Coventry Village Library Petition

2/18/2015 Update: Library restores Friday hours

On behalf of the many loyal patrons of Coventry Village Library we extend heartfelt thanks to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library board of directors and administration for their February 16 decision to restore Friday hours to the library's schedule. Combined with the recent restoration of Sunday hours to all branches, the Coventry Village Library will now be able to serve the community on a daily basis. This is good news for residents and also good news for the Coventry retail district, as the library plays an important role in attracting people to our neighborhood businesses. As a cherished neighborhood institution, the Coventry Village Library is integral to the life of the community. With recent and planned upgrades to its historic building, the library has never looked better or been so strongly positioned in its ability to serve its patrons.

Susan Eagan
Carla Rautenberg
Mike McGraw
Sarah Wean
Steve Presser, Big Fun
Suzanne DeGaetano, Mac's Backs Books on Coventry

1/13/14 Update: Thank you to the 175 people who signed the petition in support of reinstating Friday hours at the Coventry Village Library, which were removed to accommodate another branch's desire to expand their service hours. The petition was presented to the board at their regular board meeting on January 27th. 

2/2014 Update: The board has indicated it will be revisiting this issue at some point in 2014.

This page will post any updates about this issue as they become available, so please return periodically.

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TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CLEVELAND HEIGHTS-UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY

In November, 2013 the CHUH Library Board elected to shut down Coventry Village Library on Fridays, beginning January, 2014, making it the only branch in the system open just five days a week.  This decision was reached without an opportunity for public comment, or even an announcement that the board was considering such action.

Coventry Village Library is a thriving, successful public library. It provides essential activities and acts as a community center for young and old, especially those without easy access to the internet or readily available transportation.  The cut back on hours will affect both the neighborhood and the staff who work so hard to make Coventry Village Library a cornerstone of life for residents of the area.

We understand the Board must meet its financial obligations to balance the budget.  However, a short term budget constraint should not result in this disinvestment in the Coventry Village branch, a step that could well cause the branch, over time, to be further marginalized. 

We ask that this decision be reversed and that Coventry Village Library reopen on Fridays.

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Petition Signatures

Amy Marquit-Renwald

Angela Hetrick

Barbara S. Rose

Barbara Zoss

Becky Austin

Becky Austin

Bill DePalma

Brandon DuGar

Brandon Ruud

Brian Metzer

Bryn Schofer

Carla Rautenberg

Charles Dietrich

Charlie Mosbrook

Christine Marshall

Christopher Ceska

Christopher Francy

Claire Raack

Colleen Burke

Debra Duirk

Debra Siegel

Deonna Moore

Diane Shelton

Dianne McEwen

Don Ramos

Dorothy Bier

Douglas Hayslip

Douglas Mazanec

Dulcie Devitt

E Corrigan

Elizabeth Berezovsky

Elizabeth M. Woda

Ellen Thompson

Eugenia Vainberg

Evie Morris

Faith Gill

Fran Mentch

Frances Baker

Gayle Barodofsky

George Barany

George W. Stephenson

Gordon Wean

Grace Dugar

Henry Drak

Henry Richardson

Janice Ward

Jeannie Roberts

Jim Gill

Jim Lint

John Davies

John Ethridge

John Gulyas

John Martin

Joy Roller

Joyce Brabner

Judi Perelman

Judith Vankleef

Julie Wolin

Kara Schellenberg

Karan Shelley

Karen Long

Karen Robinson

Karyn

Katherine Bormann

Kathleen Fant

Kathryn Karipides

Kevin P Montgomery

Kimberly Shepherd

Kristen Liviskie

Kristina Ferris

Laura and Dan Dempsey

Laurie Garrett

Linda Freeman

Linda Margolin

Louis Kelsch

Louis Kelsch

Lucy Simm

Marc Liviskie

Marion Skalweit

Mark Beno

Martha S. McGraw

Martina Hainke

Mary Beth Golombek

Mary Patricia Stephenson

Mary Raynor

Maryann Posch

Merrie Haufe

Micah Kirman

Michael Householder

Mike McGraw

Pam Raack

Pamela J Bertaud

Patrick A. McGraw

Paula Mindes

Pearl Kovac

Rebecca Price

Rebecca Wickre

Renee Psiakis

Robert Koonce

Robin Lieberman

Ronda Snyder

Roy Woda

Sandra Danziger

Sarah Wean

Scott Woodbridge

Sharlane Gubkin

Shawn Boike

Sheila Friedman

Sheila Friedman

Stephen Morris

Steve Cagan

Steve Presser

Sura Sevastopoulos

Susan Eagan

Susan Miller

Susan Soltis

Suzanne Miller

Terre Maher

Terry Boyarsky

Thomas Miller

Tina Ethridge

Vadim F Lvovich

Wesley Warren

Willa Miller

William C. DuGar

And 49 residents of Musican's Towers

Musicians Towers of Coventry Village offers affordable housing for those 55 and over with low to moderate incomes. www.musicianstowers.com

Petition Comments

"It is particularly galling to hear the glowing radio announcements of expanded hours at the UH branch without any mention of the fact that those hours are at the expense of the Coventry community. The Lee Road library is not easily accessible to children in the Coventry neighborhood who walk home from Roxboro Elementary and Roxboro Middle Schools."

“What criteria will the library use to re-assess the hours and "measure the impact", after a one year trial period has shown a decrease in numbers due to its decrease in Friday hours? How can the library with the smallest service area and the smallest square footage (half the size of the other 2 branches) ever hope to catch up if all decisions like these are data driven?”

“Public engagement is vital before making any such changes to a tax-supported entity such as the library.”

“I am very disappointed in the way this change was determined  implemented without public input. I use the Coventry library frequently on Friday.   Could the UH library close on Sat and open on Sunday?  Or could the UH library close for 1/2 day another day and open for 1/2 day on Sunday?”

“I use the library on weekends with my 2 year old daughter”

“I am a resident of the neighborhood and a regular visitor at the library. It is a thriving community resource that should be kept open as many hours as possible. Closing the library of Fridays will be detrimental to our community which has already suffered the loss of our beloved Coventry Elementary School. Please reconsider, the neighborhood supports the library.”

"I am surprised and discouraged about your decision in November to close the Coventry Library on Fridays.  What could you be thinking?”

“Cost was no doubt the bottom line on this decision, but surely there are other ways to trim the budget.  Coventry Library is a gem and, in my opinion, should be open every day of the week”

“Please reconsider and reverse that decision. "

“Our family uses the library on Fridays.”

“Coventry is the one branch of the CH-UH system that is convenient for the North-of-Mayfield part of our city.  Coventry serves these residents (many of whom come on foot)  and all comers with skill and  hospitality that makes it a truly peaceable kingdom.  Please rethink your decision; which runs contrary to the best interests of our whole community.”

"I'm an avid user of the library system.  Coventry branch library in particular enriched our family when my sons were preschoolers and we went to the library as a fun destination to get books as well as puzzles. And though my sons are now young men, I still use the library almost daily and feel that closing Coventry so that you can better serve another community feels like a slap in the face. This should have not been decided without public input. Please reconsider this decision.”

“Why don't you close the University Heights branch another day instead?”

“My children are grown up and we do not use the library, after school anymore, but for school age children a library is very important, it provides a quiet, safe learning and studying environment. And on school days it is the perfect place to go and complete homework and find a new book to read. The librarians at the Coventry branch were excellent in suggesting books for my sons as they were going up, they are both excellent readers. It is also a place the kids can go and have some independence, make independent choices and grow in a positive way. There are so many things about Cleveland Heights that are not kid friendly, so let's at least keep our neighborhood library open, and not go backwards.”

“The Coventry Library is an important part of the neighborhood and should be kept open.”

“The Cleveland Heights Library Board ought to resist the societal trend toward degradation of the quality of life,  reduction of library hours is one example.  We who vote to support the library will see such reductions as betrayal of our trust.”

"Unbelievable that this action was taken without public discussion, input or notification.  If one branch wants extra hours at a given time, let that branch give up some hours.”

“I have lived in this neighborhood over 40 years and feel this to be a major injustice that must be corrected immediately. "

"This change should have been up for public discussion and input! Very poor planning on the boards part. Will the board be asking for the Coventry neighborhood approval of the next levy?"

"Please keep the library open. It is well used by the neighborhood and Community.”

“Please do not close the library. It serves as an integral part of our community and it's closing will negatively pact those who might not have easy access to the Lee road branch. Our school was taken, please leave us our beloved library. A community cannot survive on just retail establishments. A community must have a nonprofit community access for the soul and spirit to survive.”

“The Coventry Library is an integral part of the neighborhood.  With the loss of the Coventry a School, the library has an even more important role as a center for Coventry Village. Closing the library on Fridays shuts an important gathering place on the very day that people begin to relax and gather for the upcoming weekend.  If statistics show that the branch is "underused" then innovative programming may be the way to make the building more useful.”

“Please reconsider this decision.”

"I live within walking distance to the library and use it 3-4 times a week.  It is a hardship for me personally, to have the thriving Coventry library closed Sundays and now Fridays.  This is a walking neighborhood - lots of foot traffic - and the Coventry Library is an important part of the life of Coventry Village. I am upset that this action was done without citizen input or notification.  Please reconsider and balance the libraries in other ways. Thank you."

“The shorter hours at this branch will only lessen circulation, thus making additional cuts more feasible. While looking at foot traffic at this location, I would urge you to also consider voting records in this area. This is a pro education/library area.”

“Please keep the Coventry branch open on Fridays.”

“The Coventry Library is an integral part of the neighborhood.  The Board should have provided opportunities for public input before reaching their decision. My hope is that the Board will delay the Friday closings and allow residents and taxpayers to share their thoughts about  potential steps to maintain the library as a vital and accessible community asset.”

“Closing the library on Fridays will disenfranchise those who currently use it. There are many of us who have voted for every library levy in the past. However, if this decision that was made in a vacuum is not reconsidered, or at least explained to our satisfaction, we will have to reconsider our support on future levies.  The library board works for the citizens of CH and UH, and it must be transparent in every move that it makes.”

“I have enjoyed the use of Coventry Branch Library for the 32 years we have lived on Derbyshire----and also when we lived on Maplewood.  Part of that time the library was closed and it was such a great loss to this part of Cleveland Hts. What I like about this branch, besides it's cozy and welcoming building, is the easily usable space and the helpful staff. Ben has been my savior many times in ordering hard to find books and even how to use the automatic check-out. I know the library being closed only one more day may not seem like much, but it is to those who make stopping at the library on Fridays their habit-----like me. Please re-consider this decision. Certainly the taxes we pay here in Cleveland Hts. can cover this relatively small expense.”

“The neighborhood keeps getting hit with closings that impact the quality of life. First the school and now the library. It's a slippery slope. Please be mindful of your decisions.”

“There was NO community discussion about this. Typical library decision making. First a stupid bridge over Lee Road and now closing a great library. I really wonder about who is running this place!”

“We need Library system leadership that works for the *whole community*, not just the more suburban areas.”

"This library is integral to the fabric of the Coventry business district and nearby neighborhoods.  Please reconsider closing on Fridays and let’s find a better remedy for the larger financial shortfall and/or lack of patronage at this particular location. Thanks! "

“As a student, it’s a nice place to study away from Case. The hours are just so terrible it’s hard for me to go.”

“This is a wonderful library, and should be kept open at least 6 days a week, as it is a vital part of the neighborhood. Thank you.”

"I use the Coventry Library regularly for over thirty years. I just like it.  It is well run and people are very helpful."

"I would like to express my utter and utmost indignation with your decision to close Coventry Library Branch on Fridays.  This is an extremely popular Branch that serves diverse community, including schoolchildren who often need reading materials on Fridays after school.  The decision to close this Branch on Fridays (in addition to the existing Sunday closure) will have a long reaching negative effect on your Library System.   You only have to look at the CHUH school district to see a devastating outcome of social engineering and politically motivated decisions on once award-winning establishment.  Lastly, I must add that these sentiments are shared by all my friends and neighbors at Cedar and Fairmount and Coventry districts of Cleveland Heights.”

“I live in Cleveland Heights and support the libraries!”

“One neighborhood's library should not have to suffer decreased hours at the expense of another neighborhood's library.”

“Coventry is my main library.I think it is unfair to close my branch to benefit another branch.”

“What will be next to suffer - after the removal of most useful reference materials from Noble - the unnecessary rebuilding of both the main and the Noble branch - will we see the removal of books from the main library and the installation of computers instead - we could then do without librarians altogether.”

"From the board's comments, it appears as if library hours are treated as a zero-sum resource within the overall library budget, where increments to one branch must result in decrements to another branch.  There is also a heavy reliance on circulation numbers as a proxy for the vibrancy of a particular location. However, it would be more accurate to recognize that each branch location has a unique constituency and utilization pattern that is disrupted by closure and the resulting odd-hours/schedule.  Further, circulation numbers alone can't provide a complete and accurate measure of the impact of changes to the availability of branch's resources and facilities on the surrounding community."

“Cleveland Heights Libraries are a star of the community.  However, in order to continue in the way, we need to insure that ALL of the libraries are available to local residents.”

“We are proud life members of the friends of the Cleveland Heights University Heights library. Please consider reinstating Friday hours at the Coventry branch of the library.This branch serves many senior citizens and others within walking distance.”

“As a former staff member at Coventry library, I know how important and responsive this branch is to the community every day of the week. I further agree that while making decisions about how to offer the most service the most people can be difficult, a different solution with less direct impact on Coventry Village can be found. In fact, Coventry is wise place to invest because, as the smallest branch, small improvements there make the most difference. “

“Please keep the library open on Fridays.”

“The Coventry branch is too important an asset to this neighborhood to be closed on Friday.”

“The Coventry Library is one of our area's greatest assets, and I am strongly opposed to  cutting its availability.”

"I have lived behind the Coventry Library for over 30 years. My daughters grew up in that building with programming for children. It was the first place I let my then 6 year old walk to by herself. When she arrived and was leaving, the librarian would call me to let me know. I've attended workshops and lectures and done research in the building. It is a community center for many. It also has the latest releases of books and movies and the staff is most helpful. Please re-consider your decision. Thank you."

“We own three properties in Cleveland Heights, and we lived and raised our children in the Coventry area.  That was our library, and it is an integral part of the community.  The closing of Coventry School has been a real deficit for the community, and I do not want to see the library closing on Fridays adding to the "Things we moved here for and now miss" list.”

“I use the library at least twice a week and consider it a neighborhood treasure.”

“If you want to open the University Heights branch on Sunday why don't you close it on Monday, that would be equitable.”

“The library significantly enhances the quality of life in our neighborhood.  Even if it has fewer patrons compared to other branches, that doesn't make its services any less vital to those who rely on regular access to it.  I urge the CHUH Library Board to reconsider its decision and look for alternatives that will keep our library open and thriving.”

“Go to this facility about 2 times a week.  Enjoy the CWRU programs and author talks sponsored by the library. Easy to borrow and return items here.”

"My favorite library location, small, charming, and yet  has a great selection of books and DVDs. Staff helpful, if they don't have it they will get it. A definite plus to the neighborhood. Keep it full time.”

“The Coventry library is an important part of our community.  It is used not only by students after school but a lot of adults frequent this library, weekdays and weekends.  It does not seem right to limit the hours this branch is open just to keep another one open more hours.  Since there is the need for various branches to have more hours, perhaps the library board could address that, but do not lessen the hours/days the Coventry branch is open.”

“I am very disappointed in the way this decision was made. I am a frequent user of this library.  The computers are usually all in use when I visit in the later afternoon or evening.  The Coventry library has a high number of users who do not own automobiles. The Coventry library does not even have a parking lot!  It is much more difficult for these patrons to get to the Lee Rd library than others who own cars.  The Coventry library also has materials which are used by the deaf community and Russian language speakers.  This decision makes these collections only available for use 5 days a week. A major reason the patrons of the UH branch want Sunday hours is religious.  This could have been accommodated by switching the Saturday hours to Sunday.”

“The times and hours of this branch were already inconvenient. Perhaps that is why usage in circulation has declined. We would normally and preferably use this branch to browse, place holds etc. but your hours are ever more restrictive over the years. I guess the best, yet least attractive option will be electronic reading - what a shame!”

“This is the only branch I use in the Heights. I guess it will be Brecksville near work now as weekends are my time to pick up new reading material and of course Sunday is always gone now too!”

 “Perhaps the Community should be contacted for input or at least notified of budget restraints/cuts resulting in such an impact on the neighborhood. This was handled poorly at best, and it is this kind of arrogance that people react to when asked to support tax and school issues. Bad form.”

“This library is an important part of our neighborhood. Please keep it open on Fridays.”

"Dear CHUH Board of Directors, I and my neighbors and friends at the Musicians Towers are asking, beggin and imploring you to keep Coventry Village Library opn on Fridays. We are the people of the Book. Library is our second home. Most of the people at our building are old, disable and don't have cars. Please, listen to us and act accordingly. Thank you. Eugenia Vainberg and friends at Musicians Towers, 2727 Lancashire Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH, 44106."

“The Coventry Library is an valuable asset  in the Coventry Village neighborhood. It is an important anchor to the commercial district as well as the surrounding residential community. We need to have it open 7 days a week, especially on Friday. Please find a way to open the doors.”

"The Coventry Village Special Improvement District is committed to supporting CHUH and the Coventry branch.  The CVSID is happy to reach out to merchants for their support in programming, marketing or any other areas where we can collectively assist. Angela Hetrick, Executive Director, Coventry Village Special Improvement District"

”The kids in the area don't have many places to go as it is . Lets not take this away, too.”

“I have had a child go to school at Coventry.. Roxboro and Heights.  She  is now 21. So we have used coventry branch for a long time and actually go to Coventry..  It is always busy.  Especially computer use and checking out books and audio/video..  As of lately this branch has actually shown care and organization and a lot of growth and orderliness..  I think it would be a huge loss to the community for sure students and elderly. Please just keep the old hours. Thank You”

"To the members of the CHUH Library Board, Since 1975 I have lived in and been a part of the unique community that is Coventry Village and to me, one of the most integral aspects of what has made this community so special has been role that the Coventry Library has played in being part of this community and in attempting to meet its diverse needs. The Coventry Library has a rich history which includes being part of the building that housed the Theater of the Deaf, which brought the deaf and the speaking community together in a unique presentation of sign language and the spoken word to an audience that combined both elements as well. When the Theater of the Deaf was discontinued, the Coventry Library, through some extraordinary efforts of its staff, became a central meeting and programming place for the deaf community, efforts which have continued down through the years and the changing staff. I had the  opportunity to be involved as a volunteer in a number of different ways during the 70's and 80's, including the wonderful experience of playing Santa Clause to a group of deaf children. And always present during those and the ensuing years were the friendships of the staff that has made my experience at the Coventry library so enriching and special. When the Library Board announced that they were adding a day of service to another branch of  the CHUH library system at the expense of the Coventry library branch, which would be closed an extra day because it had less business than the other branch, I was appalled. I was appalled not only that the library board thought so little of the richness of  what the Coventry library has brought to its community, but also the cavalier way in which the needs of the community were being dismissed as irrelevant, in comparison to meeting the requirements of some numerical bottom line. I feel that this decision, and the casual way that it was presented to the Coventry Village community was both demeaning to the Coventry Library and to the community which it serves. I feel that the Coventry library, its staff, and we, the community it serves, deserve better."

"Please don't marginalize our library. Let's continue to keep it open full time.”

“The Coventry Village area and its library are unquestionably one of the jewels of Cleveland Hts. so let's not take a step backwards.”

“A local library does much to build and support community. Our community has suffered following the closing of Coventry School, please don't take our library.”

“The library provides a vital service to the neighborhood and Fridays is one of the better days to access its resources!”

"Must we see our city die by degrees?" Jacqueline Kennedy

"Decisions such as the one to close Coventry library Fridays tend to lower public morale and probably in the long run cost the community more rather than less. Why not ring in creative thought about library-sponsored events that would bring in extra revenue?  We could enliven the neighborhood rather than depress its spirits if we decide to do so."

“The Coventry Library is an important neighborhood resource that many people in the neighborhood depend upon.”

“The Coventry Village branch library provides a valuable resource for the surrounding neighborhood. Closing it on Fridays creates an undue burden on those that utilize it on a regular basis. It is also disturbing that the board made its decision to close without allowing public comment.”

“Consider re opening Fridays by limiting hours on Mondays.”

“The Coventry library and peace park are the centers of our local community -- gathering places for indoor and outdoor activities and meetings. The library is a warm friendly place served by an outstanding staff. Any reduction in service is another blow to our community.”

“I almost exclusively use the Coventry Library due to the proximity to my house.  Would hate to stop walking to the library and have to drive to the main library - not very Cleveland Heights like!”

"The board has the tough task of balancing budgets, which is appreciated and necessary. In diminishing the library hours at the Coventry branch, the light that the library represents to the neighborhood is dimmed.  Shorter hours means fewer hours and a negative cycle ensues. Please re-balance the budget in a way that allows the branch to stay open."