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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: S at 3 mph Thursday, May 22, 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 May 10, 2003 ‘Shelf’ sales add life to library stacks By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune When the new library opens next fall in downtown Medford, Jackson County officials hope the interior will be just as grand as the exterior. "The bookshelves are going to look a little empty initially," said county Library Director Ronnie Budge. "We want the inside to look just as wonderful as the outside." In order to fill empty shelf space and add amenities such as public art and gardens, the Jackson County Library Foundation this week kicked off a fund-raising "Buy a Shelf" program. For $100, Southern Oregon residents can "purchase" a bookshelf at the central library in Medford. The donor then chooses a name for a plaque that will be installed on their shelf. Advertisement "People are really interested," said Budge. "I think this is exciting. It gives everyone in the community a chance to take part." Library foundation member Roi Crouch said more than $500,000 has been raised to add amenities at the Medford library branch. The foundation’s goal for Medford is $600,000 — a total that can be achieved if 1,000 donors purchase a shelf. "It’s an ideal way to, for example, to honor your mother or father on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day," said Crouch. "It’s just a real nice, lasting way to recognize a family member or loved one." Budge said Buy a Shelf isn’t limited to the Medford branch, and added that residents can also purchase a shelf at any of the county libraries. Fourteen county libraries are being remodeled or rebuilt thanks to $38.9 million in voter-approved bonds approved in 2000. But that money can only be used for the external improvements of the building, said Budge. Buy a Shelf is part of a countywide fund-raising effort called, "Beyond Bricks and Books." Members of the library foundation already have raised $2.6 million to provide extra amenities for all county library branches. The foundation also is working to create a $2 million endowment — a permanent fund to invest money for future stable income. Foundation funds won’t be used to offset significant cuts to the library’s operating budget, noted Budge. A county budget committee proposed cutting $584,395 from the library’s budget request for 2003-04 — a 7.7 percent reduction in what the library requested — which could limit operating hours at all branches because of increased expenses for things like ballooning payments to the PERS retirement system. The new Medford branch is slated to open in November. When it comes time to move books from the old building to the new, library headquarters manager Meghan O’Flaherty will look for volunteers to form a "book brigade." More than 400 people are needed to line up along Main Street from one building to the other and pass each book along, she added. "It’s like the old-fashioned bucket brigade," said O’Flaherty. "Only instead of buckets of water, we would be passing books." Anybody able to hold a book is invited to help, including students, community service groups, youth and volunteer organizations and interested residents. How to get involved Residents interested in the "Buy a Shelf" program can write to the Jackson County Library Foundation, PO Box 1295, Medford, OR 97501; contact Roi Crouch at 772-4601 or visit the Web site: www.jclf.org . Community members who wish to volunteer for the book brigade can contact Meghan O’Flaherty at 774-6403. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] 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. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times