More from The News Review –
representing Douglas County
Riddle
is moving forward with a plan to reopen its library and even check out books.
The
smaller branches that were once part of the Douglas County Library System shut
down April 1, victims of the financial crisis faced by county government. While
the county’s Library Futures Task Force continues to search for a long-term
solution, many cities have come to the conclusion their best bet, at least for
now, is to take charge of their own libraries.
Previously,
libraries had been told by the county they could reopen, but only as reading
rooms. Under that model, county-owned books would remain with each branch, but
would have to be read on site and couldn’t be checked out. The county would no
longer provide a computer catalog.
But
Riddle began looking into a way around that. It’s been investigating smaller
computer catalog services it could contract with on its own, and it sought an
intergovernmental agreement with the county that would allow it to provide its
own catalog and resume checking out books.
Monday,
the Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved Riddle’s proposal.
Rita
Radford, director of library services for the Riddle City Library, said Monday
she anticipates Riddle will become a model for other cities that want to reopen
their libraries but aren’t satisfied with the reading room approach.
Radford
said Riddle will be able to use the county’s computers, scrubbed of the
county’s software, and acquire catalog software of its own. The city, which
owns the library building, will provide internet and Wi-Fi service.
Radford
said most of the other library branches have expressed interest in following
suit. Riddle is forging ahead with the approval of its city council, which is
eager to have the library reopen.
Riddle’s
reopening is planned for 3 p.m. June 6, and a full slate of summer programs for
kids is in the works. It includes a gardening program with Master Gardeners,
story telling, music, a Peter and the Wolf musical presentation, a puppet show
called “Dogs to the Rescue,” and a rock painting “extravaganza.” Family events
will include a pre-solar-eclipse party and a professional magic show.
“It’s
going to be a lot of fun,” Radford said.
The
library has a list of about 40 volunteers, who will keep the library open five
hours each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Radford
is a volunteer herself, though she was formerly a paid library assistant.
“It’s
a passion for me. I just love the library and I want to see it continue and be
a help to the community,” she said.
Radford
said she’s very thankful Riddle received the go ahead to work toward checking
out books.
“The
reading room is a cute little idea, but it doesn’t serve the public very well,”
she said. “Very, very few people have the time to sit down and read at the
library. Most of them would rather go home and read in their pajamas.”
Three
libraries — Reedsport, Oakland and Sutherlin — have reopened already, and
several more plan to reopen this summer. The Reedsport branch, now called the
Reedsport Public Library, has also requested an agreement with the county that
would allow it to check out books. At this time, though, it can’t afford the
cost of a cataloging system, according to City Manager Jonathan Wright. Both
Oakland and Sutherlin have begun local book collections so that some books can
be checked out.
The
Roseburg branch remains open until the end of the month.
- The News-Review Editorial Board
- May 11, 2017
Unwilling
to see their libraries die, community members and city leaders in those towns
were ready to reopen virtually the day their libraries closed down. They had
dozens of volunteers signed up to staff their libraries. In Sutherlin, for
example, where the library shutdown lasted a single day, a team of 50
volunteers has signed up to keep the library open as many hours as before
closure. While they aren’t checking out the county-owned books, they’ve
collected several hundred of their own that they are checking out. Reedsport
plans to put its own regional district up for a vote this November. Riddle,
which plans a June reopening, and Reedsport are working on obtaining catalog
systems so they can check out the county-owned books at their branches. These
cities have become examples that others, including Roseburg, should seriously
consider following.
Libraries
in some communities remain closed, awaiting some action from the county. It’s
their patrons who have suffered from that miscalculation, and if Roseburg
doesn’t move very quickly, their library patrons will suffer as well. A
community without a library is a poorer, and ultimately a dumber one. Roseburg
owes it to its citizens to give them what they voted for — a library whose
doors remain open. We hope to see a solid plan for how to do that emerge as
soon as possible.
- APRIL EHRLICH The News-Review
- May 9, 2017
Sutherlin,
Oakland and Reedsport have been more proactive. They’ve opened their libraries
again as reading rooms, by using all-volunteer staffing, and Riddle this week
gained permission from the county to pursue obtaining its own cataloging system
so it could check out books once it reopens in June.
Sutherlin,
Oakland and Reedsport libraries have already reopened, with intergovernmental
agreements (IGAs) signed with the county. The IGAs are necessary because while
all the cities outside Roseburg own their library buildings, the county owns
the books. Sutherlin is open the same hours as before the branch closures, with
volunteer staffing, while Oakland is open on Fridays. Reedsport has even
gathered enough money to keep a paid librarian, at least for the next three
months.
Yoncalla
has signed an IGA to reopen as a “reading room plus,” as has Riddle. The “plus”
allows these libraries to check out books if they acquire their own catalog
systems. Riddle plans to reopen at 3 p.m. June 6. Glendale is close to getting
an IGA signed. It plans to reopen in the summer, and have a bookworm mascot,
and a summer reading program. It’s short on volunteers and money, but plans to
publicize its grand opening with a poster campaign and a Fourth of July parade
float. Myrtle Creek has an active group of 50 volunteers and has formed a
nonprofit to raise funds. It hopes to have the library reopened by July 1.
Winston
and Canyonville do not yet have plans to reopen their libraries. Winston
leaders are concerned about a shortage of volunteers.
Drain
has scheduled two community meetings at 7 p.m. May 25 and 2 p.m. June 3 at the
Drain Civic Center, 205 West A Ave. to determine what residents want to do
about the library. The city has had offers of financial donations, but is short
on volunteers.
Riddle had their grand-opening and library kick off the day that
Jeanie passed away. Jenna and I had gone to the library on the first as
she had a dentist appointment and we were already in the area anyway. She
signed up for the summer reading program though she is already doing one
through school and will be doing one through Myrtle Creek. I was told I could sign up for a library card
but that it would cost eight dollars (as we don’t reside in Riddle) We’d like
to incorporate Myrtle Creek, Canyonville and Riddle to operate together and
thought I would weigh it out.
Roland told me to go ahead and get a card so that I could check
out some audio books to listen to on the road.
I wish he had gone to pick them out himself. He always ends up making an audio book
purchase as I don’t do well with selection – not that there was much to choose
from. Mostly Nora Roberts collection
which I just didn’t think he’d be interested in.
Myrtle Creek's summer kick off does not start until July
3. At this point we don't even know where that will be as the city has
not made a commitment for location. But I will save that for another post. Oh, we’re not done. There is and will be more.
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