It was a week late, but the downtown branch of Cleveland Public Library finally got its nose out of a book long enough to open its reading garden on Wednesday — something that normally happens May 1.
Granted, the place has a new executive director, Felton Thomas, and maybe he doesn’t know how many commuters look to the garden as a prime lunch-break locale. But a little clean-up and maintenance was needed first, says library spokeswoman Tena Wilson. “We wanted to open it in April because the weather got nice for a snap, but then it cooled off again,” says Wilson. “But it’s ready now. I just came in from lunch and several people were out there enjoying the weather.”
There’ll be more to enjoy soon too. Artists interested in creating temporary art for the garden, to be displayed in spring and summer, should come to the garden’s grand opening at 5:30 p.m. May 28. The band Mifune will provide the music, as artists jockey for position in the show, “See Also” (old library cataloging terminology), sponsored by boosters from the library and Cleveland Public Art. That’s right: Don’t just sit there. — Dan Harkins
