Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:

Renovations to the Main Library first floor are nearing completion. The new, brighter paint colors have enhanced the beauty of the facility and the addition of new carpeting lends a fresh new look to the library.

Bids to replace the Main Library entrance with fully automated doors were received on August 31, and the low bid was 17% below the estimate of $50,000. For bond funds to be used for this improvement both the Library Board at their September 11 meeting and the Shaker Heights Board of Education at their September 12 meeting must approve the project. Once both boards approve, the project can begin immediately and can be completed in approximately seven weeks. During construction, the front entrance will be closed and the public will use the East entrance to the building.

Another pending enhancement to the Main Library is the Friends of the Shaker Library’s new flagpole project funded in part by a city Neighborhood Grant ($3,000). The new flagpole will replace the sixty-foot pole, which has graced the property since Moreland School opened in the fall of 1926. The new pole is made of anodized aluminum to last longer and look better. Removal of the old pole and installation of the new one will take place the first week of September. Dedication of the new pole, with a “made-in-the-U.S.A.” flag that measures 12-feet by 18-feet, is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, September 11, the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

We should be ready to move forward with a comprehensive, community-based strategic planning process this fall. The Library Board’s Planning Committee spoke with a representative from Main Stream Enterprises on August 18 to discuss their proposal, and a recommendation will be made to the Board at the September meeting. If we proceed as suggested, the entire planning process will be open and transparent. There will be involvement from the community through selected residents, who will participate with the Library Board and Library staff on the Strategic Planning Committee as future directions for the Library are discussed. At the same time, planning consultants will interview key stakeholders in the community and report back to committee members and to the Board. It is also anticipated that a community forum will be scheduled to inform the public about the plan and to obtain helpful feedback.

Shaker Library’s annual “Staff Professional Day” on Friday, September 15 will emphasize coping with change. This fall’s Staff Day will be held at Squire Valleevue Farm with the theme, “From the Farm to the Future.” Sessions will include a report on the State of the Library; a spotlight on the Maintenance Services Department; a keynote speaker from Illinois, who will discuss “Technology and the Future of Libraries;” wellness activities; staff recognition, and an afternoon keynote from a retired Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) executive on the subject of strategic planning and how it connects to the service we provide to our customers.

Luren E. Dickinson, Director
dickinson@shakerlibrary.org