May 15: Board of Trustees, Cleveland Public Library
Covered by Documenters Annie Maglicic (notes) and Stephanie Manning (notes)
The May 15 meeting of Cleveland Public Library’s board of trustees was in part a celebration of the 156-year-old library system’s accomplishments in technology.
A federal official once called CPL “the O.G.s in technology,” said Executive Director Felton Thomas, Jr. “And I was like, did you really mean the original gangsters of technology? And they were like ‘Yeah that’s what we meant.’”
The compliment referred to the library’s work since establishing the TechCentral public access hub in 2012.
Felton shared the anecdote after presentations about the library’s continued efforts to make a wide range of modern tools available to all Clevelanders, especially young people.
“We are well on our way to becoming [the library of the future] and leading this nation,” said John Malcolm, the chief innovation and technology officer. “I know we’re on the right track because I’m getting calls. We have other libraries coming to CPL to see what we’re doing.”
Cleveland Documenters Annie Maglicic and Stephanie Manning have more from the May 15 Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, including:
- Student contest winners
- CPL, “Metropolis Library” in the new Superman movie, will have programming to celebrate the release of the movie this July.
Highlights from the presentations
TechCentral: The public access tech hub in the Main Library’s Louis Stokes Wing reopened on May 10 after several months of renovations. The space provides literacy classes and one-on-one assistance by appointment. The hub’s expanded makerspace — eight times its previous size — offers laser engraving and cutting; embroidery and sewing machines; photography, videography and graphic design software; and a recording studio and a video wall that will feature digital art and weather information.
“We’ve always wanted to expand [since opening in 2012] and we finally got that opportunity,” said Suzi Perez, TechCentral manager.
Studio 525: This STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program, based in the Louis Stokes Wing of the main branch, encourages teens to learn about technology through gaming. (Malcolm said that video games were his introduction to tech and led to his career in IT.)
Manager Joel Lefkowitz said that more than 30 kids are visiting per day for the 3D printing, driving simulator and classes on Raspberry Pi, a device for building custom computers.
Malcolm said that his staff plans to bring these services to neighborhood branches too, in part through …
TechXpress Studio on the Go: TechXPress Studio is a modular van designed to bring tech programs to other libraries, rec centers and senior centers.
FarmBot: This collaboration with Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and the Rid-All Green Partnership allows students to plant, care for and harvest crops through three automated systems, one at the main branch and two at Rid-All in the Kinsman neighborhood. The food that’s grown will be used in the schools.
Find the full presentation here.
In-house IT a success
Malcolm also touted the day-to-day work of the library’s IT department, which was established three years ago. CPL previously relied on CLEVNET, which serves 47 library systems across Northeast Ohio, for its IT support.
Since 2022, the department has replaced or upgraded more than 600 computers; handled more than 2,000 requests for help; and upgraded the internet speed at all branches and offices to 10 times what it was, to name just a few accomplishments.
“If you come over to the Lakeshore office where we all sit, you will see a wall full of certifications because we believe in continual training,” Malcolm said.
