Bellaire Public Library
Published on Bellaire Public Library (http://www.bellaire.lib.oh.us)

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About Us

Board of Trustees

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
(as of January 13, 2012)

Nancy Andriano, President
Carole Krebs, Vice President
Dr. Robert Caldwell, Secretary
Linda Creamer
Michael W. Doyle
Donna Francis
Elizabeth Kaufman

Members of the Board Through the Years
Mrs. W. Y. Armstrong
W. Y. Armstrong
Alan Banker
Myrtle Clements
Virginia Creamer
Richard Danford
Mary DeGenova
Harry Fankhauser
Sylvia Feinberg
Dorothy Fellers
J. E. Giffin
James Griffin
Lillian Griffin
Monsignor Raymond Harris
Monsignor William Hayes
Rev. J. Earl Jackman
Rev. Thomas L. Jones
Carl Koch
Dr. Vincent Kolenich
Nancy Krieger
Carol Krock
Rev. Boyd McCleary
Monsignor Paul Metzger
J. V. Nelson
Mrs. Joseph Poorman
F. N. Reinbolt
Mrs. Homer E. Ring
Molly Ruminski
Rev. Donald Salmon
Dolores (Billie) Sechrest
C. C. Sedgwick
A. F. Sherlock
Herbert Slagle
Paul V. Waddell
James F. Walker

 

Friends of the Library

Bellaire Public Library- Friends of the Library Foundation

We invite EVERYONE to come and join the Bellaire Public Library Friends of the Library Foundation. Its mission is to serve the community by supporting and promoting the library, its events and projects throughout the year. To become a member, sign up forms are available at the library. Fees, of which 100% goes toward improving library services, are $5.00 per individual or $8.00 per family.

For more information, please contact the library at (740) 676-9421 or ask a staff member at the circulation desk.

Gift Policy

Gift policy

The Bellaire Public Library accepts donated items for their collections with the understanding that these items must meet the same standards as purchased materials. Criteria of relevancy to the library’s mission, content appropriateness, and cost analysis of processing and maintenance of the items are carefully considered during the evaluation process.

Once accepted, these items become the exclusive property of the library and are handled in the same manner consistent with established library procedures. Accepted items are cataloged; a nameplate is affixed to the item in the donator’s honor or in memoriam of a person(s) named and an acknowledgement letter is sent. A pre-written inventory/bibliography of your gifted items is appreciated.  The library cannot, however, perform an appraisal on any donated item. Items not accepted may be discarded, sold via book sale or given to another library, museum or archives. All monetary gifts to the library are encouraged.

If gifts are of intrinsic/archival value, a Deed of Gift is completed and signed by the Donor or Donor’s Agent as well as the Library Director or Library Agent.

                 Donated items considered for inclusion

                                Items not considered

                 First edition books

                 Books in good, clean condition

                 DVDs

                 Music scores

                CDs-sound recordings

                CDs-narratives

                Archival items

                Children’s books

                Local history items

                 Paperbacks (for book sales only)

                Videocassettes (for book sales only)

             

Textbooks

Newspapers and journals

Material in poor or dirty condition

Outdated material

Cassette tapes

 

 

Check-Out Policy

CHECKOUT POLICY:

All patrons should have their library cards with them when checking out items. Because our library system is statewide, the percentage of errors increases significantly  when patrons do not have their library cards.  The possibilities of ‘same names’ exist throughout the state.  Patrons could accidently be charged with items that they had never checked out.  Subsequently, fees could inadvertently be accumulated into their library accounts.

Bellaire Public Library patrons, who have no form of I.D., can check out items if two (2) or more staff members know them.  When the system is down, “holds” can still be manually created for these Bellaire patrons as well as those who have their library cards.  To help eliminate errors, however, no “holds” are created for unfamiliar patrons without library cards or any other kind of I.D. when the system is down.

Patrons can request renewal of items via phone even without their library cards.   However, if patrons want to place “holds” on items over the phone, they should have their library cards available so that their information can be correctly and readily pulled up.  If patrons do not have their library cards when requesting “holds”, then staff members should prompt them for additional information such as correct spelling of names, birthdates, addresses, or phone numbers.  Staff should explain that the information is needed so that item(s) is/are not on “hold” in someone else’s similar name.

 

Fines & Fees

A receipt showing the date due back for each item is printed and given to the patron upon check-out.

No fines are charged to materials returned on time. Also, fines may be charged differently on items borrowed from other libraries depending on the lending library's fine policy.

On all Bellaire Public Library materials checked out with a Bellaire library card:

  • 1 to 6 days after the due date -- no charge
  • 7 days or more after the due date -- 10¢ per item per day up to the cost of the item

On materials borrowed from other libraries:

  • Fines may vary on these items due to differences in lending policies between our library and the library from where we borrowed the materials. (Example: Another library may charge fines of 25¢ per day on their items where we only charge 10¢ on ours.)

On Inter-Library Loans:

  • If a requested item cannot be found in the SEO Consortium, the library provides Inter-Library Loans services as well. To help pay for mailing costs for this service, there is a $3.00 fee for each item, which is paid upon pick-up.

On materials checked out on another library's card:

  • Due dates and fines may vary on these items due to differences in borrower privileges between our library and the library where your card was issued. (Example: A card issued at a library other than Bellaire may only give you one week until your item is due where our cards allow three weeks until it's due.)

NOTE: An additional processing fee may be charged if it becomes necessary to send you a bill for the items checked out. Also, a $10.00 pick-up fee will be charged if we need to come and get the books from you.

The Collection

THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM

The books in our library are grouped according to the Dewey Decimal System.

000 - Generalities
100 - Philosophy
200 - Religion
300 - Social Sciences
400 - Language
500 - Natural Sciences
600 - Technology
700 - The Arts

800 - Literature
900 - History
B - Biographies
F - Fiction
J - Juvenile Fiction
JE - Juvenile Easy Fiction
j000 - j900 and jB - Juvenile Non-Fiction
Ref. - Reference

  • Main Floor - Reference, Fiction, Large Print Books, Paperback Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Pamphlets, Music CDs, Audio books and DVDs and Videos
  • Second Floor - 000 through 899
  • Mezzanine - 900 through 999, Biographies, High School Paperbacks and Hardbacks
  • Children's Area (Lower Floor) - Juvenile Fiction, Easy Fiction, Board Books, Paperbacks, Children's Magazines, Children's Audio Books, Children's Reference, Games, and Puzzles

 

Your Library Card

Your library card

It's easy to get a Bellaire library card. Just fill out an application and present two forms of identification, one of which shows your current mailing address. (You must have a permanent address to apply - we cannot issue cards to those who have a temporary address.)

When you apply for a card for the first time, you will be unable to check out materials until your card is mailed to you. New library cards must be mailed out before it can be used to check out library materials. We will be glad to hold any materials at the desk for you until you receive your card in the mail.

New borrowers are limited to a maximum of four (4) items checked out at any given time during the first 90 days of using their library card. Also, new borrowers may place one (1) hold/reserve on items not available at Bellaire Public Library during that same time.

Children and Library Cards:

Children can get library cards with a parent or guardian's signature instead of ID. They must be around six years old and able to write their own name (first and last) on their application, but they can get help with their address and phone number if necessary.

Please Note:

  • If the person who signs for the child has a card with fines or overdue items charged to it, that card must be cleared of all charges before we can issue a card to the child.
  • The library considers it the responsibility of parents or guardians to approve the nature of materials borrowed by youngsters. (Board of Trustees policy 2/19/86)

IF WE HAVE A RECORD OF YOUR LIBRARY CARD ON FILE:

If you have had a card at our library before, and we still have record of it on file, we can issue you a new card without mailing it to you. If your card number has expired, we will issue you a new card at no charge. If you still have a valid (current) card number, we will consider this a replacement card and issue you a new card for a 50¢ charge.

Lost or Stolen Cards:

If your card is ever lost or stolen, please notify the library immediately. You are responsible for ALL materials checked out on your library card even if someone else used the card. If you let us know that your card has been lost or stolen, we can put a "stop" on that card and issue you a new card with a new number. The missing card then will no longer be a valid card, and you will not be held responsible for anything checked out on it after that date.

IF YOU HAVE A VALID, BARCODED LIBRARY CARD FROM ANOTHER LOCAL OHIO LIBRARY:

If you have a valid library card from any of the local Ohio libraries including Martins Ferry, St. Clairsville, Barnesville, Shadyside, Powhatan, Monroe County, Steubenville, and many others, you may use that library card here. You must present the card when checking out library materials.

History

Some introductory text here

The History of the Bellaire Public Library
CITIZENS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

A library was established on February 24, 1871 in Bellaire. It was called the "Citizens Library Association." This was a private library in the sense that it was maintained by private citizens. It was modeled after the subscription library plan. Patrons of the library would pay a membership fee and have borrowing privileges.

On June 3, 1891 this same library was incorporated into the non profit organization called the "North Bellaire Library Association." It was established "for the instruction and entertainment of the young people of Bellaire, where they shall be free from the allurements of gambling and strong drink, and they shall be taught habits of industry and the proper amenities of social life..."

Around 1880, a reading room was also established by School Superintendent Cox in the old Central Building.

The building was located where the present Bellaire High School Cafeteria and basketball gym are now. This building was razed to make way for the Bellaire High School Building in 1926.

Photo of the Citizens Library Association
 
GRAVEL HILL READING ROOM

Bellaire's first library was called the Bellaire Reading Room, on the corner of Forty-Fourth and Noble Streets in what was then called the Weyrick Drugstore. The old reading room, a one story building containing two commodious rooms, was erected in 1881. The grounds were donated by Miss Lizzie Cummins, and the money to erect the structure, $1,000, was raised by subscription. Books and other reading matter were contributed by the citizens of the city and for over 25 years the building was used as a sort of public library. According to a newspaper article from the Bellaire Daily Leader dated November 4, 1916, Several years earlier, due to a lack of interest on the part of the young people, the original purpose of the reading room was abandoned. Since that time the structure had been used as a place of worship by the Slavish population of the city, a meeting place for the Boys Brigade and various other purposes. The building and grounds were sold at a public auction on Novemeber 25, 1916.

The original Bellaire Public Library, known as the Reading Room

BELLAIRE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Bellaire Public Library was founded in 1927. It moved into the basement of the Bellaire High School. School Superintendent J. V. Nelson, donated books from his personal library. It was supported by the County Intangibles Tax until the end of 1985. This was a tax on investments. Since 1986 the library has largely been supported by a portion of the State Income Tax of Ohio.

In the 1940’s James F. Mellott and William D. Mellott left money in their will to establish the Mellott Trust. Their wills provided money ($450,000)to build and maintain a public library and community center in memory of their father, Amos Mellott, and his family. The new Mellott Memorial Building was completed in 1959. The public library moved from Bellaire High School to the new building in 1960.

John J. Rietz was the architect and Walter H. Braum, library consultant. The general contracting was done by the Byrum Construction Company. The library was built within a year and opened to the public on Monday, December 19, 1960.

In 1998-2000, the library was remodeled and expanded to more than double its original size. Read more about the construction here [1].

photo of Mellott Public Library from 32nd Street
(photo property of Bellaire Public Library)

photo of Bellaire Public Library as it looks today

(photo property of Bellaire Public Library)

Photo of ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the library with Attorney C.C. Sedgwick, President of the Library Board; J.E. Griffen, representing Mellott Trusts' and Bellaire Mayor A.G. DeMarco
(photo source unknown)
(l. to r.) Attorney C.C. Sedgwick, president of the Library Board; J.E. Giffin, representing the Mellott Trusts; and Bellaire Mayor A.G. DeMarco.

inside view of the 'new' library (photo source unknown)
The Library, on opening day in 1960, had 14,000 books in its collection.

 

Construction & expansion

General history

In Memory

Members of the Board through the years

Mural

Past Librarians/Directors

Past staff

The Mellott Trust

Location

Map to the Bellaire Public Library

 

 

Take the 26th Street exit off of Rt. 7.  At light, make a right.  At stop sign (one block away) make a left.  Go under the Stone Viaduct.  The library and its ample parking is on the right.

Holiday Closings

The library observes the following days as holidays:

New Years Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Presidents Day

Memorial Day

The Fourth of July

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve Day

Christmas Day

 

Maps of the library

Memorials & gifts

Memorial and Gift Book Donations

Gift books can be purchased for the library in memory or in honor of someone. They can be on any subject you choose in any price range.
How can I purchase a memorial or gift book for the library?
To purchase a gift book for the library, print and fill out the form provided below and return it in person or by mail to:

BELLAIRE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ATTN:Laura Cramblet
330 32nd Street
Bellaire, OH 43906

The person or group purchasing the gift book may choose to donate any amount of money for the purchase of one or more books. The average cost of an adult fiction or non-fiction book is around $30.00, so you may wish to plan your gift accordingly. You may also give an amount that can be used to purchase multiple books for our collection. Children's books are also a popular choice for memorials or gifts.

You may decide to make the gift book even more special by choosing a subject area that is/was of interest to the person being honored. We will then find a new book that will fit into our collection in that subject area that will be purchased with the amount of money donated.

When you purchase a gift book for the library, we will place a special book plate inside the front cover of each book that lists the name of the donor and the name of the person or people being honored or remembered. Also, cards will be sent to the person being honored or the family of those who are being memorialized to let them know of the donor's purchase for the library.

If you are interested in donating items other than books as a gift or memorial, or if you have any questions about donating, please contact the library at (740) 676-9421, or by email at bellaire@oplin.org [2].

Your gifts to our library in memory or in honor of a friend or loved one are a lasting way to remember a special person that will be shared and enjoyed by all library patrons who read it for many years to come.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BELLAIRE PUBLIC LIBRARY GIFT AND MEMORIAL BOOK DONATION FORM

**Please complete a separate form for each person being honored or remembered.**

Presented by: __________________________________________________
(This is how the donor's name(s) will be printed on the book plate.)

In Memory or In Honor Of: ________________________________________
(This is how the name of the person being honored or remembered will be printed on the book plate.)

Send Notification Card To: _________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
(If you need to send a card to more than one person, please use a separate sheet of paper to list their names and addresses.)

Donor's Name: __________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________
(Please send us your name, address, and phone number in case we need to contact you concerning your donation.)

Amount Given: $____________

Subject Area: __________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
(If there is no particular subject area that you want us to search for, please leave this section blank. We will use a book that fits into our collection where the need is the greatest.)
 

 

Services

copies -

.15 per black and white

.25 per color

faxing -

$2.00 first page, $1.00 each page after

 

Newspapers

Periodicals

Staff directory

 

Laura Cramblet, Library Director (lcramblet@oplin.org [3])

Stacy Mauck, Fiscal Officer (mauckst@oplin.org [4])

Mary DeGenova, Assistant Librarian (degenovamd@oplin.org [5])

Jo Krieger, Clerk, Tech Services (kriegerjo@oplin.org [6])

Marnice Gooch, Clerk, Children's Services  (goochma@oplin.org [7])

Rose Zelkowski, Clerk, Circulation and Reference (zelkowiro@oplin.org [8])

Jenna Tharp, Clerk, Shelver

Dave Swoyer, Maintenance

Sheyanne Hawkins, Clerk (hawkish@oplin.org [9]

Stephanie Vinka, Clerk (vinkast@oplin.org [10])

Stan Fedeszyn, Clerk (fedesst@oplin.org [11])

Jenna Tharp, Clerk, Shelver

740-676-9421

740-676-7940 (fax)

 

 


Source URL: http://www.bellaire.lib.oh.us/about

Links:
[1] http://www.bellaire.lib.oh.us/constructionv3.htm
[2] mailto:bellaire@oplin.org
[3] mailto:lcramblet@oplin.org
[4] mailto:mauckst@oplin.org
[5] mailto:degenovamd@oplin.org
[6] mailto:kriegerjo@oplin.org
[7] mailto:goochma@oplin.org
[8] mailto:zelkowiro@oplin.org
[9] mailto:hawkish@oplin.org
[10] mailto:vinkast@oplin.org
[11] mailto:fedesst@oplin.org