University of Hawaii LIS Alumni Group

Cleveland, OH — The Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Public Library has selected Felton Thomas (December 1993 graduate) as the new director of the library system with its renowned Main Library, a complex of neighborhood branches, and important regional and state-wide computer-based information services. Mr. Thomas presently is Director of Regional Branch Services for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (LVCCLD).

“Mr. Thomas has more than 20 years of service in the library field and is highly regarded as an innovator and a rising star in the library world,” said Board President Alice G. Butts. “We feel very fortunate to have been able to attract him to a great library system where he will lead our efforts to keep pace in a challenging and rapidly changing library environment. His vision for the Cleveland Public Library and inspiration for the future were most compelling.”

Ms. Butts said the selection of Mr. Thomas was made difficult because of the high quality of final candidates Library Trustees interviewed. Each would have made a very good director for the Cleveland system and others had more years of experience than Mr. Thomas. However, Mr. Thomas demonstrated “the highest quality of leadership and innovative approaches to addressing urban public library issues,” said Ms. Butts.

“The library world is changing rapidly with new technologies and demands for information and services. We felt that Mr. Thomas brings the combination of leadership, experience and intellect that will be needed to ensure that Cleveland Public Library maintains its role as a vital institution in our community,” Ms. Butts added.

Mr. Thomas succeeds Andrew Venable Jr., who retired June 30 after 10 years at the helm of the Cleveland Public Library. Mr. Thomas said he was inspired to become a library director years ago after meeting Mr. Venable at a library conference. Mr. Thomas will take the lead of a renowned Main Library, 28 neighborhood branches, the CLEVNET consortium for automation and online services for 30 library systems in nine counties, the federally-assisted Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Ohio Center for the Book, and two mobile libraries.

Reflective of the economic challenges facing other libraries and businesses in Ohio and the entire country, Cleveland Public Library also is experiencing budget reductions. On Thursday, December 18, the Board of Trustees rescinded a 2007 resolution that granted across-the-board increases to all non-bargaining unit library employees. Passed unanimously by the board, this act eliminates a 3% pay increase for 2009. Bargaining unit library employees are not affected by the decision. The current union contracts expire at the end of 2009, with negotiations expected in the Fall of 2009. Budget reduction challenges await the new library director, but the most recent levy passage showed strong local support.

Remarking on the selection, Patrick Losinski, Executive Director of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Chair of the Executive Board of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) said: “I am very glad to see Felton Thomas accede to Cleveland. The ULC is proud of him as a star graduate of our Executive Leadership Institute and we are delighted as the emerging generation of library innovators takes the stage. We welcome him as one of the metropolitan library directors in Ohio. He will bring a fresh perspective and help us shape library policy on a statewide basis.”

Mr. Thomas’ entire career in libraries has been at the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District where he gained attention in the library world with a proven record of success in assuming increasing levels of responsibility. He received a Master’s of Library and Information Science at the University of Hawaii and is a Ph.D. candidate in Managerial Leadership in the Information Profession at Simmons University.

CONTACT: Tena Wilson
Interim Public Relations Administrator
(216) 623-2955
tena.wilson@cpl.org

Helen Wong Smith, Hilo librarian, was selected by the federal agency Institute of Museum and Library Services as a field reviewer for its American Heritage Preservation Grants. Reviewers are selected based on their professional experience in museums, libraries and archives, in addition to their strong understanding of conservation or collection care of objects in these institutions.

Hawaii Public Radio, 11/13/2008

Hawaii State Librarians Being Honored

In September, HPR listeners experienced a perspective on the Kapolei community, courtesy of Kapolei Public Library’s head librarian. Today, Stacie Kanno is being honored as the Public Librarian of the Year by the Friends of the Library of Hawai’i. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa offers a glimpse into line in Hana with another honoree and examines possible budget cuts with Hawaii’s State Librarian.

Stacie Kanno, Irene Pavao and Sherlene Rosario will be honored today, 5:30, at the Hawai’i State Library downtown. Check librarieshawaii.org for more services and information. Consult friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org for opportunities to contribute.

http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/hpr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2649&Itemid=70

Honolulu Advertiser, Saturday, October 25, 2008

BOE approves plan that keeps branches open but reduces staffing

By Loren Moreno
Advertiser Education Writer

The state Board of Education approved a 10 percent budget cut for the Hawai’i State Public Libraries, which could result in curtailed hours of operation, reduced staff and fewer new books.

Please visit http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com for the full story.

In the Honolulu Advertiser October 27, 2008

By Loren Moreno
Advertiser Education Writer

Heavy October rain in Manoa has yet again caused water damage at the University of Hawi’i’s Hamilton Library, this time gushing through three floors, wrecking ceiling tiles and soaking nearly 1,000 books.

Please visit http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com for the full story.

By Mary Vorsino, Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Hawai’i public libraries are seeing far fewer patrons than they did just a few years ago…..
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jul/21/ln/hawaii807210315.html

Hawaii State Public Libraries Data
http://data.gannettnewsservice.com/libraries/library_report.php?FSCKEY=HI0001

Betsy Young and Jane Kurahara, retired school librarians, have been honored by the Honolulu chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League for their efforts to preserve Hawaii’s Japanese internment stories. They were presented with Distinguished Services Awards at the annual JACL luncheon this month. Young is a 1991 alumnus and Kurahara a 1970 alumnus of the University of Hawaii’s Library and Information Science Program. Betsy was a librarian at Liholiho Elementary. Jane was a librarian at Royal Elementary and also served as section administrator for the DOE School Library Services.

As volunteers with the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH), Kurahara and Young helped to uncover a former internment site in Honouliuli several years ago. They were also instrumental in compiling historical information on the World War II Hawaii internees’ experiences for high school students. Binders with this information have been distributed to every public high school in the state.

Jodie Mattos

Mark you calendar!

UH LIS program is going to participate in the Cooperative Reunion
at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference.

June 29 (Sun) 5:30-7:00

Disneyland Hotel
Disneyland Center Ballroom.

Check the conference program for any location changes.

Joseph
LIS Alumni Group

photo credit: Kipapa Kahelahela

Amy Amano, Baron Baroza, Roxanne Campbell, Mary Louise Haraguchi, Peter Harrer, James Heiner, Kipapa Kahelahela, Tracy Latimer, Xuan Thi Manh Le, Jennifer McLaughlin, Minori Oumi, Jacoob Rosen, Whitney Ross, and Emiko Tsang Mui Chung

See also:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/drdrewhonolulu/2121429130/