Filming of Storytimes for Television

In 1983, Shaker Life (the local television program on Channel 19) videotaped a series of preschool storytimes featuring librarian Kathleen Englehart reading stories to an audience of preschoolers. This was a ‘big production,’ as written permissions had to be obtained from the publisher of each book in order to use it in the taping, and from a parent of each young participant. Sets were designed by someone from the Shaker Life program, and then constructed by the library Maintenance Department with cut paper artwork created by Susan Scheps from the rough drawings. There were three huge sets: a seal, a lion, and a castle tower. Each of the programs was shown several times during the same week, and videotapes were made available for viewing in the library and, when the library had a video collection, for circulation. TV storytimes were a big hit in the Shaker Community. It was like participating in a storytime from your own living room!
Susan Scheps, Children's Services Supervisor

The Children’s Room Addition

Clearly the most important aspect of the Children’s Room addition in the early 1990's was the basement. Where the doors to the garden on the Adult side of Woods Branch are now located, there was a large window in what used to be the Children’s area. From the first day of construction, youngsters visiting the library would immediately run over to plaster hands and faces against that window in order to observe the large steam shovel and the smaller ‘Cat’ machines digging the basement and foundation for the new addition. After the addition was complete, they watched the construction of the garden and its surrounding fence.

I’m not sure who enjoyed the process more – the children watching the big machines at work or the Children’s Department staff watching the children watching the construction.
Susan Scheps, Children's Services Supervisor

Bertram Woods Branch Is a Treasured Library

When the property of Byron Junior High was a cornfield, we used to
drive from our house in University Heights to buy the best sweet corn,
which was sold out of the garage attached to the farmhouse. Then we
moved to Shaker (Belvoir Oval) and I went to school on that same
property. As a young teen who read almost non-stop, I was thrilled to
have a library I could walk to; some days I rode my bike and carried
home a stack of books in the basket. I loved the Bertram Woods Library,
and I spent many hours there looking for books, reading, just enjoying
the building. In the winter we skated on the pond next to the library
building.

Now, all these years later, I take my grandchildren to the Bertram Woods
Library, and it is as welcoming as it was when I first started going
there. Really, Bertram Woods Library is a treasure of Shaker Heights.

Happy Anniversary

Gail Bass Arnoff

25th Anniversary Press

Jane Wood, founding editor of Shaker Magazine (now Shaker Life magazine), wrote to remind us of a story the magazine produced for the 25th anniversary of the Bertram Woods Branch. The story appeared in the July 1985 issue and was written by Eleanor McIlhenny, who noted that in 1984, Bertram Woods Branch circulated "over a quarter of a million books, making it the busiest Branch Library in the County."

The picture in the story, Alice in Wonderland by New York muralists Andrew Karoly and Louis Szanto, was a gift from Society National Bank (now Key Bank). When the branch was refurbished, the painting was moved to the Movies & Music area of Main Library where visitors continue to appreciate it.

Lucille Winston Honors Her Parents' Memories

Lucille Winston wanted to honor the memory of her parents as well as to celebrate their shared love for reading, nature and children. She chose do so by donating funds for the commission of an art glass creation by Al Brickel of Newe Daisterre Glass in Cleveland Heights. The piece was unveiled in April 1996.

According to the artist, "There is more to this tree than meets the eye. It's magical and everyone who looks at it sees something different."

The lovely memorial to Anne and Harry Fraiberg reflects their daughter's love every day of the week when the sun shines though the art glass in the children's room.

Life Review

By Anonymous Bertram Woods Library Patron

I.
I am grateful for librarians,
my ever ready partners, primed for the search.
From Trash to Trollope,
my secrets are safe with them.
I've released my lone grudge
toward the clerk at Return
who announced to me
and the hoard behind
that a book in my possession
on sexually transmitted diseases
was long overdue.

II.
I am grateful for libraries,
constant objects in the span of years.
Memories of tots at Wednesday Story Hour,
our only outing of the day;
of their smiles reflecting in shiny glass cases
that held their special collections
on display in the Children's Room;
of watching them read
at low tables.

III.
I miss the sounds of checkout,
Sh/click sh/click
Sticky tags applied to books;
varnished card catalogue drawers
that moved on gliders
with Rolls Royce precision.

IV.
Now, I call the governor's office
To register my sole small voice
for necessary funds.
I troll the aisles
for monthly choices for
my Short Book Club,
no book over 200 pages.
My Golden Buckeye card
gives me special privileges
on late returns.
Now on Wednesdays
I see other tots
here for Baby Yoga
their mothers,
grateful for librarians.

February 2008