Parma, OH – March 6, 2009 – The USA Toy Library Association (USA-TLA) has awarded Cuyahoga County Public Library Executive Director Sari Feldman with its “Player of the Year” award. Under Feldman’s leadership, the Library expanded the Toy Library Collection housed at its Brooklyn Branch for over fifteen years into a system-wide Toy Lending Service in December 2007. The service allows card holders to request a toy online just as they would a book, CD or DVD, and then pick it up at a branch of their choosing.

“Sari’s initiatives to promote play . . . have been invaluable to the Children Service’s staff in Cuyahoga County,” said USA-TLA President James Rancilio, “and it is for that reason that we nominated her for the prestigious Player of the Year award.”

“As we know,” said Feldman, “play is critical to learning. The work with toys and play that librarians do is important in the lives of the children and families we serve. We hope to continue to make the connection between toys and early learning at Cuyahoga County Public Library.”

About Cuyahoga County Public Library

Cuyahoga County Public Library consistently ranks as one of the nation’s ten busiest and best library systems. Its 28 branches serve 47 communities. The Library’s mission is to provide our community open access to resources that inform, entertain and enrich. For further information, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org.

CONTACT: Robert J. Rua

Communications Coordinator

216.749.9496

mbrookshire@cuyahogalibrary.org