East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1958-12-25
Solve School
Library Issue
mporari|y

Library services will continue
uninterrupted in the E a t
Cleveland Public Schools. This
has been agreed to by the Board
of Education and the East
Cleveland Public Library. But
the cost of the operation is to
be paid for, for the time being
at least, out OF the property tax
receipts of the school board in
stead of from the intangible tax
receipts of the library board.
This change in traditional
financial pattern for public
school libraries dates back to
June II, 1858. On that date a
Ross County court d e C S o n
questioned the legality of the
maintenance Of school Libraries
by and at the expense of the
public library system.
Up to this time, school librar-
les have been maintained on a
program whereby the library
board provided the personel and
the books, and the school board
provided proper quarters.
The decision placed both
school and library boards in a
somewhat precarious situation.
Public libraries had the school
library money in their budget.
School boards, never having
needed it, had neither money al
located for the service. nor the
means of getting it.
At an adjourned meeting Of
the East Cleveland Board of
Edu"ation Saturday, December
20th, attended also oy the Ii
brary trustees, the schoo' board
voted to enter into a temporary
agreement with the library
board by which the library will
act as agent for the school
board in the operation of the
school Libraries.
This agreement, awaiting ap-
proval of Law Director Stanley
Webster, would be operative for
no. less than six months, could
be cancelled on 80 day notice,
and will carry charges based on
$4,000 annual estimated cost
to the library board for the
service.
In order to get as clear a per-
spective of this new situation as
quickly as possible, the school
board is requesting monthly per
library statements.
Libraries are being operated
in Shaw High, Kirk Junior
High, Rozelle and Prospect Ele-
mentary Schools. Other ele-
mentary schools are serviced
through the Caledonia, or North
Branches. Miss Sarah E. Miller,
librarian, reported they have
over $4,000 books in the school
libraries.
John Walworth, president of
the Public Library board of
trustees, explained their budget.
He said the 1859 budget called
for $228,730.00, including the
school library services. They
were allotted only 1900 by
the County Budget Commission.
Even counting the anticipated
$3.50 from fines, and $4,000
from the school board, they will
still be about $4,000 short.
Compared with equal qualifi-
cations, local library staff are
paid less in salaries than local
public school educational staff.
This, said Miss Miller is MAX
ing it difficult for them to hire
trained librarians.
Library trustees present in
clude Mr.. Walworth, Miss Eliz-
abeth c. m pb IL, secretary,
Hamilton Beatty, and John H.
Woehrman. School board men,
bers present were Richard Cot
tron, Robert Henderson, Mrs.
Marie Madison, with DR.. c. ].
Korb, superintendent, N. F..
Leist, assistant to the super
intendent, and Mrs. Ruth NORM,
clerk-treasurer.
Commenting on the library's
action in keeping the school Ii
braries open September through
December, Mr.. Walworth stated
the trustees felt the people of
East Cleveland would back
them up in this action, regard
less Of the fact that they might
be disobeying the new ruling.
They had the money in their
budget since they carried school
libraries as part of their over
all operation. "We feel the
school libraries must be kept
open" he declared.
DR.. Korb pointed out that the
school district would need one
third additional mill to carry
this extra load. Also, the dis
trict does not vote again until
1860, and DR.. Korb indicated
some services might have to be
cut.
East Cleveland School Dis
trict has one of the lowest tax
rate IN the county, 12.1 outside
the limitation, and AZ within.
The question will come up at
the regular January 5th meet
ing of the school board.
The Junior and Senior High
groups of the Phillips Avenue