Document text
Photo by Steve Johnson South Medford High School freshman Matt Meeds is an avid user of Medford's Teen Library, which library officials have recommended closing this summer to save money. Is it last chapter for Teen Library? Money troubles prompt plan to close popular spot By CHRIS BRISTOL Late fees aside, libraries are best known for checking out books. But it's the Teen Library that may be checking out this summer. Operating from the basement of the downtown Medford branch, the library-within-a-library has been a solid success with Jackson County teenagers and their parents since 1990. Over the past year alone, teens have taken home some 27,000 publications. So why close it? "We don't understand it," said Bob Linquist, a librarian assigned to the teen library. "It doesn't make any sense, when more than ever our kids need a safe place." A smattering of teens at the library Monday agreed. "They better not do it," warned Matt Meeds, a 15-year-old South Medford High School freshman from Ruch. "It's a lot easier to find stuff down here than upstairs. At least my mom knows where to find me." "Be kind of a bummer if they close it down, because it's a nice place to hang," said Landin Butterfield, a 14-year-old McLoughlin Middle School student who likes to wait there while his older brother finishes track practice. "They should be expanding this place," he added, a "Calvin and Hobbes" anthology in his lap, "not closing it." But library officials plan to do just that, moving all teen-oriented literature upstairs to the adult circulation floor. Under the proposal, the Teen Library would be converted to a general-purpose reading room. Library Director Ronnie Budge said the proposal was made by a management team to save money. Three librarians are needed to supervise the room, and plans are to transfer them elsewhere within the 15-branch system to replace staffers who leave. According to Budge, the main problem is the inefficient design of the circa-1911 Carnegie building. She also said the Teen Library isn't always busy enough to justify the staff. "We think that it could be used to the max better," she said. "Use varies, and sometimes it's very busy. Teens now get a lot of time and attention from the clerks." Jim Scheppke, the Oregon state librarian, praised Jackson County as one of only four in the state with an entire room -- and staff -- devoted to teenagers. Others are in Portland, Salem and Roseburg. Told of plans to close it down, he expressed regret. With books under attack from TV and video games, good reading habits must be cemented in the teenage years. "It's a hard group to reach," he said of teens. "A lot of times, we sort of lose them at that age, and having staff there for them is just so critical." Still, he hesitated to second-guess Budge. "Library budgets are really under pressure all across the state," he said. Budge said the proposal has not been finalized yet. A show of support for the Teen Library is expected Wednesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting. The real culprit, she said, is the library budget. At a target figure of $5.75 million, the 1999-2000 budget increase of 3 percent is not enough to offset even higher personnel costs. "We need to find ways to stay within the budget," she said. "I'm open to suggestions." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA