Giving Compass' Take:

· Justin Glanville from Ideastream reports that The Cleveland Public Library plans to undergo many changes in the new year, starting with a renovation of all 27 branches. 

· Why is this important? What role do public libraries play in the community? How can donors support public libraries?

· Read more about the role public libraries play in their communities


The Cleveland Public Library celebrated its 150th year in 2019 — and 2020 will be equally eventful, the library's director said.

Perhaps the most visible changes, Director Felton Thomas told ideastream, will come as part of a 10-year project to rebuild or extensively renovate all 27 of its branches.

The first branches to be rebuilt will be Martin Luther King Jr.in University Circle and Hough on the city’s East Side, both expected to break ground in spring or summer 2020.

The Hough branch is almost certain to move to a new location next to League Park, the first home of the Cleveland Indians and now a city park, Thomas said, adding the new building will capitalize on that proximity.

"We have one of the largest collections of material on baseball," he said. "And so we're going to be able to move that collection into [Hough]."

Read the full article about The Cleveland Public Library by Justin Glanville at Ideastream.