Support for Reopening the Libraries

Our libraries here in Josephine County have been closed for over a year now.  The adverse impacts have been immeasurable, literally...no one seems capable of quantifying what the loss has meant to the community, its children, etc.  But, we have known for awhile now that it would take $600,000 and a 3-5 year operating plan to reopen the libraries, with the county matching $300,000 in donations and providing the facilities.  

The Grants Pass Daily Courier championed the formation of a non-profit--Josephine Community Libraries (JCL)--to raise the money (previous blog here).  But the noisy and often condescending minority has once again struggled to persuade most JoCo residents to open their wallets for the libraries.    

...JCL once envisioned raising $600,000 to $1 million and running a four-branch operation similar to what the libraries had when they closed in 2007. The libraries' budget that year was $630,800.

Reality set in when a recent drive netted only 1,079 members and $84,361. The group's total for cash, in-kind donations and pledges now stands at $235,000. That's a decent showing for the new group, but nowhere near the amounts it once thought necessary.

The initial hope was that at least 3,000 people would donate $1,000 each...the county population is a bit over 80,000.  

The commissioners recently drafted a memorandum of understanding between them and JCL. A key point is the requirement that all four branches - Grants Pass, Williams, Wolf Creek and Cave Junction - be opened at the start has been dropped. It allows JCL to open only the main Grants Pass branch, and the others when resources permit.

Other conditions are the commissioners lease the library buildings and collections to JCL for $1 a year per branch and that the county provide a $100,000 grant.

Good thing the library is within the city limits.  That way even if the Sheriff's Office levies fail this fall, the facility will still have police protection.