Main Library

351 W. Sixth Street
Lorain, Ohio 44052 | 1-800-322-READ | 440-244-1192

“Lorain’s library is a destination for lifelong learning and personal enrichment for all ages. Come in and be dazzled by the possibilities … or visit our website and discover the digital treasures available to those with a library card.”

Valerie Smith Public Services Coordinator

Programming & Services

• Monthly lunchtime local history programs were a big success attracting 30 to 50 people to each program
• Patrons responded in large numbers to programs based on kids media entertainment choices, so it’s no surprise that Frozen Fun and Minecrafters were the biggest family programs of the summer
• Day cares and camps made surprise visits in the summer, including at the Construct-a-Saurus program where they comprised the majority of the 100 participants
• Served over 6,500 families, children and teens through our youth service programs in 2015
• Saw a large increase in Axis 360 and BookFlix use after Megan Anderson and Erika Bobka visited over 400 students to teach them how to use the library’s eMedia resources

Technology

• AV equipment and wiring installed in Toni Morrison Room
• New visual presenter equipment, which is a document camera that displays your material on screen

Remodeling & Improvements

• A glass mosaic mural was installed in the Toni Morrison Room, constructed by over 100 patrons over 10 hours in May
• Tall shelving removed from the reference area so patrons have more seating to work alone on laptops or collaboratively in small groups

Partnerships

• More active in the Lorain City Schools having programs at Garfield Elementary, Larkmoor Elementary, Toni Morrison Elementary, Washington Elementary, General Johnnie Wilson Middle and Lorain High
• Welcomed busloads of children from Lorain Preparatory Academy and Horizon child care
• Took everyone from Lorain Community Elementary on a library tour and discussed Summer Reading
• Partnered with the United Way of Greater Lorain County to have the Lorain County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition offer free tax filing services in our computer training lab
• Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio used our computer training lab for volunteer training

Volunteers

• Adults volunteered for 814 hours
• Teens volunteered for 411 hours
• Friends of the Lorain Public Library, Inc. donated $5,000 to the levy campaign, $1,000 to The Foundation of the Lorain Public Library System, Inc. and awarded three scholarships to library employees

Main Library Statistics

Open Hours

2,900

Library visits

242,434

Library cardholders

23,456*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

936,133

New materials added

16,035

General questions answered

150,800

Reference questions answered

119,028

Computer bookings

67,734

Meeting room bookings

386

Programs offered

520

Program attendance

10,981

Full-time employees

39

Part-time employees

33

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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Avon Branch

37485 Harvest Drive
Avon, OH 44011 | 440-934-4743

“I want everyone in Avon to know that the Avon Branch Library is here for them. And don't forget how far the library extends beyond the building walls. Take advantage of our eLibrary, we'll show you how. Access materials from over 40 CLEVNET libraries, we'll show you how. Come and see what we have for you – you will be amazed!”

Donna Kelly Avon Branch Librarian Supervisor

Programming

• For the second year in a row, we had awesome contributions made to our programming from Avon High School students - the football team participated in Football Reading Buddies, the Tech Club presented a coding class and the Robotics Club presented a robotics demonstration for families
• Staff trained and completed planning for new 2016 programs for families with young children with special needs

Technology

• Public Wi-Fi upgraded

Remodeling

• Added a new read and play cottage and developmental toys in the children’s area
• Restroom renovation
• Installed new energy efficient lighting fixtures in the parking lot
• Parking lot repaved

Volunteers

• Adults volunteered for 285 hours
• Teens volunteered for 440 hours

Thanks to all of the young people who make our teen volunteer program the success that it is!

Avon Branch Statistics

Open Hours

2,815.5

Library visits

93,880

Library cardholders

10,053*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

202,832

New materials added

7,552

General questions answered

21,216

Reference questions answered

15,418

Computer bookings

11,839

Meeting room bookings

111

Programs offered

288

Program attendance

5,648

Full-time employees

3

Part-time employees

9

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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Columbia Branch

13824 W. River Road North
Columbia Station, OH 44028 | 440-236-8751

“It’s been an exciting year for the Columbia Branch. I am continually amazed by what a wonderful community this is and look forward to all of the things that we will accomplish together in 2016.”

Susan Spivey Columbia Branch Librarian Supervisor

Staffing & Hours

• New staff members Monique Sherban and Diane Dalton began in the spring, both bringing innovative ideas for programming and new ways to make our branch more beautiful and inviting
• In November, extended hours on Monday mornings to provide two extra service hours per week

Remodeling

• Thanks to the help from Lorain County and great efforts made by Columbia Township, our flooding issues were resolved in the spring and the branch was renovated in September. Work included:
  • The addition of a swale and other land improvements to prevent future flooding issues.
  • Post-flood building renovation including new carpet, paint and tile in the restroom.
• All of soft seating upholstered and a new chair added to the children’s area

Volunteers

• Adults volunteered for 69 hours
• Teens volunteered for 20 hours
• Thanks to the support from the community, our operating levy passed in May
• The Friends of the Columbia Library, Inc. secured a very generous grant from the Columbia Community Foundation to add a new early learning computer, increase the number of computers available to the public and help support other technology upgrades

Columbia Branch Statistics

Open Hours

2,260

Library visits

38,227

Library cardholders

3,351*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

82,770

New materials added

3,718

General questions answered

16,796

Reference questions answered

13,208

Computer bookings

5,149

Meeting room bookings

59

Programs offered

245

Program attendance

3,444

Full-time employees

2

Part-time employees

6

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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Domonkas Branch

4125 E. Lake Road
Sheffield Lake, OH 44054 | 440-949-7410

“It is always inspiring and a bit surprising to look back over the year and realize what we’ve accomplished. We have been busy providing individual technology support, presenting programs for all age groups, and selecting popular and varied books, audiobooks, movies, music and magazines for our library users. We hope to continue serving the Sheffield Lake community well in the year ahead.”

Pam Coghlan Domonkas Branch Librarian Supervisor

Programming & Events

• For the Sheffield Bicentennial, hosted three programs and were spotlighted by WEOL
• Two new programs initiated – cookbook discussion group and Lakeview Pen writing group
• Presented four how-to programs
• Other fun events were Pi Day with a pie tasting contest, old-fashioned grandparents day, monster mash mini golf, breakfast with Santa and Noon Year’s Eve programs
• Won an award at the Community Days parade

Staffing

• One new assistant hired

Technology

• New patron computer
• New scanner/fax machine
• New phone system

Remodeling

• All patron furniture reupholstered thanks to a generous donation
• New chair in children’s area thanks to a generous donation
• Created new storage room for staff and Friends

Volunteers

• Adults volunteered 297 hours
• Teens volunteered 74 hours
• The Friends of the Domonkas Public Library of the Lorain Public Library System held three book sales
• Thank you to the community members who participated in our strategic planning focus group for Sheffield Lake

Domonkas Branch Statistics

Open Hours

2,607

Library visits

64,678

Library cardholders

6,032*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

126,406

New materials added

4,019

General questions answered

40,118

Reference questions answered

15,184

Computer bookings

16,598

Meeting room bookings

30

Programs offered

230

Program attendance

2,787

Full-time employees

2

Part-time employees

5

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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North Ridgeville Branch

35700 Bainbridge Road
North Ridgeville, OH 44039 | 440-327-8326

“North Ridgeville Branch Library continues to offer a wide variety of programs for all ages, including story times, computer and media classes, book discussion groups, teen crafts, family programs, Sunday programs and science fun. In 2015, we relocated some materials and added meeting space to better meet the current needs of the North Ridgeville community.”

Karen Sigsworth North Ridgeville Branch Librarian Supervisor

Programming & Hours

• On Oct. 7, began opening at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays instead of at noon
• Another successful Sunday program series from January through March, sponsored by The Friends of the North Ridgeville Branch Library, Inc.
• Hosted the North Ridgeville City Schools art exhibit in May
• In November, provided tours for all first graders in the North Ridgeville City Schools

Technology

• Public service computers in the computer lab received hardware upgrades, as well as software upgrades of Microsoft Windows 10 and Office Professional Plus 2016
• Touch-screen technology, to be used for presentations, installed in the newly created meeting room
• DSL service upgraded, including public Wi-Fi

Remodeling

• New state-of-the-art meeting room added for adult library programs so that other meeting areas can be used by more civic groups
• Several book collections relocated to create room for the new meeting room and to make the best use of library floor space
• All fabric seating reupholstered after 12 years of use
• Installed new energy efficient lighting fixtures in the parking lot

Volunteers

• Adults volunteered for 1,002 hours
• Teens volunteered for 164 hours
• Partnered with The Friends of the North Ridgeville Branch Library, Inc. who provided a booth at the Corn Festival in August

North Ridgeville Branch Statistics

Open Hours

3,008

Library visits

179,150

Library cardholders

14,744*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

447,368

New materials added

6,140

General questions answered

88,634

Reference questions answered

47,086

Computer bookings

30,833

Meeting room bookings

397

Programs offered

515

Program attendance

17,282

Full-time employees

6

Part-time employees

15

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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South Lorain Branch

2121 Homewood Drive
Lorain, OH 44055 | 440-277-5672

“Thank you for allowing us to be part of your life for yet another year. We wouldn’t be the community center we are today if it weren’t for your support.”

Cheryl Grizzell South Lorain Branch Librarian Supervisor

Programming

• During 2015, offered largest variety of exercise programs ever, including tai chi, yoga and Zumba®
• Family Fun Time attendance increased fivefold
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day events drew close to 200 people throughout the day
• Halloween Spooktacular, which is an annual community favorite, drew a crowd of over 150 people

Remodeling & Upgrades

• Adult quiet reading room converted into a small meeting room, and patrons constantly tell us how much they appreciate having a room with such a lovely view in which to hold their meetings
• Continue to seek ways to improve children’s department, and during 2015 focused on bringing picture book and easy reader collection up to the high level of quality our community deserves
• New furniture items added to the children’s area, including some playthings and a child-friendly computer table

Hours

• First complete calendar year during which we offered Sunday hours
• Sunday traffic has increased, and patrons are delighted that they are able to utilize our facilities and services on Sundays

South Lorain Branch Statistics

Open Hours

2,374

Library visits

90,880

Library cardholders

6,702*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

130,370

New materials added

5,705

General questions answered

85,254

Reference questions answered

26,208

Computer bookings

28,094

Meeting room bookings

96

Programs offered

215

Program attendance

4,864

Full-time employees

3

Part-time employees

5

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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Outreach

1-800-322-READ | 440-244-1192

“I spent a lot of my time in 2015 working on projects that broaden the reach for children’s services provided by the Lorain Public Library. I want to find the parents that have never thought of the library as a destination and welcome them to a place that can be their family’s second home. The new book truck is going to help us get back out into the community, and we are excited to see where it will take us in 2016!”

Elaine Betting Youth Services and Outreach Librarian Supervisor

Bookmobile

• Bookmobile broken down at the start of 2015, so staff:
  • Began making a few lobby stops using the library’s delivery vans when possible.
  • Added quite a few book drops at preschools to continue providing materials for kids.
  • Transitioned some patrons to Books by Mail service because of qualifying disabilities and lack of transportation.

New Book Truck

• In the fall, new book truck ready to go, with new carts and custom design work on the exterior – plus staff members were ready to get back on the road
• In December, tested a few locations for new lobby stops

Events

• Even with the Bookmobile out of commission, the outreach department still managed to see 14,147 people through lobby stops, community events and parades
• Added outreach programs at Jump at the Sun Early Learning Child Care Center and The Salvation Army

Summer Reading Program

• 319 participants, including local day cares, camps and other organizations
• Over 97 percent of outreach participants finished the entire program and earned the maximum of five prize books to take home for their personal library

Books by Mail

• Over 700 bags of materials were mailed to patrons

Outreach Statistics

Open Hours

20

Library cardholders

2,681*

Materials loaned
(not including eMedia)

25,570

New materials added

1,896

General questions answered

572

Reference questions answered

12,064

Programs offered

56

Program attendance

14,162

*Starting in 2015, this total now excludes those who did not renew their card.

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