SNAP Red Ribbon Week Essay Contest

SNAP recently completed one of our two main projects, a Red Ribbon Week. Essay contest. Red Ribbon Week is a week nationally recognized to bring awareness to issues surrounding drugs and alcohol. SNAP decided to hold an essay contest for middle school aged youth in Josephine County so they could share why they choose to be drug free. We wanted to offer the schools an activity that fit easily into their regular curriculum and give them incentives to participate. Our essay prompt was “Why I Choose to be Drug Free.” Both Fleming Middle School and Lincoln Savage Middle School participated with a total of 163 essays entered into the contest.

The essays from both schools were so powerful we decided to extend awards to first, second, and third place as well as three honorable mentions at each of the two participating middle schools. Abby’s Pizza at both locations and Coming Attractions Theatres donated some of our essay contest prizes.

After winners were decided we notified the teachers and planned a visit to announce the results. At each school several SNAP! members presented the principal with the school prize of 30 red tulip bulbs. We hope that the blooms will be a reminder to the students and staff the importance of Red Ribbon Week and staying drug free. We also presented each student winner with their prizes. We presented the classroom with a sweet treat as well as red wrist bands reading “Life: Nothing Added – Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Free.” SNAP members shared the history behind Red Ribbon Week with the classes and also talked about drugs and how using them keeps you from reaching your goals.

Winning essays from both schools were displayed in the courthouse for public viewing. The essay contest was a great success and we were happy to be able to recognize youth in our community making healthy choices!

Teen Nite Event

Our second project is Teen Nite.  Our second Teen Nite was held on November 7th.

Our event was held at the Boys and Girls Club and Offered a live DJ, rock climbing, karaoke, basketball, pool tables, and foose ball.  We also offered refreshments at a low cost.  A total of 49 youth came to participate in the festivities.   One of our successes with this event was a change in location.  The Boys and Girls club was a familiar place for the teens to be and they seemed comfortable at the facility. We were happy with our November event and look forward to serving more youth throughout our community at our next Teen Nite. at our next Teen Nite.  Our next Teen Nite  will be held at the Boys and Girls Club on December 5th from 7 to 10pm.
If you would like to be a part of SNAP and help with prevention events in our community please contact Jenifer Pohling at
pohlingj@yahoo.com.

Hello Everyone,

The one night homeless count takes place in all counties in Oregon during the last full week of January. The homeless count is one of the factors used by Oregon Housing and Community Services to determine the amount of funding a county receives to provide services to homeless people. For the purpose of the count the definition of homeless includes anyone living in places not meant for permanent habitation. So it covers couch surfers, car sleepers, tents, encampments and those staying at shelters, with relatives or in transitional housing. This year the count will take place on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009.

We have a plan to do both the sheltered count and a street count. We have opted to do both due to the inaccuracy of counting only those who are sheltered. The street count will require lots of volunteers and donations. We have set up central locations in several outlying areas and will be sending teams out to some of the local camps. We will be giving out socks, gloves, hats and hygiene products as well as hot food.

We need your help! We are requesting donations of food, socks, gloves and hats in assorted sizes, as well as blankets, tarps, sleeping bags, etc. All donations are tax deductable.

We are also in need of volunteers to help conduct the count, serve food items, etc. The first planning meeting for volunteers will be help next Wednesday, November, 19th, at 9:00am, at Bethany Presbyterian, 748 NW 5th St. For more information call the Homeless Count Coordinator Dancer Davis at UCAN at 492-3528.
Sincerely,
Anna Bernstein
Homeless Youth Advocate
LIFT Street Youth Services

541-218-4594

Update for November 13, 2008

Open the door to knowledge

Officials with JCLI and Josephine County are working together to finalize their lease contract for the library buildings and grant contract for the $300,000 matching grant.

The JCLI Business Plan for 2008-2012 was adopted by the JCLI Board of Directors on November 11, and submitted to the Board of County Commissioners on November 12. The business plan, including the three-year budgets, is posted on the JCLI Web site: http://www.josephinelibrary.org/Details/board.htm.

We hope to get the keys to the library buildings soon. Then we can start preparing the main branch in Grants Pass for the grand reopening. We are finalizing a contract with Polaris for the computerized library catalog system, and the network is being set up, thanks to Ron Dowell of FastServer, LLC. The phone system is in process, and books and other materials will be acquired. Policies are being developed, and insurance is being secured.

JCLI will operate as an independent contractor to manage day-to-day operations of the library, personnel, programs, and technology. After the contracts are signed and we have keys, we’ll be able to announce the date we’re reopening the library!!!

$39,464 to raise by November 30!

Our community has now contributed $260,536 to reopen our libraries — way up from the $223,800 we last reported! This means we need $39,464 in memberships and other cash contributions to reach $300,000 and get the maximum effect of the county’s matching grant.

The hardest working volunteers in Josephine County — the JCLI membership committee — has sent out yellow envelopes with blue membership forms to all our members last week. You’re encouraged to pass on the membership forms to your friends and neightbors and encourage them to join JCLI as Founding Members. Questions? Contact our Membership Chair Nancy Hitchcock at 479-9436.

Our bare-bones library operations budget says we need $395,000 to open the main branch of the library. Help us do just that — if you haven’t yet joined, here are three ways to become a member of Josephine Community Libraries:

• Make your check out to Josephine Community Libraries, and mail it to JCLI, P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528.
• Go to www.josephinelibrary.org and click the Donate button to make a secure contribution online using your debit card, credit card, or PayPal account.
• Go to www.josephinelibrary.org and click automatic monthly payment form. Complete the form to have your contribution automatically deducted each month from your checking account. Send the form and your first month’s check to JCLI, P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528.

Annual membership levels are as follows:

• Sustaining Member $1 to $199
• Bronze Member $200 to $499
• Silver Member $500 to $999
• Gold Member $1000 to $4999
• Platinum Member at $5000 and up.

All membership contributions are tax-deductible. But remember, whether or not a person is a member, everyone in the county will be able to use the services of the library. Not only will contributions this month help us meet our November 30 deadline, but it’s a great time to think of holiday giving and year-end tax planning!

Fundraising events through November

Here are four fundraisers happening this month to help us get to $300,000.

• JCLI Book Sale. With the main branch of the library in Grants Pass opening sooooon, last Saturday was the final day of operations for the temporary lending library. Thanks to everyone who helped make the JCLI temporary lending library a success! This weekend, there will be a book sale from 9-4 pm on Saturday November 15 and 12-4 pm on Sunday November 16. The location is 1519 NE F Street, behind Gooseberries in Parkway Village. Come buy your books at bargain prices for holiday gifts and help reopen the libraries at the same time! For more information, contact Barbara Ketley at londonfg@cpros.com.

• “Run For Our Library.” Century 21 agent Lori Patch and her 12-year-old daughter Anna Patch are entered in a 10K run in Grants Pass on November 15. To keep them “in the race” they’re asking for pledges for the library. Email Lori at lori@patchrealestate.com for the amount you’ll donate or pledge per “k”. She’ll contact you after the run to let you know they finished. So far they’ve raised more than $800!

• JCLI Garage Sale. JCLI is sponsoring a garage sale benefit from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, November 22 at the JCLI space at Parkway Village, 1519 NE F Street, behind Gooseberries in the Parkway Village Shopping Center. Good clean donations of garage sale items may be delivered from 10 am to 6 pm on Thursday November 20 and Friday November 21. Unsold donations may be picked up by the donor at 3 pm on November 22. Any unclaimed items will be given to a local charity. All sales will be donations to JCLI and will be considered eligible for the county matching grant. For more information, contact Nancy Smith at 471-9446.

• Special Effects Spa Evening. Special Effects salon is sponsoring a Spa Evening fundraiser from 6 to 9 pm on Saturday, November 22. Only 20 Spa Evening tickets for $100 will be available, and all proceeds will go to JCLI. Offered at the Spa Evening will be any or all of the following services: mini-manicure, mini-pedicure, hair styling, bangs cut, facial, makeup, massage, and reflexology. Guests will also be treated to food, drink, and goodie bags. To purchase a ticket or for more information, contact Eric Wynant at 476-7374, ericwynant@hotmail.com. Special Effects is located at 410 NE E Street in Grants Pass.

We have a Library Director!

Russell Long, coming from his position as Library Director for the Del Norte County Library System in Crescent City, has accepted our offer of employment for the position of Library Director for Josephine Community Libraries. His start date is November 17. Read the article about Russell on the front page of Wednesday’s Daily Courier.

A head of technical services is being recruited, and resumes have been accepted for a part-time volunteer coordinator.

Plans are under way for training volunteers to handle circulation, cataloging, and other library duties. A volunteer has stepped up to handle our building maintenance.

Grants

The Williams Friends of the Library just voted this week to contribute $1,000 to JCLI.

We have received the $10,000 check from Zonta of Grants Pass for ten public access computers. With the county grant match, this $10,000 will become $20,000 for our libraries!

We have received notification from Oregon Community Foundation that JCLI is being awarded a grant for $25,000 to go toward the library director salary and library materials.

Thank you Williams, thank you Zonta, thank you OCF!!

Happenings around town

We will have a table at the Prime Time Business Fair from 4-7 pm on Thursday, November 13 at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The event is sponsored by the Grants Pass Josephine County Chamber of Commerce and is open to all.
We staff a lively table at Growers Market every Saturday, and we’ll be there providing information until it closes this month. We have tee-shirts and bumper stickers, not to mention lots of information. Stop by and say hello!

JCLI Board members Susan Ellsworth and Jennifer Roberts participated on a radio talk show with KAJO’s Carl Wilson on Wednesday November 12, from 9:35-10:30 am. Go to www.kajo.com/features/talk_shows to hear a replay of the interview.

Spotlight on Wolf Creek

The Wolf Creek branch of the library is open every Tuesday from 3-6 pm as a reading room to fulfill the conditions of a community service block grant administered by the Josephine County Library Foundation. For those three hours, the Library Foundation pays for the utilities and staffing.

In addition, Boyd Peters of the Wolf Creek Friends of the Library opens the Wolf Creek Branch Library early every Tuesday for the kindergarten and fifth grade students. The kindergartners choose a book and their fifth grade buddies read the books with them.

During the open hours on Tuesday afternoons, the Wolf Creek Friends of the Library also run a small lending library, which currently has an inventory of about 700 books. There are also books for sale.

Check the Web

For more information about Josephine Community Libraries, check our Web site at www.josephinelibrary.org.

This update is being sent to everyone on our Josephine Community libraries e-mail list. Feel free to forward to others. For questions or comments about anything in this update, please reply to this message (info@josephinelibrary.org) or call us at 660-6531.

Thank you for everything you’re doing to help reopen the libraries in Josephine County!

Teresa Stover, Project Manager

Josephine Community Libraries

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org

www.josephinelibrary.org

P.O. Box 1684

Grants Pass, Oregon 97528

News Release

Open the door to knowledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

November 12, 2008 Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Josephine Community Libraries Names Russell Long Library Director

Grants Pass, November 12, 2008-Josephine Community Libraries announced today that Russell Long will serve as its first Library Director.  Mr. Long will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the library; working with the board of directors to establish short- and long-term goals and objectives; supervising staff and volunteers; and establishing relationships in the community.

“I’m pleased to begin work with a community that has shown such enthusiasm for public library service,” said Long.

Long’s most recent position was as Library Director for the Del Norte County Library District in    Crescent City, California.  Bonnie Johnson, chair of the Operations Committee for Josephine Community Libraries, said she was impressed with his leadership at the Del Norte library in “reaching out to the community with a wide variety of programs and successful literacy efforts.”

Long has also served as a Regional Librarian/Collection Development Manager in Daytona Beach,

Florida; Library Director at the Sidney Public Library in Sidney, Nebraska; and as Principal

-more-

Josephine Community Libraries, page 2

Librarian-Regional Branch Manager at the Orange County Public Library in Santa Ana, California.  He received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Science in Library Science degree from the University of Southern California.

The hiring of Long as Library Director is a crucial next step for Josephine Community Libraries in its mission to reopen and operate the libraries in Josephine County.  The group is currently working to meet a $300,000 matching-funds grant from the county, which has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar what the library group raises by November 30.  To date, the group has raised $260,536 and needs $39,464 to reach its goal.

The library group is also working to meet its longstanding goal of opening the main branch of the library before the end of 2008.

The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007.  In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County.  People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org.   Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org.

# # # # #

Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684   Grants Pass, OR  97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org

Nov. 10 - 11 a.m. - The Merlin Community Park Board

and VFW Post 2302 will host an event at the Josephine

County Veterans Walk of Honor at the community

park. A laying of wreaths will honor departed veterans.

Names placed on the monument since 2007 will be

read. Guest speaker: Keith Heck, U.S. Marine Corps

Veteran. After the ceremony Boy Scout Troop 77 will

retire old and worn American flags.

Contact: Dick Smith, 541-471-9446

Update for November 3, 2008

Open the door to knowledge

Great news! On October 29, the Josephine County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Josephine Community Libraries, Inc. The MOU states that the county will lease the library buildings and collections to JCLI for $1 per year. The county will also grant up to $300,000 to match dollar for dollar what the group raises by November 30.

JCLI will operate as an independent contractor to manage day-to-day operations of the library, personnel, programs, and technology.

Following on this milestone, JCLI is putting the finishing touches on its three-year business plan for submittal to the county. JCLI and Josephine County are also working on the details of the lease agreement.

We’re going to open the libraries!!!

November 30 fundraising deadline for $300,000 matching grant

With the restoration of the $300,000 matching grant from Josephine County, everyone’s pitching in, getting creative, and working overtime to meet the challenge of getting to $300,000 by November 30. As of October 27, our community has contributed a phenomenal $223,800 in memberships and other cash contributions to reopen our libraries! So we need to raise another $77,000 in one month to get the maximum effect of this matching grant. (Thousands more have been raised in cash pledges and in-kind goods. The county has agreed to match only cash, not in-kind contributions.) We also have more than 1,400 members — we call that widespread community support!

If we have your mailing address, you’ll receive a notice in the mail from us, either asking you to become a founding member or, if you’re already a member, to pass the information on to three friends or neighbors.

Our bare-bones library operations budget says we need the equivalent of $395,000 to open the main branch of the library. Help us do just that — here are three ways to become a member of Josephine Community Libraries:

• Make your check out to Josephine Community Libraries, and mail it to Josephine Community Libraries, P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528.

• Go to www.josephinelibrary.org and click automatic monthly payment form. Complete the form to have your contribution automatically deducted each month from your checking account. Send the form and your first month’s check to Josephine Community Libraries, P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528.

• Go to www.josephinelibrary.org and click the Donate button to make a secure contribution online using your debit card, credit card, or PayPal account.

Annual membership levels are as follows:

• Sustaining Member $1 to $199
• Bronze Member $200 to $499
• Silver Member $500 to $999
• Gold Member $1000 to $4999
• Platinum Member at $5000 and up.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us. All membership contributions are tax-deductible. But remember, whether or not a person is a member, everyone in the county will be able to use the services of the library.

Not only will contributions this month help us meet our November 30 deadline, but it’s a great time to think of holiday giving and year-end tax planning!

Fundraising events throughout November

Here’s a listing of the things happening this month to help us get to $300,000.

• ShopRiverRock Boutique. The ShopRiverRock Boutique, located in the reservation office of Hellgate Jetboat Excursions on Sixth Street, is holding its annual holiday shopping evening for its regular patrons on November 6. Five dollars of each of its $20 tickets will be donated to JCLI and the event is sold out. Many thanks to owners Robert and Linda Hamlyn and the Hope Floats committee!

• “Run For Our Library.” Century 21 agent Lori Patch and her 12-year-old daughter Anna Patch are entered in a 10K run in Grants Pass on November 15. To keep them “in the race” they’re asking for pledges for the library. Email Lori at lori@patchrealestate.com for the amount you’ll donate or pledge per “k”. She’ll contact you after the run to let you know they finished.

• JCLI Book Sale. With the success of our fundraising, and the impending opening of the library very soon, the last day of the JCLI temporary lending library will be Saturday November 8. Then, from 9-4 pm on Saturday November 15 and 12-4 pm on Sunday November 16, there will be a book sale at the temporary lending library (1519 NE F Street, behind Gooseberries in Parkway Village). We now invite those who have been waiting to donate their books to the library to do so now and help us not only make money but build the library collection. Any donated materials suitable for the library collection will be set aside for that purpose. The rest will be offered for sale. Buy your books for holiday gifts here and help reopen the library at the same time! For more information or to make arrangements to donate books, contact Barbara Ketley at londonfg@cpros.com.

• Special Effects Spa Day. Salon owner Eric Wynant is sponsoring a Spa Day fundraiser at his Special Effects salon on Saturday, November 22. Twenty Spa Day tickets will be sold for $50, with all proceeds going to JCLI! Offered at the Spa Day will be any or all of the following services: hair cut, style, color, massage, facial, manicure, pedicure. To purchase a ticket or for more information, contact Eric at 476-7374, ericwynant@hotmail.com. Special Effects is located at 410 NE E Street in Grants Pass.

• Growers Market. We staff a lively table at Growers Market from 9-1 pm every Saturday, and we’ll be there providing information until it closes this month. We have tee-shirts and bumper stickers, not to mention lots of information. Stop by and say hello!

Staffing update

Our hiring committee has interviewed several librarian candidates to be our first paid library staff. We’re getting close to making an announcement and we’ll update you in later issues.

Surf the Web and earn a penny for JCLI with www.GoodSearch.com

Josephine Community Libraries is participating in www.GoodSearch.com, the Yahoo!-powered Internet search engine (like Google) that devotes 50 percent of its advertising revenue to nonprofits. We earn a penny for every search. So please go to www.GoodSearch.com as your new Internet search engine. The first time you use it, type Josephine Community Libraries in the WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR box. Your computer will remember it from then on. Then type your search phrase in the Search box as normal.

You can also shop through GoodShop, the sister site to GoodSearch, and earn even more money for JCLI, especially as you start your holiday shopping!

In the news

The November issue of “Library Journal,” a national print and Web publication, has a feature article about JCLI. Titled “Libraries in Josephine County, OR, Should Begin Reopening After 18 Months,” the story was written by Norman Oder and published to the Web on October 15. Find the story on the Web at www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6605839.html?industryid=47105.

The Oregonian published an article titled “Boosters try to reopen Josephine County’s public libraries” on October 30.

The Daily Courier has had some excellent coverage of our progress over the past few weeks. Most recent is a great article about the MOU signing in the October 30 issue titled “JCL gets control of local libraries” and a wonderful editorial by Dennis Roler in the October 31 paper titled “Library backers succeeded like that little engine.”

JCLI Board members Susan Ellsworth and Jennifer Roberts will participate on a radio talk show with KAJO’s news director Scott Jorgenson on Wednesday November 12, from 9:35-10:30 am. Tune in to KAJO 1270 AM to hear!

Give your time and talent

We now have more than 200 volunteers in our ranks, about 60 of them very active volunteers! We can always use more hands! If you’re interested, please contact Barbara Ketley at londonfg@cpros.com.

NOTE! The date for this week’s Josephine Community Libraries board meeting has been changed to 7 pm on Monday November 3 (instead of Tuesday November 4).

The next two board meetings will be on Tuesday November 11 and Tuesday November 18. All are welcome! All meetings are held at our library space in Parkway Village, 1519 NE F Street, Grants Pass. Parkway Village is at the corner of Grants Pass Parkway and F Street. The library space is in the courtyard behind the Gooseberries grocery store.

Check the Web

For more information about Josephine Community Libraries, check our Web site at www.josephinelibrary.org.

This update is being sent to everyone on our Josephine Community libraries e-mail list. Feel free to forward to others. For questions or comments about anything in this update, please reply to this message (info@josephinelibrary.org) or call us at 660-6531.

Thank you for everything you’re doing to help reopen the libraries in Josephine County! We hope to have a GRAND REOPENING DATE to announce very soon!

Teresa Stover, Project Manager

Josephine Community Libraries

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org

www.josephinelibrary.org

P.O. Box 1684

Grants Pass, Oregon 97528

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

October 31, 2008 Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Commissioners sign Memorandum of Understanding with Josephine Community Libraries

Grants Pass, October 31, 2008-The Josephine Board of County Commissioners signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., on Wednesday, a move that allows the group to forge ahead with its plans to open the main branch of the library by the end of 2008.

“We’re thrilled that the commissioners are supporting our efforts to reopen the libraries in our community,” said Teresa Stover, project manager for Josephine Community Libraries. “We’ve been working very hard for over a year to raise money from individual memberships, corporate sponsorships, grants, and fundraisers to make this possible. Now with this memorandum of understanding signed regarding our use of the library buildings, the books, and the $300,000 matching grant, we’re well on our way to opening those doors.”

“It is such a relief to have this hurdle behind us,” echoed Doug Walker, president of the Board of Directors of Josephine Community Libraries. “This will allow us to move our focus forward to our next step.”

In the memorandum of understanding, the commissioners agree to lease the library buildings and collections to the group for $1 per year. The county will be responsible for maintenance to the shell of the building while JCLI takes care of interior maintenance. The commissioners will also provide a $300,000 grant to the group that matches dollar for dollar what the group has raised by November 30. To date, the group has raised $223,000 in cash.

“The more money we raise,” explained Stover, “the more hours we can be open, the more materials we can buy for the collection, and the sooner we can open the other three branches.”

Moving ahead with plans to reopen the libraries by the end of 2008, the group is in the process of hiring a supervising librarian and has signed on volunteers for maintenance duties. Members of the Operations Committee have also been finalizing plans for necessary technological infrastructure such as catalogs, databases, and internet access.

Josephine Community Libraries is putting the finishing touches on its three-year business plan, which is required in the Memorandum of Understanding. The two groups are also working on the lease agreement.

The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007. In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County. People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org.  Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org.

# # # # #

Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684   Grants Pass, OR  97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

October 21, 2008 Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Josephine Community Libraries Signs Memorandum of Understanding with County

Grants Pass, October 21, 2008-In a momentous step forward for Josephine Community Libraries tonight, the library group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Josephine Board of County Commissioners. The commissioners are expected to sign the memorandum Thursday.

In the MOU, Josephine Community Libraries will lease the library buildings and collections for $1 a year and be responsible for maintenance to the inside of the building. The commissioners will also make available funds to match what Josephine Community Libraries has raised by November 30, up to $300,000.

Since October 14, when the commissioners voted to give the $300,000 in matching funds and to cover maintenance to the outer shell of the building, Josephine Community Libraries has received over $5,000 in memberships.

“This is really great,” noted Teresa Stover, project manager for the group.  “People who join or increase their pledge before November 30 are effectively doubling their money, since the county will match each dollar up to $300,000.”

With a signed MOU, Josephine Community Libraries can move ahead with its plan to reopen the main branch of the library before the end of 2008 and open other branches as sufficient funds become available.  In preparation, the group is interviewing applicants for Supervising Librarians and working on its operation plan.

The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007.  In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County.  People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org.   Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org.

# # # # #

Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684   Grants Pass, OR  97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org

News Release

Open the door to knowledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

October 16, 2008 Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Josephine County to Help Group Reopen the Libraries

Grants Pass, October 16, 2008-Jubilant supporters of the private, nonprofit Josephine Community Libraries celebrated yesterday as the Josephine Board of County Commissioners approved a motion to reinstate a one-time, matching-fund grant capped at $300,000. The grant had been approved in the fall of 2007, but the budget committee later reduced the amount to $100,000.

The group, which has already raised more than $230,000, has until November 30, 2008, to reach the full $300,000. Whatever Josephine Community Libraries has raised on that day will be matched by the county, contingent upon approval of a viable three- to five-year business plan.

“Today’s developments are very encouraging,” noted board member David Mannix, member of the negotiating team for Josephine Community Libraries. “The support of the board of commissioners is key to a successful partnership, and with today’s actions, Commissioners Ellis and Toler have shown that they value the role of a library in a healthy community.”

With this news, and promises of a signed Memorandum of Understanding to follow, Josephine Community Libraries can forge ahead with its goal of reopening the main branch of the library by the end of December 2008. Commissioners Ellis and Toler indicated that they would like to have the library open by the holidays as a gift to the people of Josephine County.

“We wholeheartedly support that,” agreed Doug Walker, president of the Board of Directors of Josephine Community Libraries. “We’ve been telling our membership for quite some time that we want to open by the end of the year.”

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Josephine Community Libraries, page 2

The group is now stepping up efforts for a membership and fundraising push to culminate November 30. “People who become members, and businesses that step up as corporate sponsors, can see their contribution doubled through this matching grant from the county,” noted Walker. “Add to this the fact that memberships can be purchased for holiday gift-giving and for end-of-year tax planning, and you see that the timing is ideal.” Walker added that if the community can raise the entire $300,000 to get the full amount of the match, this would mean a more up-to-date collection in the library and an earlier date for opening the other branches in the county.

People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org. Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org. The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007. In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County.

# # # # #

Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684 Grants Pass, OR 97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org

News Release

Open the door to knowledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

October 10, 2008 Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Despite timber payment renewal, county reluctant to honor original pledge to library group

Grants Pass, October 10, 2008-When Congress passed a bailout plan that included a renewal of timber payments last week, the short-term financial outlook for Josephine County changed drastically. It seems that the only thing that hasn’t changed is the extent of the county’s willingness to help reopen the libraries in Josephine County.

In a press conference Wednesday, Commissioner Dwight Ellis indicated his reluctance, despite the reinstatement of timber payments, to increase the grant to the nonprofit group Josephine Community Libraries, a volunteer organization that has been working to reopen the libraries since its inception in September 2007.

Having signed up over 1200 members and launched a successful fundraising effort, Josephine Community Libraries has begun negotiations with the county to reopen and operate the library system, which the county closed in May 2007. JCLI has offered to assume responsibility for staffing, technological infrastructure, day-to-day operations, and collection building. The group recently also began interviewing candidates for a supervising librarian.

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Josephine Community Libraries, page 2

The Board of County Commissioners originally pledged a $300,000 matching fund grant in the fall of 2007. In May, the Budget Committee reversed that decision and reduced the grant to $100,000 ($75,000 of which can only be spent on libraries). Over the past several days, volunteers were led to believe that a request for the originally pledged $300,000 would be seriously considered.

Given the progress in recent negotiations, Ellis’s statement came as a surprise to JCLI volunteers and angered many. “I’m growing damn tired of JCLI being used as a political football. They keep using our success as an excuse to get out of their responsibility to fund a library. If you support this community having a library, then walk the walk,” said Doug Walker, president of the Board of Directors of Josephine Community Libraries.

Bonnie Johnson, chair of the Operations Committee of Josephine Community Libraries, agreed, also noting that if the group has sufficient funding when it opens, it has a much better chance of succeeding long-term. “The start-up costs are considerable, so if the county honors its original pledge, we have a much better shot at building a strong foundation for a community library,” she noted.

The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007. In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County. People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org. Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org.

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Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684 Grants Pass, OR 97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org