On August 20, the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) Board of Trustees convened in the administrative wing of the library’s main office at 2111 Snow Road in Parma. About 30 members of the public attended in person, and the session was also streamed on Facebook.

Board actions and recognitions

The meeting opened promptly at 5 p.m. with roll call; all trustees were present. The board unanimously approved the minutes from the June 23 meeting and recognized longtime employee Margaret “Peggy” Hull for nearly a decade of service before her retirement from the Beachwood Branch.

AI policy under review

Three senior staff members—Chief Operations Officer Jeff Mori, Chief Public Services Officer Pam Jankowski, and IT Director Sean Bastick—presented the draft Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy. The proposal outlines principles for privacy, disclosure, accuracy, environmental impact and security. It also describes an upcoming AI Discovery Center that will be housed in the new Beachwood Branch Innovation Center.

Board President Patricia Shlonsky noted that AI is a strategic priority for 2026 and that patrons are already asking questions about the technology. The library has engaged CDW, a multinational IT firm, to advise on curriculum development, an intranet AI update page, and a review process for future AI tools.

Public comment raises fiscal and environmental worries

During the public comment period, Beachwood Circulation Supervisor Kevin Dean warned that many AI services are “volatile,” unsustainable, and ethically questionable. He argued that taxpayer dollars should be directed toward the library’s 27 physical branches rather than costly data‑center services.

Dean also suggested the library had not sufficiently consulted staff about the policy’s environmental impact. Mori acknowledged that some employees have raised concerns, and Jankowski said the board would revisit the policy every six months for the next two years.

Board decision

After discussion, the trustees approved the Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy with the condition that it be reviewed semi‑annually. The board also received updates on the Beachwood Branch relocation, the library’s Innovation Centers, and the CCPL Foundation’s recent fundraising successes, including $118,000 raised at the annual “Reading the Green” golf event.

Looking ahead

The next board meeting is scheduled for September 22. Stakeholders, politicians and community members are invited to tour the new children’s area at the Warrensville Heights Branch on August 16.

Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.