Former Heights Libraries Director Steve Wood Dead At 81

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Former Heights Libraries Director Steve Wood died last week, the library system announced Monday.

Wood was 81. He had been fighting cancer while living in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peg, his children: Kristen Wood, Regan Wood-Nelson, and Eric Wallace Wood, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers Wood’s family requests that contributions be made to the Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries.

A Big Impact on the Heights

Wood first came to the Heights Libraries in 1977, when he began working as the supervisor of adult services. He planned the on-line connection to the Cleveland Public Library's new automated system, now known as CLEVNET.

In 1980, Wood was promoted to deputy director of the Heights Libraries. He remained in that role until 1988 when then-Director Rachel Wayne Nelson retired. Wood became director and served in that role until his retirement in 2008, two years after the renovation of the Lee Road branch.

In 1995, Wood was one of the founding member of the Ohio Public Library Information Network, which provides telecommunications and electronic databases to all 251 public libraries in Ohio. Wood was part of the network's board from its inception until 1999.

In addition, Wood served on the Cleveland Heights Visioning Committee and its Advisory Council for 211/First Call for Help, a United Way agency.

After leaving the Heights Libraries, Wood became president of the Ohio Library Association (now called the Ohio Library Council). He held that position until 1991. He was named Librarian of the Year in 1998 by the organization.

Wood was also part of the Cleveland Area Metropolitan Library System (CAMLS) Pilot Delivery Study Task Force, its Automated Circulation Task Force, Interlibrary Loan Policy Task Force and Strategic Planning Committee. The task force was later absorbed into the North East Ohio Regional Library System.