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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: January 18, 2007 Talent pens letter to maintain libraries By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings TALENT — Talent's library is slated to close before it's even been built and the doors allowed to open for the first time. The library is part of an extensive downtown renovation project. On Wednesday night the Talent City Council agreed that Jackson County needs to do something to keep it open. The council will send a letter to Jackson County commissioners asking that they find a method to fund libraries at the county level rather than leave the fate of 15 county libraries in the hands of individual cities. The county library system will lose its funding this year after Congress did not renew the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act in 2006. The funding (called O & C funding) came originally through timber receipts. Once the timber industry in the Northwest began to slow, the money came in through a federal property tax. The lack of federal funding this year will leave Jackson County with a $23 million budget shortfall and possibly cause the county to cut nearly 10 percent of its employees. With the possibility of all county libraries closing April 6, Talent's city council asked the county to come up with a local solution. "The County needs a permanent, long-term solution; the continued dependence on O & C funds cannot achieve either of these goals," the letter reads. Former Talent Mayor Marian Telerski addressed the city council Wednesday, along with other residents, with her support for finding a way to keep the library open. She said she would feel ashamed to live in a town and a county that would close its libraries. Telerski said having libraries represents the ability for all people to read and learn regardless of social class, religion or economic standing. "I know this sounds rather dramatic, but truly, it is a cornerstone of our democratic society to offer equal opportunity to all," she said. Talent councilors discussed the option of creating a separate district that would fund libraries through a property tax. Creating a district, however, would possibly close the libraries for a year while it was being created, Talent City Manager Betty Wheeler said. Talent Mayor Don Steyskal said creating a district would possibly garner more support because taxpayers could see their dollars going directly to a library fund rather than to the general county fund. Steyskal said he had received input from residents from all sides. Some people wanted to keep the library open at all costs, and others did not see the need for libraries because of all of the resources offered by the Internet. At Wednesday's meeting, Steyskal said the value he sees in libraries goes beyond looking up information. "The thing we lose most by losing libraries is socialization and a way to build community," he said. Talent City Councilor Wendy Siporen said the struggle to keep libraries open is just a part of an even larger issue that the county is facing as it deals with its budget shortfall. The shortfall could also affect other essential services like the sheriff's department and the county roads department. "These cuts do not just affect the library," Siporen said. "These cuts also affect other services that are just as essential as the library." Siporen said she wants to see the county deal with the overall funding crisis. A representative from the council, either Mayor Don Steyskal or Councilor Bob Wilson, will address county commissioners Jan. 31 at a public hearing. Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected] . Front page photo by Denise Baratta | For the Tidings Current Comments: Why would the commissioners do anything? They're got us right where they want us. Divide and Conquer. Jack and CW would like nothing more than to spend money only on a jail and Sherriff. Gilmour is non existent. bbqboy - talent,or - January 18th, 3:17 PM It's time to put extreme pressure on the county commissioners and/or our congressmen/senators to find library funding. Having the cities take them over individually will not produce an effective system and it lets CW & Jack thumb their noses at the whole thing. It's wonderful that cities want to step up individually, but it is NOT the best solution. The great advantage of the county system is inter-library loans. Not likely if each city has it's own service. Maybe we should recall CW & JW! David - Ashland, OR - January 18th, 4:28 PM What makes anyone think than a property tax or any other tax will pass? Didn't voters just vote down a bond measure by a wide margin? It is time to look at a wide range of solutions to this issue, not just believe that the long suffering taxpayer will foot the bill. Give us a break! Doug Forsyth - Ashland - January 18th, 5:04 PM Libraries are so much more than just collections of books. They are repositories of civilization, where people from throughout the community come together to read, explore the great ideas, educate themselves, and appreciate the diverse collection of knowledge available on all subjects. Yes, the internet can can be a useful resource, but it doesn't replace a library. A community without a library is a sad and sorry place. We need to work together to find a way to keep our libraries open! Robin - Ashland - January 19th, 10:22 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Water Filter Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us