All Libraries in Josephine County, OR, Reopen, But Hours Short
Nonprofit organization decides it must seek a fundraiser as leader
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 12/22/2009
- System closed in May 2007
- Main library reopened last December
- Need for fundraising, volunteers
After closing in May 2007, all four libraries in Josephine County, OR, have been reopened by the nonprofit Josephine Community Libraries (JCL), albeit at reduced hours, with nine hours per week at two branches and 12 at another. The main library in Grants Pass reopened last December and is open 20 hours per week,
This year, JCL has raised approximately $277,000, mainly from public radio-like memberships, with the total expected to rise with end-of-year giving. “Our model may be able to help other libraries in the short-term as they figure out long-term, sustainable funding,” said Jennifer Roberts, who heads the board's grants department
Fundraising need
Roberts acknowledged that JCL itself hasn’t figured out the long-term. In fact, the MLS library director hired by JCL has departed—a notice on the web site states that "Russell [Long] guided us through our tumultuous first year, and we are grateful for his leadership and expansive knowledge of libraries."
The organization now seeks an executive director experienced in organizational and resource development who can expand fundraising and, Roberts said, "guide us organizationally as our volunteer committees grow and mature.”
Meanwhile, library manager Kris Gleisner, who worked for the library when it was a county entity, is now a full-time employee, managing the the Grants Pass branch and supervising the managers of the other branches. Several MLS librarians also serve as volunteers.
The libraries closed in May 2007 in the wake of a loss of federal timber payments to area counties, and JCL responded with a nonprofit model based on public radio. Neighboring Jackson County Library Services has outsourced library operations to LSSI.
