CHUH Library > Library Information

A whole new room chock full of DVDs, CDs and audiobooks awaits you here at Coventry! It is so exciting to see a whole NEW room emerge right in the middle of our great library, especially because it means that our selection is BIGGER THAN EVER. Comedies, dramas, foreign films, children's movies galore, perfect for the weekend couch surfing. Or if you're taking a trip, check out a book on CD for the drive. If it sounds too good to be true, it's because movies and everything else in the library is FREE!

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Coventry Village Library Events Calendar

Tai Chi/Qi Gong Saturdays with Ruth Butler

Tai Chi, developed in China, is a system of exercise that involves a total union of the mind, body, and spirit. The movements are slow, relaxed, continuous, even, and soft. These properties make Tai Chi ideal for any age group. Your body will gradually become more stable, flexible, and supple. Your mind will become more relaxed.

In these classes, you will learn a short form of Tai Chi which consists of 24 graceful movements. You will also learn to do the Eight Best Movements for Health and other Qi Gong exercises. Emphasis will be placed on balance and good health. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Free classes are held twice each week:

Saturday mornings from 10am to 11am, and Wednesdays at noon.

NiA CoFfEeHouSe
Jazz and poetry have been intertwined for a long ways back. NiA is a venue for those who enjoy listening to live music and performance, and also for those who are looking for a place to perform their own compositions.

NiA CoFfEeHouSe meets first and third Tuesday evenings at 6 pm

Step Out of Time

Many people are interested in exploring alternative paths to heath and wholness. Step Out of Time presents speakers well versed in new and sometimes unknown practices that can enlighten us in our search. Among the fields are topics such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, herbal medicine and Jungian dream analysis.

Step Out of Time meets second Thursday evenings at 7 pm

Story Stop

Heeeeeeere's Coco! Say hello to your favorite storytime bear with a big wave and get one back! Shimmy on over to Coventry for stories, pop up surprises, songs, rhymes, and dancing. This storytime welcomes all ages of kids and adults to be part of a large, friendly gathering of people who want to hear great stories and look at great books.

Story Stop meets every Wednesday at 10 am

Explorastory

Reggio Emilia is an education philosophy that values a child's ability to be self directed in learning. Explorastory is a storytime for all ages that incorporates stories, music and dancing with this philosophy by using them as a starting point for self intiated but communally achieved projects and works of art. It is really amazing!

Explorastory meets every Friday morning at 10 am

Recent Programs

Local Author Series

Cleveland Heights and University Heights are replete with amazing and talented authors who live and work in the area. Coventry Library has been excited to host a number of them having conversations with patrons who are interested in their work. Last fall Thrity Umrigar and Michael Ruhlman were just two of those who came to speak. The series is presented in conjunction with Appletree Books, Macs-Backs and Saint Ann Parish.

Thrity Umrigar came to speak at Coventry. She drew a huge crowd who wanted to discuss her books, especially her latest book, The Weight of Heaven.

Check out some photos of the recent talks on our Flickr page!

Special Collections

Materials for the Deaf Community

Our collection of materials has been developed to cover areas of interest such as learning ASL, deaf culture, deaf fiction and societal issues facing the deaf community. It is comprised of mainly books, but also videos and DVDs. A few members of the staff are trained in ASL and can sign coversantly.

Local Author Collection

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights area is home to many talented artists, musicians and writers. This collection highlights their works. Materials are quite diverse, including graphic novels, CDs, and a unique book called (Y)our Artist's Journal, which is a community diary constructed by a local book maker. You can check this collaborative book out to view work other have done and contribute your own if you wish.

Mystery Corner

If you are a fan of mystery novels, it would be well worth your time to come into Coventry to peruse our large selection. We are always adding new titles to make sure we have multiple copies of the latest available or most recent from popular authors.

Russian Language Materials

Covetry hosts a selection of 250 books delivered from Cleveland Public Library every other month. In addition, we have many Russian CDs, and a newspaper. A member of the staff is fluent in Russian, which is a wonderful asset to both native speakers and staff.

Picture Book and Folk Tale Collection

We have an astounding collection of books and stories from all over the world and a large selection of beautiful Picture books. We even have an art gallery dedicated to the art that inspires and captives young imaginations.

Coventry Village Library

Coventry Village Library offers a diverse popular collection, including fiction and non-fiction books, videos, DVDs, recorded books, CDs, teen materials, and children’s materials. Coventry Library also receives 250 Russian books from Cleveland Public Library every other month and has a small number of other foreign language books including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, and Spanish. The Library is currently in the process of developing a Local Author Collection of books and audio-visual materials by Cleveland Heights and University Heights authors.

deaf interpreters available Coventry Library has a unique 25-year tradition of offering special services to the Deaf Community. A full-time librarian on the staff has a primary focus of service to the Deaf, including a collection of books and audio-visual materials for and about the Deaf Community. The Librarian also coordinates monthly programs such as the Deaf Film Series and Deaf Gatherings. Additionally, Coventry Library offers a series of ASL classes several times each year and has recently installed a Sorensen video relay phone for Deaf and Hard of Hearing customers.

Coventry Library is as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. Please make sure you stop in for a baby, toddler or children’s storytime. If that doesn't interest you, then join us for the NIA Coffeehouse, an evening of open mic poetry reading and jazz performances. Or maybe stop in for the Step Out of Time Series, a monthly program dedicated to alternative health and spiritual practices including meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, and other disciplines.

History
1926	Designed by the John H. Graham and Co. Architects in the English Medieval Vernacular Tradition, the Coventry Village Library opened its doors as the Main Library serving the Cleveland Heights-University Heights community. It served as the Main Library for 42 years, until 1968.
1928	A reference room and an adult room were added to the building.
1980	The Coventry Library was designated a Cleveland Heights Landmark on December 14, 1980.
1981	After leasing back rooms in the building for six years during which the Fairmount Center for the Performing Arts owned the building, the Library repurchased the building and Coventry Village Library reopened.
2006	Coventry Village Library celebrated its 80th Birthday.

Did you Know?

The painting hanging over the fireplace is a print of The Infanta Margarita by Diego Velazquez, painted in 1660 in Madrid, Spain.
The Coventry Arch in the courtyard (not part of the Library property but a beautiful entrance to it) was designed by artist Barry Gunderson and installed June 5, 2001.
After several years (1974-1980) when the building was owned by the Fairmount Center for Creative and Performing Arts, Coventry Village Library was repurchased by the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Trustees and rededicated on December 13, 1981.
Coventry Village Library served as the main library for Cleveland Heights-University Heights for 42 years, from 1926 until 1968.

Contact Information
Phone:	216-321-3400
TTY:	216-321-0739
Fax:	216-321-1383
Public Fax:	216-321-1385

Map

Staff
Branch Manager	Patricia Gray	pgray@heightslibrary.org

Main (Lee Road) | Coventry Village | Noble Neighborhood | University Heights