OR Library System To Close in April, May Revive
-- Library Journal, 1/25/2007
The loss of federal timber subsidies has contributed to a $23 million loss to Jackson County, OR, and threatens the 15-branch Jackson County Library Services, which is scheduled to close indefinitely on April 7. The system budget is $8 million. In an op-ed in the Mail-Tribune, Danny Jordan, Jackson County administrator, pointed out that some 74 percent of the county budget comes from dedicated sources and cannot be diverted. Of the remaining 26 percent, some two-thirds goes to public safety, and the next largest chunk—about one-fifth—goes to libraries. "Before Congress failed to reauthorize funding, the county had $43 million in non-dedicated funding. Since funding was not reauthorized, that amount was reduced by approximately $15.3 million," he wrote, noting that total cuts would be $23 million. Last November, voters turned down a property tax proposal which would have provided dedicated library support; a similar measure may be on the ballot in May, but would require 50 percent of registered voters and then 50 percent of them to support the measure.
Some cities within the system may be willing to fund their branches, but Medford, home of the central library, has said it wouldn't fund the facility, according to the Mail-Tribune. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will hold public hearings to hear comments regarding abolishing or withdrawing support from public libraries.The first public hearing will be held on January 31 and the second public hearing will be held on May 2. In 2000, county residents passed a $38.9 million bond measure to expand or rebuild nearly all of the system's branches; library director Ronnie Budge said, according to the library's blog, that she had noted that library service was contingent on continued federal funding, which was likely. Library usage has increased since the bond measure, with circulation rising 20 percent. State Librarian Jim Scheppke told Budge that it would not be permissible to charge residents an annual fee for a card.
