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<DIV class=bylineText><SPAN class=by>By </SPAN><SPAN class=byline><A title="See Profile" href="javascript:NewWindow(740,530,'/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=mm0020',0)">Damian Mann</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=bylineExtra>Mail Tribune - <A href="http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/NEWS/909170326#STS=fzpm7k81.1axh">http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/NEWS/909170326#STS=fzpm7k81.1axh</A></DIV>
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<H2 class=bdyTitle>Check this out</H2>
<P class=articleGraf>Despite a 36 percent reduction in hours at Jackson County libraries, last year saw the second highest number of items checked out in the last 10 years.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>2008-09: 1,411,767</P>
<P class=articleGraf>2005-06: 1,444,813</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Jackson County residents have boosted circulation numbers to near record levels despite limited hours at most of the 15 branches.</P></DIV>
<P class=articleGraf>In April 2007, county libraries closed because of funding problems. They reopened in October of that year under the management of a private company, Library Systems and Services LLC (known as LSSI), a Maryland-based company.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>In 2005-06, the last full fiscal year county employees ran the libraries, 1,444,813 items were checked out. In 2008-09, circulation came in at 1,411,767, despite reduced hours.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>The libraries are open a total of 310 hours a week now, compared to 481 before they were closed for six months, representing a 36 percent decrease.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>"Right now the use at libraries, even though they are at part-time, is about what it was before," said Commissioner Dave Gilmour.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Gilmour made the comment while he presented an award Wednesday to Anne Guevara, Medford library manager who was named employee of the year by LSSI in its western division.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Rotge said she didn't know much about the problems the library had in the past, but after moving from Texas recently, she is sold on the Medford branch.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>"It's 100 percent nicer than what I'm used to," she said.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Her 4-year-old daughter Sierra crawled under the display cases with her new friend, 4-year-old Rowan Lance. Rowan said her favorite things at the library are reading books and meeting people.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>She didn't seem to mind a bit of publicity Wednesday. "We got to get our picture," Rowan said, referring to a photo taken by the Mail Tribune.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Her mother, Elys Lance, said she checks out lots of books for her daughter each week as she relaxed in a chair in the children's section.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>The 38-year-old Medford resident said she hasn't noticed much of a difference in service since the private company took over.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>"It's pretty much the same except for the reduced hours," she said. Lance has noticed that check-out is a lot easier thanks to an automated system.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Lance said the hours are somewhat inconvenient and require more flexibility on her part. "Once you get used to it, you can make it work," she said.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Denise Galarraga, director of Jackson County Library Services, said the economy may be helping boost circulation numbers despite limited hours. "I think undoubtably there is that effect," she said.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>While books remain the most popular item to check out, other materials such as movie DVDs are a hit, particularly new releases. "They fly off the shelf," she said. "They never get on the shelf because people put holds on them."</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Books on CD are popular, and it is becoming more common for people to download audio books from the library system's Web site, www.jcls.org. "We download about 800 a month," said Galarraga.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Computer use has been both heavy and light at times, but a grant helped with the purchase of 110 computers and 118 monitors that will be installed at branches across the county, she said.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>The library system offers many programs, including the popular storytime.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Overall attendance in all programs increased from 3,500 in June 2008 to 6,000 in June 2009. Storytime attracted 15,308 children and 7,676 adults in 2008-09.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Meeting rooms are extremely popular, attracting people in 2008-09 at 3,649 separate meetings. The Medford branch attracted 59 percent of the people who attended meetings.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>A regular visitor to the Medford branch, Cristy Sanders, said she picks up 10 to 15 books a week for her three children, and the reduced hours are only a minor inconvenience.</P>
<P class=articleGraf>"It's hard sometimes because you can't come in during the evenings," the 29-year-old mother said. "It's a small price to pay for having it open."</P>
<P class=articleGraf>Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail <A href="mailto:dmann@mailtribune.com">dmann@mailtribune.com</A>.</P>
<P class=articleGraf> </P>
<DIV>------------------------------------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>Judy Baalman</DIV>
<DIV>Business & Support Services Mgr.<BR>Jackson County Library Services<BR>County Courthouse, Room 214</DIV>
<DIV>10 South Oakdale Avenue</DIV>
<DIV>Medford, OR 97501<BR>Phone: 541-774-6402</DIV>
<DIV>Cell: 541-601-4909<BR>Fax: 541-774-6455</DIV></BODY></HTML>