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 who think that they are trying to make things
better/easier.
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 store overflow 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 as city 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 Coalition were 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.
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.