Facebook memories shared a video put out by Vice News on
HBO. I watched this as though seeing it
for the first time and felt nostalgic at doing so. I had heard the rumor before joining the
library board when it was considered a public library. Many of the libraries did reopen eventually,
but most are no longer considered public but rather “Third Party” libraries as
there is no funding to pay a staff or even just one librarian. Myrtle Creek is a third party library. I think Riddle has gone public – or perhaps
were in the processing. But COVID could
have changed that. A lot of changes
since COVID. But the closing of the
libraries happened three years before. I
miss the public libraries we’d gone to in Salt Lake. I am grateful for my kindle and having the
ability to update with Amazon.
When Myrtle Creek Library was still a
public library back in 2016 there was an announcement for a book club.Unlike Salt Lake county that has several
copies of many books, Douglas county had multiples of approximately 8-12 books.I remember the librarian passing a list of
suggested titles and a brief description.The most unanimous we for A Light in the Wilderness by Jane
Kirkpatrick.
The story is one of African-American pioneer Letitia Carson who
made her way to Oregon and although she was a property owner by today’s
standards, the law back then frowned upon women owning property.
It appeared to be easy reading and we
each took home a copy (I think there were eight of us) and would meet the
following week or two (I don’t remember) and while the storyline did seem
interesting, most of us found the book to be very one dimensional as characters
would be mentioned but not developed.It
wasn’t so hard to keep track of as it just seemed to leave out enough detail
that it was hard to imagine . . . if that makes any sense.
Latitia Carson was buried in Pioneer Cemetery
upon a hill just behind the gas station we often stop to have our car
filled.Roland and I have been to
pioneer cemetery only once.I searched
among the headstones to see if I could find one for Latitia but I did not find
one.Most of the “markers” are unmarked –
bearing a leaf but no other information.Those that include a name or date are so badly weathered that it is hard
to read (see here).
For the second book we read it was
suggested that instead of having everybody read the same thing, why not read
something that we would not normally read and each give our review on what we
had chosen.The library was then having a book sale and I
somehow felt myself drawn to a book calledWhen Beauty Tamed
the Beast by Eliosa James. I HATE romance
novels, I despise them. I picked it up
not only because it is a genre I avoid, but because it had a giant font which I
thought would be easier to read than most books.
It
was hilarious!I thought it was
anyway.Yes, it did occasionally drop a
hint of grossness but nothing that made me want to vomit (as most romance
novels do).I could read other books by Eliosa
James if that was indeed her style.When
I looked at the review four years ago, it did not seem well favored by her fans
as she had stayed away from her usual.Okay, that makes sense that I would enjoy something that the avid
romance reader would not.
When
I looked up the Title today it fell under fairytale 2 and I can no longer find
the indecent review which I found before.But I don’t see the book as a fairytale per se.I think I would have been more disappointed
with it if I had been expecting a fairytale.
I
remember there were a couple that gave reviews and it peaked my interest but
for the most part I didn’t care for the descriptions of the books that the
others had read – nor do I recall any further meetings for the book club that
seemed to vanish quicker than did the library (here)
When
we had first moved to Myrtle Creek Jenna and I had gone to the library all the
time.And then I received my position on
the board. Funny how I plugged for the promotion of voting to save the
libraries and was active as a volunteer for a few months and just stopped going
after a while. I got busy with school and then 2020 took over.I need to go back someday.
I went to my firstLibrary Futures Task Force meeting - only it
isn't called that anymore.The meeting
was referred to as Douglas County Library Rescue Coalition.About 100 people (I thought it
had been more) attended the meeting in Winston last Thursday (August 17).I think most were volunteers, some onlookers
and concerned citizens, some who would like the libraries to continue to
operate just asthey had before, some
there for support, some there to share newfound growth and remain independent ;
cooperative but not restricted . . .
Mary
Kay - who represents the state - was there to raise awareness and provide
options for those who needed or wanted the support.The libraries who seem to be most successful
would like to share materials but not guidance that feels mandatory.Most representatives expressed that they are
doing fine without the stipulations of those whothink that they are trying to make things
better/easier.
The
smaller communities have seem to established successful growth.It is the larger cities that struggle.The smaller cities have city support.The larger ones don't seem to - at least that
is how it is in our case.We are not
among the largest of cities in the county, though larger than most.Reedsport is the largest city to have their
library underway.Kudos for all those
from Reedsport who attend.They are
located on the coast far away from the rest of the county.I always thought it looked odd
geographically.I don't know if they
ever felt included or excluded because of their location.
Next
to Reedsport, Myrtle Creek may actually be the largest library after Sutherlin
- though I don't think "library" is the correct term as they are not
checking out books, but offering as a reading room.Perhaps I should have paid greater attention.
The
smaller cities sign up many volunteers.The larger cities don't general get as many who are willing to make the
time to volunteer.In our community we
have a large number who are interested.We also have just as many who are definitely not willing to support the
cost of a library.At least three of
those members serve on the council at city hall.And there are three who are in favor of
keeping the library.We are located in
the original library building on a trial basis.After a year, we may have to move again.Downtown parking doesn't seem as convenient.But there is a building available (in fact
several) if needs be.Right now we are
using it to storeoverflow book sale items.Perhaps it will be opened to the public
soon.
There
are/WERE 11 cities with libraries.Each
was represented at the meeting.Glendale
might be are least populated city, though I don't imagine that Oakland and
Drain are too far behind.When the
measure for the county didn't pass, Drain had their own election ascity and there were four more votes for
saving the library than not;currently
they are the only city in the county with a paid librarian.Glendale checks out with cards and pockets
and may not ever be able to do it the check out the modern way as I understand
there is no internet available in Glendale anymore.That bites.But I am so happy that they have reopened and have the support.I think Glendale needs their library more than
we do.
Riddle
and Reedsport have already chosen to remain independent - even before attending
the meeting.I think Mary Kay and Douglas County Library Rescue Coalitionwere disappointed
with some of the reaction from the libraries who chose to run independently,
but really the correspondence between library reps has been even greater than
when we were a county library.There is
a lot of newsfeed and sharing and definite structure and not always waiting for
the big head cheese.
Those that came out of concern for
Winston and Roseburg - Roseburg especially - didn't seem very satisfied. We have added items to those that belong to the county, but only the county ones come up in the system. Currently we are open more hours than any other library in
the county.We were open three or four
days each week during the summer.We are
talking about changing our hours for the school year so that it can be used
after school.We will probably be open
less hours.I don't know for certain. As a whole the libraries do seem to be working well together. We share information and have given one another great support. Overall I think the feedback from each representative was very positive. It appears that we are the only library to carry insurance on our volunteers. At the time of the meeting, we were checking items in and out by hand - using cards and pockets - which we still have to do for non-county things. But as of Monday (Solar Eclipse Day) we have been able to scan county items and check items out the modern way.
We have activities each week for the Children's Summer
Reading Program.Today's
"Build" activity featured a solar oven and building S'mores. Yum!
JM took the children outside and placed marshmallows in
the oven and explained how it would work.
We then came inside and had story time - only it was more of a question, answer and demonstration than straight reading.We talked about the sun and moon.
When we finished with the book, Rindy was up with her
"Pin-a-Moon-to-the-Sun" craft.Each of the children were given black paper to create a moon.After all the moons were cut out, each stood
in line to paste their moon on the sun while wearing their solar glasses.It was really fun.
The best part of our activity was returning outside with
graham crackers and chocolate to add to the marshmallows - which really hadn't toasted
to the melting stage.But those squares
of chocolate certainly got soft in less than two minutes in the sun.
Everybody enjoyed their s'mores - particularly Jenna who
got to keep the solar oven and all leftover fixings.
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.
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.
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.
"As a result of
declining timber receipt and dwindling reserve funds the Board is tasked with
making very difficult decisions to ensure that basic public safety needs and
other essential services for the community are met." stated County
Commissioner Chris Boice.
Those
are the last words found on the Douglas County Library home page.The web page may appear to offer more options, but they are no longer linked to
anything.It's a dead page.
This
was the caption on November 30, 2016 Charlotte Herbert wrote the following
letter to the News Review Editor:
Stop the talk, vote for the library
" How can anyone think library
supporters have not thoroughly explored ALL funding solutions? Library staff
and supporters have been thinking about alternative funding for 20 years. Ever
since 1996, when repeated budget cuts made our libraries fall below minimum
standards.
"Can we use volunteers?
Josephine County now funds and operates its four branches by relying on many
volunteers. This is so unworkable that both staff and volunteers are now
planning a May 2017 ballot measure like ours. Can cities pay more? Not one city
has stepped forward in the past five years to help Douglas County run the
library. Can't donors step in? We have donors, but they do not fund operations,
just "extras," like new books.
"The Save Our Libraries
Committee has boxes of research on libraries and how to fund them. They've done
countless interviews. They've held countless public meetings . . ."
To add to that concern, this was
posted on November 19, 2016: "Once upon a time, we were so dedicated to improving our community
that we as a county banded together to form a single library system. It was
well funded and fully staffed by professional librarians. The branches were
open often enough that people could visit them regularly. And a beautiful new
library was built to house the Roseburg branch, in part thanks to generous
donations from the Ford family.
"It
was emblematic of a time when we looked forward, planned for the future,
invested in our kids, valued learning. "It’s
a good story, yes? But it may turn out to have a very unhappy ending. The
voters’ rejection of a library district this month, we may well be facing the
demise of the Douglas County Library System. "Since
you are reading this editorial right now, we assume you are generally in favor
of literacy."
On November 30, 2016 Carisa Cegavske, Senior Staff Writer
for The News Review wrote:
"There were
tears from a Glide teacher who said she “just can’t believe people failed” a
library district measure earlier this month, and cheers for the father of a
home-schooled girl who raised money for the library through a bake sale."
It's not that voters were opposed to keeping libraries opened so much as it
was against paying even more in taxes.Evidently the city of Sutherlin had already opted out before the bill
was proposed.Property taxes were/are
too high before the bill. There was
talk about Reedsport possibly joining forces with Coos County, which seemed to
make sense in my mind.It always
appeared to be disjointed whenever I looked at the map
It
actually takes less time for us to get to Coos Bay than to Reedsport - not that
I've ever been to Reedsport.I was told
that it is over a two hour drive.
“The Reedsport
library is one of the most important places in Reedsport.” [says Reedport's librarian
Sue Cousineau]
Cousineau is also optimistic.
“The Reedsport library will be here one way or another because the people in
this area care so much about their library.”
Cousineau will stay on through April to help volunteers set up their reading
room. Then, after 13 years running the Reedsport Library, she’ll be out of a
job.
I provided a link
for this next article in this post
MYRTLE CREEK — The Myrtle Creek branch of the Douglas County
Library System closed its doors Thursday.
In its final hours, library patrons read and talked, used the
computers and collected books, as a documentary film crew from San Francisco’s
Serendipity Films moved around them, gathering stories for a film on the
history of the American public library and the challenges those libraries face
today.
And the challenges in Myrtle Creek and Douglas County are very,
very real. The county government, strapped for cash, announced it would be
unable to fund the county libraries through the end of the year. A November
ballot measure that would have created a library district tax to keep the
libraries opened was rejected by voters. Subsequently, the closure dates were
announced — April 1 for the 10 rural branches and May 31 for the main branch in
Roseburg. A task force has been convened to seek a long-term funding solution.
Meanwhile, library boards, city councilors and a host of book-loving
volunteers are scrambling to fill the breach in Myrtle Creek and other cities
around the county.
There’s been a library in Myrtle Creek in some form for 105 years,
and quite a few town residents say they have no intention of giving it up.
Already, 35 volunteers have signed up to work shifts at the library and they
plan to reopen it on July 1.
On Thursday, the prevailing mood at the library was sadness.
Karen Rivera, mother of 12-year-old Jaime Rivera, wiped away tears
as she talked about what the loss meant to her and her daughter. It was hard
enough adjusting to a small library open only part-time after they moved here
from Salt Lake City a couple years ago. She and Jaime were reading the book
“Zillah and Me” together Thursday. They’ve been reading together since Jaime
was born.
“I’m really bummed,” Karen Rivera said. “The library offered a way
for us to get together, to feed our minds. We’ve always been a poor family, and
being able to go to the library programs has given our family something to do for
free.”
“Being able to borrow books from the library to gain information,
that was awesome,” Jaime said. “Now this is going to be ripped away from us,
and it sucks.”
This wasn’t Marilyn Brouillard’s first rodeo, though. Brouillard,
longtime volunteer and incidentally the mayor’s wife, lived in Redding,
California, almost 30 years ago when the Shasta County Library System closed
down.
Back then, her son checked out a collection of books beginning
with the words “The Last.” On Thursday, Brouillard copied his example.
She checked out 10 books with titles like “The Last Star,” “The
Last Sin Eater,” “The Last Battle,” and “The Last Apocalypse.”
She doesn’t know if she’ll get to read them all before the final
book return date of April 25.
“I just never thought I’d go through this a second time,” she
said.
She said she’s impressed, though, by the number of people who have
signed up to volunteer.
Myrtle Creek Librarian Hannah Merrill is out of a job, but said
she tried her best to make the library’s last day a happy one for the people
who love it. She said she plans to return to school to get an English degree,
and would like to become a fiction editor.
“I’ve always had a love for books,” she said.
Connie Earp wondered where the children would go. The library is a
source of knowledge for them, she said, and she loves watching their little
faces light up during story time.
To have that disappear, she said, “it’s just the saddest thing.”
Five-year-old Jameson Bury clutched a book about dinosaurs as his
mother wondered what they’d do until the library reopened with an all-volunteer
staff in July. His mother said she visits the library every week with Jameson
and his little brother.
“I can’t read library books for story time any more,” Jameson
said. Asked if that made him feel sad, he nodded.
“I’m really depressed about it,” Melissa Bury said. “They’ve grown
up with this library. It’s someplace we really love to come.”
Carissa had already left when the Myrtle Creek Library board members held their final meeting (see here) On April 30, 2017 News Review gave us this story headline:
WINCHESTER
— Umpqua Community College is inviting the public to visit its library. As
Douglas County commissioners move forward with plans to close the county’s sole
remaining library in Roseburg, UCC wants the community to know its library is
still an option for people who love books.
“We
just want the public to know they still have a place to go and check out
books,” McGeehon said.
The
library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Fridays. The library is not open on weekends. For more
information, call 541-440-4640. HBO put out this news segment video:
Some cities have been working at creating a library or at
least offering a reading room strictly staffed by volunteers.The city of Riddle has continued to fund
their building.As Jenna had a dentist
appointment in Riddle about a week before we went out of town, we stopped by and she signed up for their
summer reading program - even though Myrtle Creek will also be sponsoring a
reading program in addition to Coffenberry Middle School.
I
realize my mind seems to be going in several directions . . . I still have my
two classes to focus on, but did want to express how pleased I am with Jenna
The Douglas County libraries have run out of funding (or soon will be) and had proposed a 44cent per day tax increase to all property owners.The proposal made it to the ballot that was mailed just before the election.Unfortunately, the bill did not pass and the libraries will be gone.
Myrtle Creek had invested in a drop box that was put in just before the election.I suppose it will be possible to salvage some libraries that may run independently as city libraries - but it sounds as if most libraries will close down.Two had already opted out before the election.We do not know what's to become of the rest.
The building that houses the books at the Myrtle Creek library was built specifically to be a library, where many others have been offered space through the city . . . the library in Canyonville, for example, is sandwiched between the police station and city hall.
Scott M. Stolz gave us 15 reasons why voting third party is not a wasted vote.It is better to vote for something you want than to vote for something you don't want.It is better to try to do something about this given situation even though it may not work. Jenna and I have been feeling quite helpless as we certainly don't have a way of funding the library either. On her own, she has decided to start a petition and has been gathering up signatures - mostly of classmates.
The library's future was to be discussed at the city council meeting last night.Jaime took her petition and faced the council as she read her plea that "most of those who signed the petition didn't get to vote.They signed the petition so their voices might be heard" and "we are your future.Don't take the libraries away from your future"
She was nervous to face the council of adults, but I think they were impressed - not that it will change anything - but with the stand, she was willing to take.She also let them know that she has written to various performers to see if they might contribute their talents to a benefit's concert.
I hope that Jenna may take this experience and recognize it as positive on her part regardless of what results are found.As of now, it's just too early to say.
