From Dewey Decimals to Digital Downloads: Libraries Achieving Balance in the 21st Century

CLEVELAND: Sari Feldman, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, speaks on the future of public libraries at noon on Friday, August 10, 2007, at The City Club of Cleveland.

Feldman heads one of the nation’s 10 busiest library systems. It was ranked by Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings 2006 as the Number One library in the United States among libraries serving populations of more than 500,000.

Prior to joining the library in 2003, Feldman was deputy director of the Cleveland Public Library. Since 1984, she has served as an adjunct faculty member at the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, teaching graduate courses in library management, reference services, policy and grant writing. She was honored in 1995 with the Vice President’s Award for Teacher of the Year.

Feldman is a board member of the Center for Community Solutions, OneCommunity as well as a fellow of the Cleveland State University Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Leadership Academy. In addition, she was named a 2005 YWCA Woman of Achievement and this year was recognized for her achievements by Smart Business Magazine.

She is the recipient of the David C. Sweet Leadership Academy Alumni Community Leadership Award and the Leadership Academy’s 2002 Community Impact Award. Feldman has written widely for professional publications and is the co-author of three books. Her most recent book is Learning Environments for Young Children.

Tickets for this City Club Friday Forum are $18 for members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance of the event. They can be purchased by calling The City Club at 216.621.0082 or visiting the website at www.cityclub.org.

Hello, Cleveland! The Live Rock and Roll Experience

Hank LoConti, owner of the Agora, and Steve Popovich of Cleveland International Records will discuss Cleveland’s historic rock venues, what made them important nationally, why Cleveland was an essential stop for touring artists, and the live rock and roll experience in Cleveland at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2007, at the Agora Theater, 5000 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland.

Cleveland is credited with hosting the world’s first rock concert. And over the years, its dynamic club scene spawned artists that influenced rock music nationally and made Cleveland a vital stop for artists looking for their big break.

Henry LoConti Sr. opened the first Agora on February 27, 1966. His concept of promoting live entertainment for young adults was an instant success, and audiences quickly outgrew both the building and the neighborhood. In the years that followed, LoConti and Popovich played a major role in developing the music and entertainment industry in Cleveland and the nation by booking thousands of local, national, and international groups to perform on Agora stages.

The Agora booked its first national act, the Buckinghams, in 1968. For many years “Sundays at the Agora” showcased local original music groups and popular regional bands, which kept the club filled to capacity. The Pack, later known as Grand Funk Railroad, The Outlaws, ZZ Top, Rainbow Canyon, James Gang, Glass Harp, Foghat, and The Rasberries all achieved national and international prominence after getting their big break playing the Agora stage.

The Agora was voted the number one rock club in the country by Billboard Magazine, and was given the same distinction by author and Rolling Stone editor Dave Marsh in his best seller Book of Lists.

This program, organized by The City Club New Leaders in partnership with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, is the final in a three-part series exploring the past, present, and future of rock and roll in Cleveland. The City Club New Leaders develop significant opportunities for civic involvement and freedom of speech among young professionals under the age of 40.

Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance of the event. They can be purchased by calling The City Club at 216.621.0082 or visiting the website at www.cityclub.org.