Posted June 25, 20247:00 pm
from Signal Cleveland: The Board of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District re-appointed Melanie Shakarian to the Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees at their June 2024 board meeting.
Shakarian just finished an unexpired one-year term, and this re-appointment is for a full seven year term on the Library's public Board of Trustees. Her seven-year term begins July 2, 2024.
As Director of Development and Communications for The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Shakarian has been leading external affairs - including public relations, marketing, fundraising, and government relations - for Legal Aid since 2004. Prior to her tenure at Legal Aid, Shakarian was Director of Annual Major Gifts and Parish Services for The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation, and also worked for the law firm Robert E. Sweeney Co. LPA.
A life-long Cleveland resident, Shakarian received her bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, and her law degree and a certificate of nonprofit management from Case Western Reserve University. She is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland, a German Marshall Fund Fellow, a past participant in the Adler Civic Leaders Mission, and an active member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
“I whole-heartedly believe in access to opportunity for all–which is why I work at Legal Aid–and why this new opportunity to serve the Cleveland Public Library as a Trustee is so meaningful. I look forward to helping the staff and patrons of “The People’s University” continue to build upon the traditions of the best library system in the United States,” said Melanie Shakarian.
Cleveland Public Library was established in 1869 as a school district library under Ohio law. This law allows the CMSD Board of Education to appoint the Board of Trustees for the Library
Learn about the Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees.
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About Cleveland Public Library
Founded in 1869, Cleveland Public Library serves the residents of Cleveland through its network of 27 neighborhood branches, the Main Library downtown, Public Administration Library at City Hall, homebound delivery services, and mobile services to daycare and senior centers. From a collection of 10.5 million items, the Library has traditionally circulated nearly 6 million items a year to its 264,614 registered borrowers and to 47 other CLEVNET-member libraries in 12 counties across Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Public Library is home to the Ohio Center for the Book and the Ohio Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, serving all 88 counties in the state of Ohio. For more information, visit cpl.org.
About Legal Aid
Founded in 1905, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland has been a vehicle for extending justice throughout Northeast Ohio for 118 years. With a service area spanning Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties, Legal Aid is the only civil legal aid provider in the region and plays a unique and critical role in the community. Legal Aid’s mission is to secure justice, equity, and access to opportunity for and with people who have low incomes through passionate legal representation and advocacy for systemic change.
Using the power of the law, Legal Aid works to improve safety and health, promote education and economic security, secure stable and decent housing, and improve accountability and accessibility of government and justice systems. By solving fundamental problems for individuals and families with low incomes, Legal Aid removes barriers to opportunity and helps people achieve greater stability.