Summary
- Cleveland Public Library (CPL) was recognized as a 2026 Ohio Inclusive Employer for its commitment to inclusive hiring and employment practices that expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
- CPL’s circulation increased by 18% so far in 2026, reflecting increased borrowing across the library system. While digital materials account for a little over half of CPL’s circulation, physical books remain popular.
- The CPL Board of Trustees approved an AI governance policy. The policy will guide how AI is used in library operations and could be reviewed and amended quarterly as technology changes. The library also established an AI Futures Council so that employee perspectives can be incorporated into these future decisions.
Follow-up questions
- How will the library identify or select first-time or emerging authors for the Open Shelf Press program? What will that process look like?
- What factors potentially drove the 18% increase in circulation this year, and what could CPL do or implement to continue the upward trend?
- What specific uses of AI will the library allow or restrict for employees?
Cleveland Public Library AI policy
- Board approved CPL’s AI governance policy, effective Oct. 16.
- Policy addresses role of AI in library operations.
- Library admin directed to develop procedures for implementation.
- Chief Innovation and Technology Officer John Malcolm: “As we know, AI has always been in the DNA of technology since the beginning, and now since it’s been a consumer-level access, we — and as is best practices — should be having a policy. This policy is not set in stone. This policy should be living, and it should be regularly reviewed.”
- CPL established an AI Futures Council, which includes:
- Non-IT employees.
- IT staff that serve as facilitators.
- It’s intended to incorporate staff perspectives into decisions about AI.
- Board Member Melanie Shakarian thanked leadership for considering both staff and patrons.
- “I just want to compliment library leadership on the creation of the AI Futures Council, which ensures that staff voice and the patron experience is incorporated into how we continue to look at how AI is experienced here. So, thank you.”
- The policy could be reviewed and amended quarterly.
Cleveland library board honors Venerine Branham
- CEO Felton Thomas Jr. reflected on his relationship with former trustee Venerine Branham, who passed away in September.
- Thomas said Branham served on the board when he was hired.
- He said she was kind of a “Cleveland mother” for him and was always offering advice.
- He recalled talking about state funding and some political challenges with her shortly before she passed.
- Quote from Branham that Thomas recalled: “Stop your whining. 95 years old, and I’ve seen many, many worse periods of time in this country than the period that we’re going through right now.”
- Board approved a resolution honoring Branham.
- She served on CPL’s board of trustees from 1994-2008.
- Served as board vice president in 1997 and president from 1998-2003.
- Worked as educator and administrator in Cleveland Public Schools.
- Advocated for educational equity.
- Board Member Thomas Corrigan quoting the resolution: “She was a fierce and uncompromising advocate for systemic educational equity, driven by a personal pledge to ensure that Black students and faculty on Cleveland’s East Side received the same high-quality materials, staffing, and resources as schools on the West Side.”
- Helped guide the library through funding and development decisions.
- Supported the passage of tax levies in 2003 and 2008.
- Resolution also included a statement from Branham: “No man or woman stands by themselves, but stands with others sharing common goals to give the best service to the people of this community.”
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New publishing program coming to library
- Board approved redesignating remaining balances from one trust and one estate for CPL’s arts and culture department.
- Grace S. Brody Trust: $396,359.66.
- Eleanor Dolores Santos Estate: $87,621.86.
- Total: $483,981.52.
- Remaining funds will help support the establishment of Open Shelf Press.
- Board approved establishing Open Shelf Press.
- Will operate as a CPL publishing imprint.
- Will support, develop, and celebrate the region’s rich literary landscape by supporting first-time and emerging authors within Cuyahoga County.
- The chief of special projects and collections (or a designee) will develop policies and procedures for board approval.
- Corrigan: “The transfer of the funds from these two great ladies is part of what’s helping the Open Shelf Press get started.”
Cleveland Library circulation increasing
- Library circulation increased by 18% so far this year, per Corrigan.
- Grace S. Brody Trust: $396,359.66.
- Eleanor Dolores Santos Estate: $87,621.86.
- Total: $483,981.52.
- Corrigan said circulation could increase by 50% as new and renovated branches open.
- Thomas talked about print and digital borrowing.
- Seattle/King County: approximately 79% non-print circulation.
- Los Angeles County: approximately. 72% non-print circulation,
- CPL: just above 50% non-print circulation.
- Thomas: “Very few libraries, large libraries, are like us. Many of them are definitely in the 60s and 70s percent, so it’s great that our tradition still is folks are coming in and getting print titles and checking them out.”
There’s more: Read the full notes from this meeting by Documenter Kaitlin Bender-Thomas. They include details about CPL’s recognition as a 2026 Ohio Inclusive Employer, updates about new branch projects, and success stories about the Main Library’s TechCentral.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
