Why The Cuyahoga County Public Library System Rocks (One of the MANY Reasons It's Great to Live in NE Ohio)

We all know that Cleveland Rocks! 

Did you know that the Cuyahoga County Public Library System is also pretty awesome?  

The Cuyahoga County Public Library System was nominated as a finalist for the 2018 National Medal for Museum & Library Service. The National Medal is the nation's highest honor given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in recognition of exceptional service to the community and for making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

Indeed, the Cuyahoga County Public Library System has a lot to offer to residents of Northeast Ohio.  It's Mission Statement includes "being at the center of community life by creating an environment where reading, lifelong learning and civic engagement thrive." With 28 branches all over Cuyahoga County, the collection size is more than 1.7 million with a circulation of over 20 million items per year.  In addition to books, you can also check out Toys & Kits.  Plus, the library offers a digital collection that includes eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines & Newspapers, Music, Movies & TV Programs, eBooks & eAudiobooks for kids & teens, and their own Library App.  Who knew there were so many free ways to enjoy entertainment, as long as you have a library card?

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Having books is great and all, but what else does CCPL have to offer?  Any old library loans out books!

In addition to having a very large collection, the library also offers services to the public which include meeting rooms, homework centers, innovation centers, passport centers, a writers' center, a memory lab, an Aspire Greater Cleveland affiliation (learning resources such as ESOL, GED prep, adult literacy, etc.), and Cuyahoga Works, which helps adults acquire skills, find jobs and transition to new careers.

If you enjoy learning or socializing, there are events at the library for everyone.

• There are free classes on technology, which cover Microsoft Office programs, Adobe Creative Cloud programs, and others like Drive and Outlook programs. The classes are free for adults over 18, but you must pre-register and meet the prerequisites. For example, you must have Microsoft 101 (Basics) before taking Microsoft 201 (Tables and Images). 
• Want to start your own business?  Then make sure to check out the Encore Entrepreneur classes.
• There are baby & me, toddler, preschool and family storytimes.
• Classes include a diverse selection for all age groups: Mechatronics classes, "science sleuths - geology rocks", meditation 101, Hebrew storytime, recording studio orientation, how to deal with anger (for teens), NASA Mars program, adult coloring & many other craft classes, "poetic power", Girls Who Code, Minecraft challenges, Middleschool Book discussions, Herps Alive! (reptiles & amphibians), 2D animation, LEGO building, and many, many more.
• If you enjoy reading, then there are Book Clubs and Book Discussions. 

With the Cuyahoga County Public Library's commitment to and mission of being at the center of community life, did you know they also had the following kinds of offerings?

For Teens: 

• Gaming of all kinds, including "Design a Gaming Station" and "Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game Day. Programs differ each month.  These are the gaming options available March 2018.
• Bake-a-Book Contest. Bake a cake that represents a book to win prizes. Top prize is a Kindle Fire.  
• Library College Prep Workshops
• Free Permit Practice Tests -- Teens can take a FREE Ohio Driver's Permit practice test to see if they're ready for the real test.

For Kids:

• Free Access to ABCMouse.com ~~ at the library only.
• TumbleBooks -- Books that you can flip through online
• BookFlix

Even if you don't have time to stop by the library in person, you can request items online and pick them up at your favorite branch.  The Cuyahoga County Public Library also offers Library2You for house-bound individuals. Individuals who are homebound can fill out an application to have books delivered to them for a small fee.

Did YOU know that The Cuyahoga County Public Library System had SO MUCH to offer?  It might be time to get a library card if you don't already have one!