Library

As we work to achieve our goals, we are fully aware of our upcoming financial challenges proposed by the state budget. In March, Director Armstrong traveled to Columbus with hundreds of other library directors and supporters to urge our local legislators to protect the Public Library Fund (PLF), which currently stands at 1.7%. If our legislators return state funding to Ohio’s public libraries back to 1.66%, collectively libraries stand to lose more than $7.7 million dollars. Public libraries have been providing lifelong learning opportunities to our 8.7 million library card holders for years. Please help us by contacting your local legislator and urge them to Protect the PLF. To learn more about the PLF and how you can support local public libraries, please visit libraryfunding.olc.org

Resumes That Get Results

Euclid Librarian Kristen Zajac will receive the Janice Smuda Children’s Librarianship Award from Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science (iSchool) this month. This award is presented to an iSchool graduate who, as a student, demonstrated creativity, leadership, and dedication to children’s librarianship through outstanding academic achievement. Zajac holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in Theater with a specialization in Youth Theater and Puppetry from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Library and Information Science (2016) from Kent State. A native of Wickliffe, Zajac is currently a Youth Services Librarian at EPL and hopes to inspire young children to pursue their curiosities and passions through the many resources that are available to them.
 
The award will be presented at a ceremony at Kent State University on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
 
The School of Library and Information Science (iSchool) at Kent State University offers a Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) and Master of Science in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM), with concentrations in health informatics, knowledge management, and user experience design. In addition, the iSchool participates in an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in the College of Communication and Information. With more than 700 students enrolled, the iSchool has the largest graduate program at Kent State. Its M.L.I.S. is the only American Library Association-accredited master’s program in Ohio and is recognized by U.S. News and World Report among the nation’s top 20 LIS programs. For more information, visit www.kent.edu/slis.

On Wednesday, February 15, the Friends of the Library hosted Dessert with Rosa Parks in the Lake & Shore Rooms. This special re-enactment featured the "First Lady of the Civil Rights," portrayed by Sherri Tolliver of Women in History and was attended by more than 50 guests. Thank you for supporting the Friends!

Improving Interview Skills

Did you know there’s a whole collection of digital titles that you can access from home or on the road? Books, videos, music, and audiobooks are available 24/7, FREE, with your library card. Since titles return automatically, you’ll never have to pay overdue fees. Start at our website, www.euclidlibrary.org to find links to all our digital collections. New to digital content? Stop by the information desk to get started. 

The Friends of the Library invite you to enjoy lunch with “America’s Sweetheart of Song,” Ruth Etting on Friday, March 10 at Noon.

Rising to fame in the 1920s and 1930, Ruth worked in radio, stage, and film, and her dramatic life was the basis for the 1955 film, “Love Me or Leave Me.” Meet “Ruth” courtesy of Women in History and support the Friends! Tickets are available now at the library for $12/members and $15/non-members. Call (216) 261-5300 for more information.

We are very appreciative here at the Euclid Public Library for the support we receive from our patrons through state funding, local property taxes, and generous donations from the Euclid Public Library Foundation and Friends of the Euclid Public Library support groups. We would not be able to serve you at the current level without your support.

Prepare for the upcoming travel season and apply for your passport at the Euclid Public Library.

Joe “The Coupon Guy”

Friday, January 27 at 7:00 PM the Euclid Public Library Foundation invites you to a Beer Tasting and Talk with John Staunton of Merchant Du Vin, at the Euclid Public Library.

This past September, the Euclid Public Library Foundation Board of Trustees launched its annual fundraising campaign to garner continued support for the library’s programs and services.  With this effort, we aim to raise $80,000 to help replace local and state funding and to provide funding for future projects.

The Friends of the Euclid Public Library would like to thank the more than two dozen participants who joined us on Saturday, November 12 for the 2016 Annual Cookie Baking Contest at EPL! The contest's first place winners of the four various cookie flavor categories received a $50 prize and second place winners won the $25 prize. All recipes are available online at www.euclidlibrary.org.

EPL is proud to partner with the Foundation Center to bring you Foundation Directory Online. This is the most comprehensive resource available for online funding research. The database includes over 100,000 private, community, operating and company-sponsored foundations in the US. Detailed grant information including recipients, descriptions, and types of support can help you determine which funders are most likely to support the work of your non-profit or organization. Along with related databases, Foundation Maps and Grants to Individuals, these resources are invaluable to those in need of funding. The databases are accessible only from inside our building so plan your visit today.

Love to bake?  The Friends of the Euclid Public Library is hosting its annual Cookie Contest on Saturday, November 12.  Participants could win a first or second place prize of $50 or $25 and, of course, bragging rights. All Euclid bakers are invited to submit an entry in this year’s annual Cookie Contest. Entry forms are available online at www.euclidlibrary.org or at the library.

Join the Euclid Public Library, the Euclid Chamber of Commerce, and the Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland on Wednesday, November 16 at 6 PM in the Lake Room as they present an interactive workshop that introduces participants to the resources to start their business in Ohio. Learn about the different ways you can structure your business, tax requirements, funding requirements, fundamentals needed for your business plan and more. Each participant will leave with a “Starting Your Business in Ohio” kit.  Please call 261-5300 ext. 0 to register for this event, as seating is limited.

Prepare for the upcoming travel season and apply for your U.S. Passport beginning Tuesday, November 1 at the Euclid Public Library. U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports Monday – Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM, Saturday from 9 AM – 4 PM, and Sunday from 1 PM – 4 PM (October – May only) at the library.  Individual processing is based on a first-come, first serve basis. All travelers, especially families of four or more, are encouraged to call (216) 261-5300 ext. 550 prior to coming to the library.

Euclid Public Library Foundation has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on November 29, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

Join the Friends of the Library on Thursday, September 22 at 7:00 PM at their annual event with The Plain Dealer Metro columnist, Phillip Morris, where the theme for the night is, “Newspapers: Past, Present, and Future.” Morris, a Euclid resident, has written for The Plain Dealer since 2007. Several of his topics include politics, city issues, and conversations with people out and about. Enjoy an entertaining evening while supporting the Friends! Please call the library at (216) 261-5300 to register for this event!

College Now announced in August that it was awarded a new 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. The award, $200,000 per year for three years (total of $600,000) is passed through the U.S. Department of Education to the Ohio Department of Education, then on to College Now and will allow the organization to expand the impACT the 216 after school programming to the Euclid community through a partnership with the Euclid Public Library.

This September, the Euclid Public Library is teaming up with eight other local library systems to encourage every child under 18, to sign up for a free library card or get rid of fines that may stop them from checking out their favorite items. The initiative, called A Card for Every Kid will take place September 1-30 to coincide with National Library Card Sign Up Month. It is a cooperative effort among the library systems to raise awareness of the importance of library card ownership for children and teens. The initiative also seeks to gain a better understanding of the roadblocks that keep some children and teens from owning a library card.

Occasionally, the Euclid Public Library receives comments from patrons inquiring about the influx of students in the building during the afternoon. Though this trend seems unique to Euclid, in reality, the American Library Association reports approximately 14 million middle and high school students are on their own after school throughout the country. As dedicated public facilities that outnumber McDonalds in the country, public libraries inherit the responsibility of creating a safe, cool (or warm in the winter months), space where children and adults alike are welcome to meet and develop social and educational skills necessary to succeed.

A much-loved tradition continues at the library this fall. Stay connected with the City of Euclid and the Euclid City Schools by joining us for the library’s quarterly Fireside Chats Series.

The Ohio Library Council, the statewide professional association which represents the interests of Ohio’s public libraries, will honor long-time Euclid Public Library Board Trustee Mr. Benjamin Chinni with the 2016 Trustee Award of Achievement at this year’s OLC Awards and Honors Luncheon on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, at the Kalahari Resort. Mr. Chinni will be honored for his more than 21 years of service and commitment to the Euclid Public Library.

As communities grapple with the social implications of the shootings in Orlando, Baton Rouge, Minnesota, and Dallas in the past month, libraries across the United States are stepping up to offer resources and support. Issues of race, prejudice, inequity, and violence are challenging topics, but they must be addressed in open, safe and productive conversations if we wish to move forward as a nation. As President Obama stated in his July 12 speech in Dallas, “…if we cannot even talk about these things, if we cannot talk honestly and openly, not just in the comfort of our own circles, but with those who look different than us or bring a different perspective, then we will never break this dangerous cycle.”

This September, the Euclid Public Library is teaming up with eight other local library systems to encourage every child under 18, to sign up for a free library card or get rid of fines that may stop them from checking out their favorite items. The initiative, called A Card for Every Kid will take place September 1-30 to coincide with National Library Card Sign Up Month. It is a cooperative effort among the library systems to raise awareness of the importance of library card ownership for children and teens. The initiative also seeks to gain a better understanding of the roadblocks that keep some children and teens from owning a library card.

Are you looking for a fresh start? Is your record holding you back? Join presenters from the Cuyahoga County Courts, County Prosecutor’s Office, Cleveland Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland on Saturday, August 6 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Euclid Public Library for more information about Conviction Expungements. For more information, please call (216) 261-5300. 

On Tuesday, June 21, the Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees swore in its newest member, Carmen Epps. Carmen is no stranger to the Euclid Public Library, as she served as the EPL Foundation Treasurer until her appointment to the Board. Epps is currently a Compliance and Project Manager at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and acts as the Vice President of the Euclid Hunger Center Board of Trustees. Epps has an extensive knowledge of federal, state and local compliance regulations, and banking and insurance industry expertise and experience. When asked why she chose to serve on the Board of Trustees, Epps said, “I have a passion and commitment to the Euclid community and the Euclid Public Library.”

Join Euclid Public Library for another Meet the Author visit on Thursday, August 4 at 7:00 PM with native Clevelander Alan Dutka. Extreme wealth could buy a mansion on Millionaires’ Row but not immunity from scandals, murder, fraud and affairs. Join Dutka as he recounts fascinating and tragic stories of those who once lived in the mansions along Euclid Avenue. Copies of Misfortune on Cleveland’s Millionaires’ Row will be available for purchase. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Summer Reading at the Euclid Police Mini Station begins Monday, June 20 through Friday, July 29. Children ages 10 – 13 are invited to join us as we race through an exciting summer of reading and activity! This is a cooperative program between the Euclid Public Library and the Euclid Police. For more information, please contact Audrey Cobb at the Mini Station by calling (216) 481-5486.

Did you know the Euclid Public Library offers free monthly delivery and pickup of library materials for Euclid patrons who are unable to leave their homes? EPL Outreach Services are free and available to residents of any age or income level who are homebound. Whether a person is homebound temporarily, such as someone recovering from surgery, or a permanent shut-in, we can bring library services to their door.

This year’s summer reading program is all about sports, fitness, and keeping our bodies active. Stop by the library on Monday, June 6 for our kick-off celebration from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.  While you’re here, register for our Summer Reading Program. Adult, teens and children are invited to participate and keep their reading skills strong. For more information, please call (216) 261-5300.

The Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees seeks candidates to fill a vacancy on the Board beginning on May 1, 2016, for an unexpired term ending September 16, 2021. The Library Board is the governing and policy-making Board for the Euclid Public Library; positions are voluntary. Citizens are encouraged to apply who meet the qualifications, have a passion for the Euclid Public Library, can articulate the library’s vision, and who are familiar with our community. The selected candidate must meet all legal qualifications for this office.

Join the Euclid Public Library on Monday, May 9 for Breakfast with Euclid Public Schools Superintendent Keith Bell and incoming Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek at 8:30 a.m. Seating is limited. Please call (216) 261-5300 to register for this program.

Since our Euclid Public Library connected with hoopla as a downloadable service for your movies, books and more, you might have thought "When are we getting hoopla support for Chromecast?" If you've wondered that question, now you can know the answer is, "Today!"
  
 Now you can GO BIG and 'cast' until your heart's content, from any iOS or Andorid smartphone, tablet, or computer, because the Euclid Public LIbrary is now supporting Chromecast for video. All you need is a connected device and an active internet connection, and you'll be good to go for Holiday Season watching.
 
In fact, hoopla is going BIG themselves...check out the hoopla premieres;  including three Holiday family titles!

Through the holiday season, our Euclid Public Library staff is asking fellow residents and library visitors to bring some warm mittens, scarves and hats to place in a collection box in our library. After the holidays we will donate all these items to the Euclid Police Department for distribution to those in need.

This holiday season Euclid Public Library would like to remind you that giving books as presents never goes out of style! In the age of gadgets and gizmos, books still make worthy competitors because of their ability to help people connect. Whether they’re meant to be future bedtime stories, sources of inspiration and adventure, or educational aids, books that are given as gifts keep on giving. When making your shopping list this year, consider offering someone an experience that can only be achieved through reading. They’ll think of you with every turn of the page. Here are a few suggestions.

The Euclid Public Library began 80 years ago with small library collections in two of our early schools. Euclid Central and Shore School served as our city's two high schools and it is in these two school buildings where the Euclid Public Library began!

Euclid Public Library officially was named a public library on August 12, 1935 with a resolution stating that the newly elected board would establish “a Public Library free to all inhabitants of the Euclid City School District and Cuyahoga County, Ohio.“  At this first meeting it was also agreed that “the said library board will serve without compensation” with Sam Foster officiating as the library’s first President.