Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Page A-3
New branch manager has
big dreams for IV Library
By Darcy Wallace
IVN Staff Writer
(Courtesy photo for, Illinois Valley News)
Josephine County Library Illinois Valley branch manager Kate Dwyer.
If you’ve lived in the
Illinois Valley even for a little
while, you might have seen
desserts from local caterer
Kate Dwyer served at several
local events.
Dwyer,
a
longtime
Takilma resident, caters food
in several parts of Southern
Oregon, including Medford,
Grants Pass and Applegate. On
April 6, Dwyer took up a new
position as branch manager of
the Illinois Valley Library in
Cave Junction.
She said her background
in community networking
helped prepare her for the
library manager position, not
to mention her love for reading
and the community aspect
libraries bring.
“I love our library,”
Dwyer said. “I love books. I
wanted to work at IV Library
so I could increase our
volunteer base by focusing on
making it a fun and rewarding
experience.”
After about a month in
her new role, Dwyer hopes to
create as many activities as
possible at the library to draw
more patrons and expand the
membership base.
According to Dwyer,
people can join the library
for free, but donations are
requested to purchase books
and keep the lights on. After
the four Josephine County
libraries closed in 2007 for
nearly two years, county
residents came together to re-
open the libraries for limited
hours to keep the resource
available.
“One thing that happened
when the libraries were closed
was that the aisles were
just stacked with books,”
Dwyer said. “[Now] there
are thousands of books in the
homes of the patrons; that’s
where they belong.”
In late spring and summer
2008, Josephine Community
Libraries ran a membership
drive to attract future members
and volunteers to re-open the
library system. The Illinois
Valley branch reopened in
September of 2009.
Dwyer said few library
employees are paid, but
hundreds of volunteers run
operations in county libraries.
She said more are needed to
help put books on the shelves,
help patrons and assist with
projects.
“I think there are
over 13,000 active patrons
supported by about 2,000
[donating] members,” Dwyer
said. “I strongly encourage
people to come to the library
to keep us thriving.”
The library has hosted
or participated in events
such as monthly story time
readings and Second Friday
ArtWalks, and Dwyer wants
to host several more activities
featuring the library. She’s also
open to guest presentations and
Wednesday evening events for
teens.
The I.V. branch is open
Wednesdays and Fridays
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and
Saturdays from noon to 4
p.m. Library cardholders with
internet access can browse the
library database on the website,
josephinelibrary.org,
which
Dwyer said includes access to
the Ancestry.com site, health
and wellness information and
other resources.
“Libraries are a precious
community resource,” Dwyer
said. “We all need to work
together to keep the doors open
and our library thriving.”
Kindergarteners experience IV Library
By Darcy Wallace
IVN Staff Writer
Two classes of Evergreen kindergarteners,
some 40 students strong, visited the Illinois
Valley Library branch for a story reading and
lunch on the lawn.
The visit, on Friday May 6, was a chance
for several young students to experience the
library for the first time, meeting new branch
manager Kate Dwyer and hearing stories read
by volunteers Deb Lukas, Carol Valentine,
Molly Renno and her daughters, and Rochelle
Gale.
Dwyer said the classes broke into four
groups of ten for the reading, where volunteers
chose books they wanted to share. Several
parents opened library accounts for themselves
and their kids.
“Several of the children had never been
to the library before,” Dwyer said. “We love
sharing [it] with them.”
For lunch, the groups came together on
the lawn at the back and side of the library for
a picnic. After an extensive garden cleanup day
Saturday, April 30, wood chips and native plant
life now decorate the front of the building, but
much of the lawn remains.
“When my kids were in town, we used
to come to the lawn to unwind,” Dwyer
said. “The library doesn’t have to be open
for people to enjoy the grounds. People are
donating benches…we want to make our space
comfortable.”
With the school year coming close to an
end, Dwyer said she won’t be able to have as
many classroom visits to the library as she’d
hoped, but plans to extend that next year. In the
future, she hopes students from the local private
schools as well as public schools will be able to
experience the library.
“I’d love to get every kid in the Valley in
here,” Dwyer said.
Election & Installation of Officers of Glenn Morrision Post 70 of Cave Junction
Post Commander - Bob Soria, 1st Vice Commander - Dan Warden, 2nd Vice Commander - Dennis Erhman,
Adjutant - Carl Jacobson Jr, Finance Officer - Max Holeman, Sgt. At Arms - Max Rosenberry, Ex Committee
- Harold Harris, Carl Jacobson Jr, Dave Cochrane
Memorial Flag Service
Monday, May 30 at the following:
10:00am – City Hall, Cave Junction
11:00am – Laurel Cemetary
12:00pm – Deer Creek Cemetary
Installation was Be Bob Huff, State Finance Officer of Oregon
Dan Warden was elected District 4 Commander who will be installed at State Convention.
(Photo by Darcy Wallace, Illinois Valley News)
Evergreen K students tour the library Friday May 6.
IVHS Activities Calendar brought to you by the folks at
Events Calendar
541-592-3556
Cave Junction
541-469-7545
Brookings
String
Bean
Saturday, May 14th
5:00pm to 8:00pm
Every Wed - Open Mic Night
from 6-8pm with Jim Nolan
Friday, May 13
Track Coed Team- Illinois Valley
High School @ Rogue River High
School (SCL/Sunset League Spe-
cial District Meet) All Day
Saturday, May 14
Track Coed Team- Illinois Valley
High School @ Rogue River High
School (SCL Sunset League Spe-
cial District Meet) All Day
Baseball Boys Varsity- Illinois
Valley High School vs Rogue River
High School 2:00pm - 2:00pm
Blue Grass
Friday, May 13th
5:30pm at Taylor’s Country Store
To add an event to this calendar call 541-592-2541
It’s oNly $5!
541-471-7487
Grants Pass
541-773-7487
Medford
Baseball Boys Varsity- Illinois
Valley High School vs Rogue River
High School 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Softball Girls Varsity- Illinois
Valley High School vs Rogue River
High School 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tuesday, May 17
Baseball Boys Varsity @ Lakev-
iew 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Girls Varsity Softball @ Lakeview
4:30pm - 7:30pm
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