Visual Stories is an exhibit of fifty-one paintings by the renowned artist and children’s book illustrator, James Ransome, that depicts an extraordinary array of African American experiences, particularly from the Black South. The selected paintings span decades of collaboration with major publishers and numerous children’s authors, and reflect themes of emancipation from slavery, segregation and the Jim Crow era, and the strong family traditions that were necessary to maintain and keep the African American family together. Ransome’s paintings embody the powerful strength of family, faith, and fortitude that gives these people the courage to face difficult social and political conditions.

On January 20, 2009, President-elect, Barack Obama, will be sworn in as the 44^th President of the United States.  To provide information about the transition process and his forthcoming administration, Barack Obama has launched the website Change.gov.  The transition from one administration to another is a complex process, taking several weeks to complete before the President is inaugurated in January. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is charged with providing for the smooth transition as set forth in the Presidential Transition Act of 1963.  The Transition Directory explains how the various divisions and agencies of the federal government operate and provides resources to help the new administration "hit the ground running." 

While there have been numerous efforts over the years to digitize much of the world's information, the Cleveland Public Library still maintains various hard copy resources of interest to local history.  Most of the library's subject departments have maintained, to some degree or another, a clipping file. Clipping files contain articles, photos, and other bits of information that have been "clipped" from newspapers, magazines and other sources.  Many of the clipping files housed at the Cleveland Public Library contain items of local interest, such as the Biography Clipping File located in the Microform Center, which consists of newspaper clippings of prominent and noteworthy Clevelanders.  This particular clipping file was originally put together by the History & Geography Department, but was later transferred to microfiche.  For a complete list of the library's extensive clipping files please contact the General Reference Department. 

Amongst the constant rustle of scattered leaves, the boisterous colors of Fall foliage, and fears of Winter's impending arrival, sometimes it's difficult to hear yourself think. Three out of four librarians agree that reading poetry may help reduce Autumn-related stress.*
 
The Literature Department of Cleveland Public Library houses an impressive, growing collection of poetry books.  From turn-of-the-twentieth-century Cleveland nature poet Leonard Gurley Foster's Blossoms of Nature to former Poet Laureate Billy Collins' recently released Ballistics, there are thousands of diverse works from American and world poets in the Literature Department.  Stop by and peruse our New Poetry Books display, browse our shelves, and pick up a copy of the monthly list of featured new poetry.  You're sure to find something that tickles your fancy and/or tickles you pink.

If life is a slice of pumpkin pie, add a dollop of cream by indulging in some of these new additions to the poetry collection in the Literature Department:  

It's that time of the year again when the students of Ohio are preparing to take the Ohio Achievement Tests (OAT) and the Ohio Graduation Tests.  Achievement tests are currently administered in grades 3 to 8.  Each test consists of five sections: reading, writing, math, social studies, and science.  The Ohio Graduation Tests have replaced the Ohio Ninth-Grade Proficiency Tests, effective with the graduating class of 2007.   Click to read Frequently Asked Questions provided by the Ohio Department of Education as well as, links and resources available at Cleveland Public Library, Social Sciences Department.

“We have all seen them, late night infomercials, websites, and reference guides, advertising “millions in free money”.  Don’t believe the hype!” – Grants.gov

Today, Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards.  There are many types of organizations that are eligible to apply for government grants.   Grants.gov does not offer money for personal financial assistance or debt.

Visit the John G. White Reading Room of the Special Collections Department to see the baby mammoth jaw first displayed at the Cleveland Public Library in 1909. On May 9th, 1909 The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an article entitled In the Days of the Cleveland Elephant; it described a baby mammoth jaw that was discovered in March of that year. The jaw was found during the construction of a sewer at E. 40th and Euclid Avenue adjacent to the residence of Mr. Sylvester Everett, whose palatial home was built by architect Charles Schweinfurth. This area was at that time considered to be one of the most prestigious streets in the nation.

 

Cleveland Public Library’s baseball collection in the Social Sciences Department includes many early baseball novels. The infancy of American baseball fiction from the Civil War up to 1910 is very well represented in the Library’s collection. The first mention of baseball in fiction is generally credited to Jane Austen, who uses the word in Northanger Abbey:

“[I]t was not very wonderful that Catherine, who had nothing heroic about her, should prefer cricket, base-ball, riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age of fourteen, to books. . . (p.5.)“

Northanger Abbey was drafted during 1797 and 1798, but Jane Austen continued revising and editing it until 1803.  Unfortunately, it was not actually published until 1818.   Cleveland Public Library’s collection includes one nineteenth century edition of Northanger Abbey.