The Circu-Letter 2006 Issue 1
Making Connections @ the Heart of Our Community
New Director Hired
On January 1, 2006, Michael G. Snyder (Mike) assumed the duties of Louisville Public Library Director. Mike replaced Betsy Ketchum who retired in September of 2005 after 17 years of service to the citizens of this community. Mike has worked in libraries in four states and most recently worked in Cleveland. He is originally from the very small town of Booneville, Kentucky and grew up in the Hamilton-Dayton areas. His wife, Ellen Marie is also a librarian and will be relocating to the community in the very near future."We drove through Louisville over Thanksgiving weekend and knew immediately that this would be a community where we would want to reside," Snyder said. "I have already joined the YMCA and have attended several high school sporting events," he continued. "This is a small but very progressive community and everyone has been warm and cordial as I have made my contacts in the community. When I engaged in an unscheduled 'book chat' with an officer at one of the downtown banks, I knew that I had made the right decision to move to Louisville."
Read more and view a photo of Mike Snyder online.
There will be an official "Meet the Director" day at the library so please watch the library website and the local print media for more information.
Louisville Public Library: Nationally Recognized for Excellence
The citizens of Louisville and Nimishillen Township love their public library! And we have the statistics to prove it!According to a report issued last fall from the Hennen American Public library Ratings (HAPLR) service, the Louisville Public Library ranks in the 97th percentile nationwide in terms of various service indicators. The Hennen Report based its findings on 2003 data that featured such diverse criteria as staff per patron ratio, the frequency of patron visits to the library, the number of library materials in the collection, as well as how much is spent to purchase new library materials (books, magazines, DVDs, etc.)
The Louisville Public Library ranked #46 out of 1,770 public libraries of similar size from across the nation. Other libraries in this category included those serving such Ohio cities as Bexley, North Canton and Rocky River, Twinsburg, and Wickliffe.
"We are very pleased with this news," stated Library Board President Laurie Mickley. "The Board of Trustees has known for some time that the library is one of the best 'family destinations' in town and this report confirms this fact. The Hennen Report is a type of national library report card and we would like to feel that our many valued patrons have just given us an A+ grade. The success of any organization is the result of loyal patrons who use our services, stable funding from the legislature, the dedication and forward thinking of my fellow board members, and a library staff that values teamwork and service above all else. The Hennen Report is proof positive that our renewed committment to serving our patrons is really paying off."
Library Director Mike Snyder, who just began his new duties in early January, remarked that he was most pleased with the findings of the Hennen Report. "This study shows that Louisville really loves its library," Snyder said. "We cannot say enough about the many contributions of recently retired Library Director Betsy Ketchum who developed programs and advocated for libraries for 17 years. We owe her a great deal for helping to bring the library to this point." A copy of the Hennen Report is available online.
Join us for the annual
Read Across America
celebration
Thursday, March 2, 2006
Bring the whole family to the library from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm for refreshments and story time. There will be chances to win prizes and a special visit from the Cat in the Hat.
New Board of Trustees Member
The Louisville Public Library Board welcomes new member, Jay Barton.
Jay Barton has been appointed to the Library Board of Trustees by the Louisville City School Board to serve a seven year term. Mr. Barton is a lifelong Louisville resident who graduated from Louisville High School in 1984. After serving with the Army Reserves and graduating from Kent State University, he passed the Certified Public Accounting exam and currently works at Edwards Accounting, inc. in Louisville.
Mr. Barton is actively involved in the Louisville community serving various organizations. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, reading, and travel. One of his favorite authors is mystery writer Dick Francis, who actually wrote him a hand-written letter. Mr. Barton replaces Dee Nestel who completed her seven-year term as a Board member in December 2005.
The other members of the Louisville Public Library Board include President, Laurie Mickley, Vice-President, Connie Holmes, Secretary John Schumacher, and Board members Linda Berg, Georgeanne McGinnis, and Steve Hornick.
Change for Change Progress Report
The library has asked for patron support in buying a new handicapped-accessible drinking fountain. To date, $200 has been collected toward the goal of $250 in donations. This puts the project at 80% of the goal. We hope that we will soon be at 100%.Purchasing a drinking fountain is the second project in the "Change for Change" program, in which patrons donate toward purchasing an item the library has on its "wish list" of building improvements and service enhancements. The first project was successfully completed with the installation of the outdoor A-V Returns Box.
A donations jar is located at the Circulation Desk.
Thanks to everyone for the contributions to this project that will assist our handicapped patrons!
@ the Library
Have We Got a Deal for You!
Give us your email address and the library will send you:- Courtesy notices
(alerting you that you have items due in 2 days' time.) - Overdue notices
(to help you return items ASAP)
This is a win-win situation for you and the library!
You can avoid having overdue items OR having those fines add up if something does become overdue. The library saves on paper and postage. When you next visit the library, please consider sharing your email address with us and enjoy this convenient service.
(See, it IS a deal!)
Mobile Computer Lab
March 13-16, 2006
The State Library SEO Regional Library Center's mobile computer lab returns to the library. Classes in basic computer skills will be offered on the lab's 10 networked computer stations. The class schedule and sign-up information will be available in early March. Classes are free. Call the library for details at 330-875-1696.
It All Happened Here!
by Janet Hoffman Metzger, Local History Librarian
Starting with this issue of our newsletter, we offer a new column dedicated to the history of our community, its people, places and products. It will highlight information and photos that can be found in our Local History area located on the second floor. We hope you will find it interesting, educational and enlightening.
Ron-L Cottage Restaurant
If your memories of Louisville start after 1969, you will not remember the Ron-L Cottage Restaurant. In its place that year was erected the one-story white brick building which is home to the O.D. Miller Electric Company. But before that, if you went to 1115 W. Main Street, you would have found this restaurant, which had opened under various names since 1950.
Curtis L. and Robert D. Himes began the Himes Dairy Store at this address around 1950. By 1952, they were calling it the himes Restaurant and it operated under that name for about five years. It changed ownership (Herbert Noss) and became the Cottage Drive In Restaurant around 1958 when Darl D. Parker took over. He then sold it to Frank E. Adams, when it became the Ron-L Cottage Restaurant. The restaurant changed hands and name again around 1966 when it was purchased by William C. Johanning and once again became the Cottage Restaurant. The last owner, Earl Boonie, kept this name when he took over around 1968, just a short time before it disappeared forever.
Sadly, Ronald L. Adams (the namesake of the Ron-L) died in 1969 - the same year the O.D. Miller building was constructed - at the young age of 29 years. He had been an assistant Youth Director for the Canton YMCA and a veteran of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Do you have any memories of this business that you would like to share with us? You can contact Janet Metzger at metzgeja@oplin.org
Know It Now!
The Louisville Public Library is open 64 hours per week. Whenever the library is open to the public, we have a highly skilled and well-trained staff to answer your reference or information questions. That's right: a real person on the phone and there are no long series of numbers to press to get assistance. Just dial 330.875.1696 and let us show you what we can do.For those hours that the library is not open, however, you have an online alternative that is the envy of the entire nation. KnowItNow is a 24 x 7 Internet reference service that you can access from the comfort of your office or home study room. To access KnowItNow, simply click above and place your request for information (or click on the link on our homepage)... any time of the day or night. On nights and weekends, you will be connected to subject specialist librarians who actually reside and work in Ohio.
This unique service is sponsored by the State Library of Ohio and the Louisville Public Library!
The motto of KnowItNow is right on target:
- Real Information
- Real Time
- Real People
- Real Easy
Friends of the Library
At their annual meeting in January, the following officers were elected for 2006: Norma Paquelet, PresidentKurt Nestel, Vice President
Erika Berg, Secretary
Nancy Myers, Treasurer
- A tentative date of July 17-21 was set for the 2006 used book sale.
- Mary Louise Lowe is the winner of the gift basket and Borders gift certificate prize in the 2006 membership drive.
- Eight new members joined during the promotion.
