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59 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, May 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 7, 2004 Dave Johnson of Central Point leaves the Carnegie Library Saturday afternoon as the 92-year-old building�s last patron. With the Carnegie now closed for good, the month-long move to the new main library branch at Central Avenue and Tenth Street begins. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Carnegie closes the book on 92 years of service Bittersweet final day finds staff and patrons anxious to see how Medford’s new main county site stacks up By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune The last book checked out at the Jackson County’s Carnegie Library in Medford was no classic. Yet "The ARRL Antenna Book," selected by Central Point ham radio operator Dave Johnson, reflected the classic function of an institution where literally millions of books — from do-it-yourself manuals to literary masterpieces — have been checked out since it opened on Feb. 8, 1912. The last book also closed the chapter on the historic building, which forever shut its doors as a library late Saturday afternoon. But it opened a new chapter for the county library system. The main county library reopens April 5 in its spiffy new digs at 205 S. Central Ave. in Medford. "Is this my 15 minutes?" asked the soft-spoken Johnson as cameras flashed Saturday. Advertisement Indeed, he did achieve that 15 minutes of fame that the late pop artist Andy Warhol spoke of: Johnson was the last one in a line of countless library patrons over 92 years to check out a book from Medford’s Carnegie Library. After checking out his book, library circulation supervisor Gini Franklin handed the bemused Johnson a certificate stating he was last one to check out a book. He also received a book bag, a certificate for free coffee and a librarian "action figure." While Johnson is poring over his book, the library staff will be moving nearly a quarter-million books, packing and transporting office equipment and installing computer systems in the new building. Ronnie Budge, a library employee for 30 years this month and county library services director since 1987, wasn’t shedding any tears with the old building’s closure. "Some of our patrons who remember this library since they were children probably do feel a bit nostalgic about it," she said. "But we haven’t been able to serve the public very well in this building for a very long time. I’m really looking forward to moving to the new one because I think the public is going to love it." After all, the new one is about five times larger, covering some 80,000 square feet, she said, adding that it will have plenty of seating and reading tables, lots of computers and ample shelf room. "It’s going to take us about 25 years to fill up the shelves," she said, adding, "And it’s just beautiful. When I go in there, my jaw drops and I get this big smile on my face." Scott Rayburn, chair of the Jackson County Library Advisory Committee, was happily nostalgic. "It’s really bittersweet," he said. "It’s like watching a child grow up and leave home. You’ve done everything you can to make this moment possible but when the moment arrives it’s a sad experience. It’s been a fixture in this city for so long. "But we’re giving this up for something better, something bigger, something modern," he added. "The city and the county is getting something spectacular. We’re leaping from the 19th century to the 21st century." Medford resident Veronika Comerchero brought her twin children, Eva and Nicholas, both 7, for the last day at the Carnegie. Since they are being home-schooled, her family depends a lot on the library, she said. "We’ve been bringing them here at least three times a month," she said. "But I’m thrilled about the new library. "It’s beautiful, and the children’s section is enormous." She stopped talking for a moment as she looked around the interior of the Carnegie Library one last time. "Still, there is that atmosphere in an old library building with creakiness, mustiness and narrowness," she said of the special environment found in the Carnegie building. Medford resident Holly Mowat, who turns 12 four days before the new library opens, is looking forward to the grand opening. "I got my library card when I was in the first grade," she said. "It’s going to be fun." Johnson, 48, has been dropping in at the library for more than a dozen years. "This is an amateur radio book about constructing antennas for amateur radios," he said, explaining his choice of "The ARRL Antenna Book," noting he came to the main branch because that’s where the book was available. "I have a short-wave receiver and I need to construct an antenna for it," he added. Johnson, who works with computers and edits videos, intends to check out the new library when it opens. "I’ve been watching it under construction," he said. "There’ll be a lot more space and more books so the selection will be much larger. It’ll be great." With the Carnegie’s closure, patrons can no longer drop books off at the old library. Books should be taken to the new book drop at the south entrance of the new library, just off the parking lot at 10th Street and Riverside Avenue. Books can be renewed by calling a branch library or going online at www.jcls.org . The last book checked out of the Carnegie Library is due in the new library by March 27. Carnegie took 6 months to open — and 92 years to close for good Construction on the Carnegie Library began in 1911 after the city of Medford was awarded a $20,000 grant from industrialist Andrew Carnegie to build the library. Under the requirements for the Carnegie grants, communities had to demonstrate a need for a public library, provide a building site and show tax support for 10 percent of the grant amount. The application was accepted in January 1911 after the city appropriated $2,000 to demonstrate financial support. Local architect J.A. McIntosh selected a Grecian design. Builder Alfred Ivey received the contract for $19,360. He began building it in August 1911. The library officially opened on Feb. 8, 1912. In 1919, the library came under the operation of Jackson County. An addition was built in 1952. The Carnegie building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. With its closure, the classic building returns to city ownership. No decision has been made regarding its future tenant, although several groups have expressed interest in using it. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times