Welcome back!
On July 6, 2020, we re-opened our branches for public access. In conjunction with the re-opening announcement, curbside service was expanded to 14 additional branches, ensuring that all 27 CCPL branches would offer either curbside or drive-through as an option for any county resident not comfortable entering our buildings. Critically, the Library’s reopening meant county residents could once again access public computer stations and the Internet, and document services (i.e., printing, copying, faxing).
Read Aloud with CCPL
We launched “Read Aloud with CCPL” virtual storytimes on Facebook Monday through Saturday as a way to engage and stay connected with our loyal storytime families. All of the books featured in our “Read Aloud with CCPL” videos were used with the permission of publishers.
Supporting solutions journalism
In October, we launched a collaboration with the Northeast Ohio Solutions Journalism Collaborative (NEO SoJo), a team of Greater Cleveland news outlets dedicated to targeting one issue — how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting communities — and spotlighting solutions. The grant-funded collaborative is led by former Plain Dealer chief editorial writer Sharon Broussard and reporter Conor Morris. Some of the stories published in 2020 covered where to apply for help as utility bill moratoriums expire in NE Ohio, a westside hotel that is giving the homeless a safe place to stay during the pandemic, and how some local manufacturers have adapted their businesses during the pandemic to preserve jobs.
Flourish with Chef Rocco Whalen
In September, the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation hosted Flourish, an online fundraising event with CCPL culinary literacy ambassador Chef Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit. This unique and delicious event raised more than $90,000 in support of youth literacy initiatives.
The most borrowed books of 2020
For the second year in a row, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was the most borrowed adult title from Cuyahoga County Public Library. Tara Westover’s memoir, Educated, claimed the second spot on the list ahead of her May 6 virtual visit as part of the William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series. The 2017 novel Little Fires Everywhere, by Shaker Heights native Celeste Ng, surged to number three following the release of this year’s Hulu series based on the book.