library
Relief Fund.
Although
we have been spared such weather extremes here in northeast Ohio, our Main
Library building has had roofing problems for a number of years. That situation
will be resolved shortly when we begin a major roofing restoration. At the bid
opening, all parties involved were pleasantly surprised to learn that we will
be able to replace all of the 90-plus-year-old slate with brand new slate — and
for less than it would have cost for rubberized, imitation slate! An added
bonus is that real slate has a life expectancy of 100 to 120 years, which means
the new roof may well last into the 22nd century. We hope to see the
new roofing project begin in early October and anticipate its completion before
the first snowflakes fall.
Looking
forward, we had a good Staff Professional Day on September 16 with several good
presentations. I told the staff of nearly one hundred in attendance that one of
the library’s biggest strengths, as identified during my interviews with
individual staff, is the quality and compatibility of its employees. One of our
staff, John Harchar, was honored for his 20 years of service. Through a
presentation on “Generations in the Workplace” led by Marcy Levy Shankman,
Ph.D., we learned how generational differences can work for us. Children’s
Services and Adult Services presented overviews of their departments and
engaged us with storytelling and book discussion demonstrations. We discovered
how to improve our well being with healthful Chi Gong exercises, and learned a
bit about ergonomics. The day ended with different focus groups, which
pinpointed areas where the library might change, grow, or develop as part of
our long range planning effort.
Luren E. Dickinson, Director
dickinson@shakerlibrary.org