Library Novelties

posted by Anne Jordan

This is part of a series of reflections on a conference I attended May 4 & 5 in Cleveland: "The Changing Face of Cities," organized by the Urban Libraries Council.

During a tour of Cleveland neighborhoods, we stopped by the campus of Cleveland State University to visit the "Library Connection Lounge." Last fall, CSU's library began a partnership with the Cleveland Public Library to offer popular reading materials -- current novels, nonfiction, magazines, newspapers and audio books -- which students and faculty with a CPL card can borrow using a self-checkout station.

Located on the university library's main floor, the comfortable seating area has wireless Internet, furniture that can easily be rearranged, and large-screen plasma TVs running closed-captioned news programming.

The arrangement allow CSU to focus resources on its academic and research collection, while also encouraging students to obtain a public library card in the hope they will continue to use the public library in whatever community they reside after graduation. This year, CPL established similar lounges at both Case Western Reserve and Myers University.

Another noteworthy service CPL offers at its main library downtown is a drive-up window. The teller-style window is open during regular library hours, so customers can pick up pre-requested materials without having to find a parking space. Although still relatively uncommon, several dozen libraries around the country have similar drive-up windows.