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P/SUNNY Temp: 65 °F Wind: WNW at 10 mph Monday, June 23, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 16, 2003 Jakob Shockey, 12, and his brother, Dmitri, 6, look at books in the new Applegate Branch Library where, since opening, patronage has increased dramatically. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven For the Jackson County Library System, it is ... The best and worst of times Library use is up as much as 66 percent in some branches even as hours are about to be reduced By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune As they prepare to cut back on hours of operation, new libraries in Jackson County have seen a sharp rise in customers, particularly at some outlying branches. Applegate, Jacksonville and Rogue River, which have all opened in the past six months, have seen increases in patronage of 45 percent or more. In Applegate, which opened in December, there has been a 66 percent jump so far this year compared to the same time last year. "Since we’ve made the move, there have been people coming in that I’ve never seen before," said branch supervisor Gail Gartner. Advertisement Applegate and 10 of the 15 branches in Jackson County will cut back on hours starting Monday, June 30, because of budget and staff cutbacks. The new facilities were built using part of $38.9 million in voter-approved bonds. Both Applegate and Jacksonville have been able to minimize the hourly reductions because they receive local support. "We’re fortunate we have an endowment," said Gartner. "We spread it out so we have an hour less each to have minimal effect on library usage." Applegate resident Kirsten Shockey, who expressed concern about the cutback in hours, brought her four children into the library Friday to get armfuls of books. "Libraries are a key point for home schooling," she said. "We used the old library, but the new one is more comfortable to hang out in and since there are a lot of us we don’t fill up the library." Ronnie Budge, Jackson County Library director said interest in the new libraries is higher than expected, but she anticipates it might taper off somewhat. "You usually have a surge of interest when you first open up. It’s pretty normal that people are curious and want to come in and check out books." The White City library, which opened in 2001, had a 38 percent increase during the first year, but that has leveled off to a 22 percent increase overall since the new facility opened. Still with many new libraries opening and with the recent reduction of 8.5 staff positions, the library system is looking for more volunteers to help out, she said. Deliveries of books to foster-care facilities and other outreach centers will make as much use of volunteers as necessary to make sure this service continues, said Budge. More volunteers, including students from Rogue Community College, will help man the new Medford library, expected to open at the end of the year. As part of a joint agreement with RCC, the college will keep the reference section and computer areas open to both students and the public between 8-10 a.m., Budge said. Although recent legislative reforms to the Public Employees Retirement System could eventually help the library system’s budget problems, the county is going to wait to see if the bills survive the courts before it counts on the money. The library system was hit with a revenue cut of $584,395, partially due to expected increases in PERS payments. In addition to more checkouts of materials, the Applegate branch has also become something of a community center since it opened, providing a space for everyone from 4-H clubs to yoga classes. The library also is able to offer more programs for teens and children, said Gartner. Some parents, she said, have expressed concern about the reduction of library hours even as schools cut back on the number of days in the school year because of their own budget problems. "Parents see it as one more thing to deal with," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Increase in library use by branch New branches have released figures showing the increase in items checked out since their opening compared to the same period in their old buildings. LIBRARY PERCENT BRANCH INCREASE Applegate 66 Ashland 20 Jacksonville 45 Rogue River 53 Ruch 17 White City 22 Source: Jackson County Library Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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