News Release

Open the door to knowledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295
Doug Walker, 660-6531

Library group in negotiations with county, starts library supervisor search

Grants Pass, July 23, 2008-Josephine Community Libraries supporters are excited by several developments that are quickly moving the group forward in its work to reopen area libraries.

The Josephine County Board of County Commissioners drafted a Memorandum of Understanding between it and Josephine Community Libraries, Inc. in response to a letter from the library group requesting the start of negotiations.

“We’re very excited about this new development,” said Doug Walker, President of the Board of Directors for Josephine Community Libraries. “We look forward to establishing a good relationship with the Commissioners and are very encouraged by the terms they’re proposing.”

In the draft, the Commissioners indicated they would lease the library building and collection to the group for $1 per year and provide a $100,000 grant.

In return, the group would operate as an independent contractor to manage day-to-day operations of the library, personnel, programs, and technological infrastructure. The group would also submit a three-year strategic plan to the Commissioners before a contract is signed.

The group is still negotiating with the Commissioners about maintenance. In the draft Memorandum of Understanding, the nonprofit group would be responsible for those expenses.

“We understand that the Commissioners want to make sure that the County’s assets are well maintained, but we believe it’s reasonable to ask the County to take care of the building since we’ll be taking care of operations,” noted Board member Jennifer Roberts.

Now that Josephine Community Libraries is in the midst of negotiations with the County, they have also begun searching for a library supervisor. They will soon begin advertising for a library professional with experience in resource development and volunteer coordination. Interested applicants are invited to call 660-6531 or send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org.

These developments followed closely on the end of Josephine Community Libraries’ first official membership drive, in which it raised $84,361. The group proposes sustainably operating the library by borrowing the patron model from public radio and public television, in which memberships are offered for as little as $1, but everybody has access regardless of membership status. There are now 1,079 members, and the total raised in cash and in-kind donations and pledges since the group formed last September is $235,000.

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