Submitted By: Patrick Manning

When my family moved to Rocky River in the early 1970’s, one of the best amenities to me was the proximity of our new house to the library. The Rocky River Library became my neighborhood hub, a place to visit in the summer, in winter, throughout the year.

Miss Folsom, the children’s librarian, patiently answered a boy’s questions about dozens of fiction and nonfiction books, and led me to discover the Haunted Spy, Alvin Fernald, the Great Brain, the Mad Scientists’ Club, and countless other great characters. Year after year, the library would have wonderful summer reading contests for us. One year, it was trying to figure out the outlines of world countries cut out of construction paper; another year it was guessing the identities of famous historical personalities, their photos posted high up, all along the children’s room wall.

Back in the 1970’s, children were not necessarily at ease in the adult section. One librarian, one whose name eludes me, but whose mutton chop sideburns and thick glasses remain indelibly etched in my mind, helped ,me discover the rest of the library’s collection, always ready to help this curious reader to books on ships and the navy, woodworking, history, bridge engineering, horror movies, biographies, and  many other topics.

Other things I’ll remember: the Schlather Room, with it’s plush red chairs and fancy rugs, and absolute quiet; the copy machine that had a room to itself on the first floor; the 1973 renovation that relocated the stairs and opened up the whole second floor to the children; even the gigantic mounds of snow piled in the southwest corner of the parking lot, providing hours of “king of the hill” fun (even if this was not an official sanctioned library program).

The magnificent example of the Rocky River Public Library provided me with two invaluable things during the 17 years I lived in Rocky River: the yardstick by which I’ll measure all libraries encountered through the rest of my days, and the foundations of my careers, inspiring me to become a librarian

Patrick Manning

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Submitted by: Anonymous Patron | March 24, 2008

I was married in 1959 and lived in Lorain, Ohio. In the late 1960s and early 1970s I was in graduate school at Cleveland State and I came to this library to study. I had a favorite nook where I always sat. I was a kindergarten teacher then. I could only do pleasure reading on the school vacations.

For five years I was the “story lady” on our school television station for a show called “The Kids Korner.” The public could tune in and hear a story read to children. I would often get books here to use for those segments. Once in a while, the staff here would find a book with a twist, perhaps something that would repeat nicely, and make a good read-aloud.

Before moving to Rocky River (in 1998) from Lorain, my husband and I used to come here to visit my son. (We have 5 children and 8 grandchildren). We are retired and had some time to do what we like. On our visits we would stop by the library. We were so impressed! We obtained cards and took items out, and had another excuse to come back to return the books we checked out. The library has that courtesy service so that I could return books in Lorain as well. Once in a while we attended a music program or a travelogue type of program.

I really love to read. I like the puzzle type of mysteries and current fiction. I usually have a hold list of 15 items so I am in here all the time. Your staff does a lot of things to help me get my books. I have even had them make a special note on my card that allows my husband Tom or my son Tom to pick up my holds. Speaking of holds, one thing that I love here is that I can reserve a book 60 days ahead of its arrival in the building. You are assured of your place in line. The library calls a lot to inform of me of my holds. My husband says “Your friend and mine called today.” They know my voice on the phone too! After I say hello they say, “Oh hi, Magdalene!”

We bring our grandchildren in whenever we can. Our youngest one, seven-year-old Mark, lives in Canton comes in on the weekend. He likes to play in the puppet show stage that looks like the library building. He can say things as a puppet that he wouldn’t normally say. He likes the computer games and the globe. He finds different countries. He can check out books and still get them back before they are due.

The library is a big part of our daily life. We have a routine: we go to the recreation center, then to the library, then to church, then lunch. The staff is always making us feel a part of the library. They kid around with us and check to see if we have books on the hold shelf every time we walk in the door. The other day I came to pick up 4 holds and then I picked up 4 new seven-day books. They knew I could read them and get them back on time.

They do little extra things. If I call, they will let me know if certain library publications are here yet, like the Book Pages or Between the Covers. They offered to put the newest Between the Covers in the book that I was picking up at the drive thru. They also know what kind of books I like and when they see a new one has been published they will check with me and make sure I know it is coming so that I can reserve it. We don’t have a computer but I am planning on taking classes at the library. Right now, the catalog computer at the library is the only one I need to know how to use so that I can get my books.
My husband likes to read the out of town newspapers and magazines. He used to do stained glass work and he could get the expensive specialty magazines here that he wouldn’t really want to have come to the house.

Even the Director recognizes me as a frequent customer and says hi. I see different librarians and they are all pleasant and helpful. I love the circulation staff too. I always bring them candy at Christmas time so that they know how important they are to me.
Sincerely,

Rocky River Resident

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Submitted by: Elizabeth Andorfer | March 20, 2008

I think Rocky River Public Library is a special place for me. I enjoyed talking my nieces there.
The librarians where great with story hour and the children enjoyed them all. Mrs. Connelly was a great help and joy to the children. Also, everyone was just so wonderful. I just want to thank everyone for giving us such joy with your books, toys and all the great times we shared. - Thank you

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Submitted by: Diane Beer | March 20, 2008

My sister and I spent a lot of time at the library during our summer vacations in the late 1970's. There were many reasons we liked the library, not the least of which being welcome respite that the air conditioned comfort of the library provided from our steamy home. We enjoyed participating in the children's summer reading program and watching movies that were shown in the auditorium. We particularly looked forward to "Paddle to the Sea" pr "Stuart Little" being shown. What a great way for two girls to spend the summer!

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Submitted by: Rebecca McFarland | March 19, 2008

I began my career with the Rocky River Library in 1974. Mr. Scherma was director and I was glad for the job as a paraprofessional librarian. My desk was in the business reference area and my responsibilities included being in charge of the page staff, payroll, vertical file and outreach to shut-ins. All for a whopping $6000 salary! In my tenure we saw music arriving on CD format; some of us thought they'd never catch on! Of course, computers changed the library world most dramatically and some cried when the wooden card catalog was removed forever!

Our staff was terrific. We worked together like a well-oiled machine. Miss Wilder would come in every now and then and we'd all sit up a little straighter as she spoke about the changes she had seen. Mrs. Macbeth (Donald, Jr.) also visited and remembered her friendship with Mrs. Schlather. Having them come by made us all appreciate the heritage that has been so closely linked between the city and the library!

I remember when the two pine trees were planted in the north lawn in memory of Betty Volk. She was an illustrator who created the posters for the library. She also had a very popular column with the Cleveland Press and ran the library's "Leisure Time Club."

Rocky River Library has a great history and it's still a showcase for the city. Congratulations on the 80th anniversary!

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Submitted by: Davidson | March 10, 2008

Excellent Service from staff.

- Mr Scherma, the director, always impressed me.

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Submitted by: Beverly Smith | March 10, 2008

Reminiscences of the Rocky River Public Library,

I remember there were big trees surrounding the library and I also remember the rose garden with its sundial in the back of the library at the southwest corner. The garden was well tended, full of fragrance and color, a quiet haven, a “secret garden.” There were sidewalks across the wide grassy area surrounding the library, like a college campus.

The library had huge arched windows which gave light and brightness to the interior of the library. You could see the sky. As a neighborhood child, I used the back door, which is no longer open to the public. This entrance opened onto the main floor front desk. The front desk, at that time, was underneath the clock on the main floor beneath the second floor office of Miss Wilder, the head librarian. All this faced the front entrance. There were many card files, because it was before the computer age. There was a card for every book in the library. When you learned how to use those cards ---you had the key that opened the world of the library for you!

I remember the fireplace in the small room (now the business reference room), which was behind the large children’s reading area. There were only two sides to the library, children’s on the east side and adult on the west side. This was divided by the large front desk and well monitored by the librarians.
Sometimes there was a “story time” in the basement, in a large carpeted room. We sat on the floor and would hear Miss Hathaway read stories that made our imaginations fly. There was a summer reading club, where you recorded every book you read. It was a fun place to be and still is!

When I was a youngster, Miss Wilder was head librarian. She ran a “tight ship.” We were taught to be quiet in the library (whispers only), how to properly turn the pages in a book, and to NEVER bring a bottle of ink into the library ( this was before ballpoint pens were in use!). She was very strict because she loved the library and its books. This was her life and she wanted everything to be perfect.
Books were kept in good repair, and if you were a child you did not take out books from the “adult” side of the library. When I had read all the books on the children’s side and was ready to venture to the “adult” side of the library, I had to ask my Mother to check out some “adult” books for me!
Books taken out had a pouch pocket on the back cover of the book. Into this pouch, a card was placed, with the date of return, hand stamped on it. As a child, you were “lucky” if you were able to help the librarians, by being the one to prepare those hand stamped date return cards. You were taught that you must place the date neatly, straight and as close to the last expired date on the card as possible. It made a child feel important, because everyone checking out a book saw your work! Of course, it made one of the librarians’ jobs easier, for there were many cards used everyday, and every day new dates needed to be placed on those return cards.

I would have loved to have been locked in the library with all those books. The library was a haven, before TV and computers, and other electronic games. It is still a wonderful place, with programs and fabulous reference librarians, always happy to help you!

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Submitted by: Rosanne Gavin | March 01, 2008

My special memory of our Rocky River Library dates back to the late 1930's when, on certain afternoons, all the neighborhood children would attend a story hour at the library. We all sat in a semi-circle on the floor while a librarian read wonderful stories to us. In those days, the library was small and projected a warm and comfortable feeling.
Today, I am so pleased to see that as the library grew, it did not lose the beautiful architecture of the early 1900's and that our library has retained that warm and comfortable feeling through all its changes and growth.

My family home was one of a very few on Lakeview Avenue across from the old Rocky River High School.

Rosanne Gavin
nee Kelling