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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 24, 2006 Anastasia Shanks, 22 months, of Medford finds a book Friday in the children's section at the Central Library. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Out of Circulation Reality sets in for employees, volunteers as layoff notices mark start of shutting down county library system Lori Moore grew up in Gold Hill and much of her family still lives in the Rogue Valley, so her dream seemed to be fulfilled five years ago when she landed a job as reference librarian in Medford. All that changed Thursday when 115 library workers received official notice just four days before Christmas that their last day on the job will be April 13. Saddened at the prospects of leaving the branch in downtown Medford, the 36-year-old Medford resident said, "I mostly feel bad for the kids, the elderly and the shut-ins." Jackson County will shut down 15 new or remodeled branches indefinitely sometime before April 15, placing the 200,000 books and other materials at the Medford library off-limits to children, adults and the elderly. The closures also will mean the end to library outreach programs, including after-school reading and early literacy, as well as the delivery of books and materials to the elderly or home-bound. Advertisement The libraries, including the popular meeting rooms, will close a short time prior to the layoff to allow workers to check in all books and restock shelves. Layoff notices will be sent out in January as the county comes to grips with losing $23 million in federal money after Congress failed to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The closures also will affect 178 volunteers. A sense of shock and dismay overwhelmed part-time and full-time library workers Friday, many of whom will have to leave the area to find work. "There's no other game in town," said Moore, who has a master's degree in library science and is already looking at jobs as far away as Colorado but would prefer to live in the Northwest. As Moore spoke about her situation Friday, students on Christmas vacation came into the library, heading to the children or teen departments, perusing books or using the computer system. "We come here a lot, and if they close, I don't know where we'd go to get books," said 12-year-old Makenzie Kriz, a McLoughlin Middle School student. Ginny Casale, library bookshop volunteer, said she is sorry to see the library closing and hopes it's only temporary. "People just didn't pay attention," she said. "They didn't think it was going to happen." A letter sent to staff by county Library Director Ronnie Budge told employees that a tax measure likely will be placed on the May 15 ballot. "None of us can say if it will pass or not," she stated. Budge suggested employees make up their own minds about finding other employment or waiting to be called back to work if the measure passes. Circulation supervisor Gini Franklin said it's not only a sad time for employees, "it's a sad time for our patrons." Franklin is no stranger to library cutbacks. In 2003, she lost her job as clerk but was later rehired when the supervisor left. Now the 63-year-old Phoenix resident isn't sure what her next step will be. "Everybody is considering their options," she said. Holly Hertel, who started work as a part-time assistant librarian on Nov. 1, said the Rogue Valley has been a difficult place to find good work in the 11 years she's been living here. The 52-year-old Medford woman, who might try getting a job as a teacher, said, "Sometimes I feel worse about the people who have been here a long time." Despite what she characterizes as an "extremely stressful" situation, Hertel said the library staff will continue to diligently serve the public as they make plans to find other jobs, potentially outside the valley. Attending to children in the children's section, she said closing libraries will be particularly difficult on the youth, who often ask her to recommend a title to read or ask for help in finding a book. With people of all walks of life coming through the doors of the Medford branch, Hertel said, "To my mind, we have a democracy, and that means having a free library." After the library closes down, the task of reopening could become more difficult if many library workers find other jobs or move away. County Commissioner Dave Gilmour said, "That's a skill set that's difficult to find." He expressed sympathy for the library staff. "There's reason for those folks to be concerned and very upset," said Gilmour. "The staff is going through a grieving process. This is something they've put their heart and soul into." Meghan O'Flaherty has been central library manager for 10 years and has seen the transition from the old Carnegie building to the new branch on Central Avenue. "It's a terrible waste of a resource," said O'Flaherty, who has spent 14 years in the Jackson County library system during her 40 years in library work. The 60-year-old Medford resident is confronted with a number of choices as she contemplates losing her job in April, including the possibility of selling her house. "If the libraries don't reopen in a short time, I will have to move out of the area," she said. O'Flaherty said it will be difficult for staff to shut the doors of the libraries and begin the process of mothballing them for an indefinite period. "This is not our library," said O'Flaherty. "This library belongs to the people of Jackson County. These are not our books. These are their books." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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