[Libs-Or] Congratulations! Governor's Volunteer Award Winner, Josephine Community Libraries

[Caleb TUCKER-RAYMOND]

MaryKay thanks for starting a discussion.

360 volunteers - wow! Even if no one is putting up any cash, that shows an
outstanding commitment to library service by the community.

I worry of course that celebrating volunteer-run public libraries gives
legitimacy to the idea that we don't need to pay for them at all. But we
can't ignore the fact that volunteer libraries exist. If we want people to
fund libraries because publicly-funded libraries are better (for whatever
reason), the burden is on us to prove it.


Caleb Tucker-Raymond

Statewide Reference Service Coordinator
Multnomah County Library
(503) 988-5438
calebt at multco.us
www.answerland.org


On Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 11:44 AM, MaryKay Dahlgreen <
marykay.dahlgreen at state.or.us> wrote:

>  Dear Colleagues,
>
> As I expected, there have been concerns expressed to me about celebrating
> this volunteer library.
>
>
>
> My perspective on this is that the citizens of Josephine County didn't
> want to wait a great  length of time without library service, especially
> for their children. They are very up front about the fact that their
> current situation is unsustainable and are even now collecting signatures
> to put a library district on the ballot in November 2014. I like to think
> of the creation of the non-profit Josephine Community Libraries, Inc. as an
> emergency response and they have been building towards sustainability ever
> since.
>
>
>
> I would also guess that the none of the public libraries in Oregon would
> be able to function at their current level without volunteers, I know that
> OSL couldn't.
>
>
>
> And finally, the political and financial situation in Josephine County is
> quite different than in other areas of Oregon, particularly the Willamette
> Valley.
>
>
>
> I think this is an important topic of discussion and would welcome other
> comments.
>
>
>
> MaryKay
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] *On
> Behalf Of *MaryKay Dahlgreen
> *Sent:* Monday, March 31, 2014 3:47 PM
> *To:* (libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us)
> *Subject:* [Libs-Or] Congratulations! Governor's Volunteer Award Winner,
> Josephine Community Libraries
>
>
>
>
>
> *Not-for-Profit Volunteer Program: *Josephine Community Libraries of
> Grants Pass
>
> Without the volunteers at Josephine Community Libraries, 83,000
> Oregonians wouldn't have access to a public library. Josephine Community
> Libraries formed in fall 2007, after the county closed its libraries due to
> funding cuts and the failure of a ballot initiative for a library district.
> The nonprofit today operates all the county's libraries, with volunteers
> filling core roles: cataloging and shelving books, providing information to
> library users, hosting children's story times, checking books in and out,
> marketing, communications, fundraising, outreach, facilities maintenance
> and more. The system has 360 dedicated volunteers. About 2,500 patrons
> check out items from the libraries each month, and 1,700 patrons use the
> public Internet computers. The system also has special programs for
> children: First Steps for toddlers, K-9 Reading Buddies for young readers,
> story times and the Summer Reading Program. It also has the Expanding
> Opportunities Program, which provides deeper access to library resources
> and community partners, helping people improve their prospects in
> education, employment and entrepreneurship.
>
>
>
> For more information on the Governor's Volunteer Awards:
> http://www.oregonvolunteers.org/
>
>
>
>
>
> MaryKay Dahlgreen
>
> Oregon State Librarian
>
> 503-378-4367
>
> marykay.dahlgreen at state.or.us
>
> http://oregon.gov/osl
>
> [image: library logo.jpg]
>
>
>
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