8 Fall 2010 Applegater
Applegate Library
Ruch Library
All Jackson County Libraries are still
offering free basic adult computer classes.
(See page 18.) Reservations are required.
The instructors speak English and Spanish.
The more advanced series of classes include
instruction in word processing, photo edit-
ing, and computer file management. The
classes are supported by a bequest from the
Kenneth A. and Lucille D. Hulburt Family
Trust. Call any of the branches to get infor-
mation on the schedule and locations of the
classes or visit the Jackson County Library
Services web site at www.jcls.org.
Thirty-seven children and teens par-
ticipated in summer reading this year. We
had several programs and lots of crafts and
activities. A big thanks goes to Steve Geh-
res, Audrey Eldridge, Cathy Egelston, John
Jackson, Lucia Smith and Thalia Truesdell
for their participation with this summer’s ac-
tivities. The Friends of the Applegate Library
donated funds for many small game prizes.
The big prize winner for the teen
drawing of an iPod nano player was Jen-
nifer. Stephanie and Maggie won passes to
the Ashland waterslide. Christopher won
a gift certificate from Barnes and Noble
which was donated by the Friends of the
Applegate Library. Nine children between
the ages of 3 and 12 finished the program
and read a total of 230 books. They received
Hometown Buffet and Kid Time! Discovery
Experience coupons.
Come into the library and check out
our display case. You never know what you
will find there. Many of our displays are
collectively compiled by library users, others
are from private collections. Let the library
staff know if you have a collection that you
would like to share with other library users.
The Applegate Library now has eight
internet stations for the public to use. We
also have free wireless available for your
personal laptop use.
Storytime for young children is every
Tuesday at 4 pm.
Please join the Friends of the Apple-
gate Library. We can always use more
support with planning programs and fund
raisers such as book sales. And speaking
of book sales, look for a book sale at the
Applegtate Library during the week before
Thanksgiving, beginning on November 15.
See you at the library!
Joan Peterson
541-846-6988
The Wonders Of The Night Sky
Stargazing Program Sponsored by the
Ruch Library with Greeley Wells
At Sunset Saturday October 9th come
to the Ruch School Green Field to hear about
and see the night sky with Greeley Wells,
author of “The Starry Side” column in the
Applegater.
As the sun sets we will begin talk-
ing and watching the sunset and stars and
planets that first come out. Venus will shine
brightly and low in the west. Above her will
be a tiny Crescent moon and above both will
be Mars and the star Antares, rival of Mars,
off to the left. We can note the difference
in the steady planets and blinking stars.
Very soon the incredibly bright Jupiter will
rise over the hills to the east of us. It’s at a
rare 12 year closeness to us. The last time
it was this close to the earth was 1963 and
the next time will be 2022! What a treat
for us. All are welcome, children especially.
Chairs that lay back or a blanket to lay on
and another for warmth are recommended.
Flashlights take away your night vision for
about 20 minutes so are a poor idea. The
warmish evening will cool and continue to
cool. Maybe snacks or a picnic would be fun.
Special guest Chris Beekman will bring two
Dobsonian telescopes he’s made and we’ll
have a close look at some wonderful things
in the sky. And if you’ve got binoculars or a
telescope and know how to use them be my
guest. Others will love to share what you
find. And I can have some ideas about where
to look. My quarterly article in the very latest
Applegater Community Newspaper would
be a good intro to this evening.
New Branch Librarian
Ruch Branch Library welcomes Jo-
hanna Boyle as the new Branch Manager.
Johanna writes, “I live with my husband,
Andrew, who is retired, 2 miles north of
Jacksonville, on Old Stage Road. I have
been working at the Central Point branch,
but have also worked at many of the other
branches in the county, including Ruch.
Prior to working for Jackson County Library
System, I worked at a large public high school
in the Bay area as well as having worked at
Sonoma State University, where I earned my
BA in English literature. Walking and hiking
are some of my favorite things to do. When
time allows, I enjoy gardening, bike riding
and fishing.”
“I was born in Indonesia, but grew
up in Holland before coming to the U.S.
way back when. My husband’s work took
us all over the US and we have lived in many
different states.”
“The thing I love about library work
is being of service... and making that con-
nection when patrons find what they are
looking for in the way of information, read-
ing, or just getting to know one another.
Having a library in the community—any
community—is vital to that community, as
I see it as the hub for gatherings, ideas, and
supporting one another.”
Friends Of Ruch Library
Reducing Activities
There are some major changes com-
ing our way in Ruch Library’s Program Series
and Fundraising Campaign. The Friends of
Ruch Library (FORL) has lost key active
members over the past year to re-location,
illness, or new responsibilities, and efforts to
attract others to take an active role have not
been successful. We have many valued mem-
bers who will help out when called; what we
need are people able to take on continuing
roles as committee members and officers.
Two of our Board members (out of a total of
4), who have been serving as President and
Treasurer, need to reduce their commitments
at the end of their terms, and another Board
member is preparing to move.
Can you help sustain our library by
becoming active in FORL? Please contact
Kaye (899-1040, kayeclayton@yahoo.com)
or Cynthia (899-1114, akantha@mac.com).
What is at stake?
Since 2007, the Friends have led
fundraising efforts/events to provide service
on Saturdays. Our community pitches in to
“buy” these hours; they are not included in
the county’s library budget. Each December,
we must pay in advance for the coming year’s
Saturdays, currently $12,300.
Only about $9,000 dollars has been
raised so far to keep the library open on
Saturdays in 2011, and one planned event—
the Art Show and Sale—has been cancelled
because very few artists wish to participate.
(Last year’s show did poorly due to icy roads
and the bad economy, and one of those fac-
tors is still with us.) So 2011’s Saturday hours
are not secured yet.
As for next year, the members cur-
rently active are too few to conduct fund-
raising for the Saturday hours in 2012. We
are discussing alternatives with a group of
concerned local residents who may take on
that fundraising task. Regardless, FORL will
not be able to continue supporting the library
with programs and other activities without
more involved members.
Book sales at the A-Frame will con-
Williams and Josephine Community Libraries
Fall Specials
After a fulfilling summer vacation
with a jam-packed summer reading program
and storytimes, all a “splashing” success, the
libraries are gearing up for Fall events. The
Illinois Valley branch library celebrated its
first full year since reopening this September.
The celebration on Saturday, September
11, at the branch library in Cave Junction
included live music and a potluck. The
Williams Branch Library will celebrate its
first anniversary in November; so please
stay tuned for more details, 541-846-7020
The Williams Friends of the Library
are also planning their annual Fall Book
Sale Bash for October 17 at the Williams
Grange. This is a great party, with food
and beautiful raffle baskets, so please mark
your calendars.
Friday, October 1, was a special
celebration at the Grants Pass Library with
the new Oregon Poet Laureate, Paulann
Petersen. She gave a program on poetry as
“Everyone’s Domain,” reading poems and
discussing writing with the audience. There
were also outstanding intaglio print artworks
by artist Barbara Mason, illuminating twelve
of Ms. Petersen’s poems. Live music and
refreshments made it a very special evening
for the kickoff of Oregon Days of Culture,
sponsored by the Oregon Cultural Trust. The
Grants Pass library is located at 200 NW “C”
Street, and the phone number is 541-476-
0571 for more information.
October 1 was also the kick-off for
the Fall membership fund drive for Jose-
phine Community Libraries, Inc. This is
the private, nonprofit corporation using the
NPR membership model, that is providing
library services for all of Josephine County.
JCLI functions by raising funds from private
donations and grants, and operates with an
incredible cadre of volunteers who make it
all happen.
Please consider becoming a member
by making a donation of $5.00 or more, and
subscribing to the free e-newsletter from the
JCLI homepage at http://www.josephineli-
brary.org.
The next big, inaugural event will be
the first ever JCLI “Cow Scrabble” tourna-
ment on Saturday, October 16 at the Bear
Hotel at 2101 NE Spalding Avenue in Grants
Pass. In this “Scrabble-thon,” winners will
be awarded cow-themed trophies, including
the giant Scrabble Cow for the business team
that earns the most points. Players get spon-
sors and register as individuals, or teams to
compete in four consecutive scrabble games for
points. Registration begins at 11:00 am, and
the games start at noon. With four, 45-min-
ute Scrabble games and breaks between each
game, play is expected to end at around 4:30
pm, with prizes for the most points in various
categories awarded afterwards.
It should be a terrific fun, and folks
are beginning to polish their scrabble skills.
tinue, but the amounts raised there and at
the annual book sale are less than $2,000
and have traditionally been used to support
Summer Reading and other programs at
Ruch Library.
The second loss will be the series
of free public programs that since 2007
has brought 24 speakers, performers, and
authors to our community. We’ve learned
about rock gardens, the idea of justice, nox-
ious weeds, dog training, and local history;
sung railroad songs, experienced dramatic
story-telling for adults and children, and
discussed local emergency preparedness.
The Program Committee has done
a terrific job choosing speakers, planning
dates, doing publicity, and the myriad of
tasks associated with making a successful
event. But their numbers have dwindled
also, below what’s needed to carry on.
We have no shortage of suggestions for
programs, and they can become reality if a
few people will join in the work.
On August 7, FORL held a com-
munity discussion here at the library to
revitalize the organization and gather new
ideas. Those who attended came up with
some excellent ideas for fundraising, out-
reach, activities, and more—unfortunately
none of those attending were able to com-
mit to what we most need, board members
and committee members who will take on
continuing roles in making these things
happen.
If you believe, as we do, that our
library is a vital center for our community,
and you want to see its programs and ser-
vices continue and improve, please consider
committing an evening a month to work
with FORL for the library. Our community
came together with FORL to help build
this beautiful building; let’s work together
to make it flourish. Contact us and find
out about how you can help.
Kaye Clayton • 541-899-1040
kayeclayton@yahoo.com
Cynthia Cheney • 541-899-1114
akantha@mac.com
Friends of Ruch Library
ANNUAL COLUMBUS DAY
BOOK SALE
Saturday October 10
9 am-4 pm
under the tent next to Crystal
Clear
Upper Applegate Road and
Highway 238
Members can shop on
Friday the 9th, 1 pm-4 pm
Co-sponsored with the Evergreen Federal
Bank, all the proceeds will go to support
the operation of the Josephine Community
Libraries. More details are available on the
JCLI website at http://www.josephineli-
brary.org.
Sunday, November 14, will be the
second annual “Page One’ performance
event at the Grants Pass branch library
where willing participants read the first
page from a favorite book of theirs. Great
awards, prizes, and an appreciative audience
makes this a delightful event. Then the
Holiday bazaar takes place the following
Sunday, November 21, with local artisans’
wares and a silent auction. The new JCLI
volunteer/ staff cookbook will be available
for holiday giving, $9.98 if purchased in
advance, $12.00 at the bazaar.
Plenty is happening, so please drop
in and enjoy our unique model of privately-
funded public library services with cheerful
volunteers helping at every turn.
Bonnie Johnson
541-846-6016