PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, FEBRUARY 28, 2020
LIBRARY: Organizers eye
fall 2021 or 2022 ballot
(Continued from Page A1)
the fall of 2021 or spring of 2022. The grant
action committee that assists in establishing new request included endorsements from the ex-
libraries and maintaining old ones, among oth- ecutive director of the Chemeketa Coopera-
ers. Herb has also applied for a grant through tive Regional Library Service (CCRLS), Rep.
the Oregon State Library to re-enlist the help Bill Post and two members of the Chemeketa
of Ruth Metz Associates, which consulted on Board of Education.
the last library task force.
Keizer is the largest city in Oregon without a
Herb’s interest in moving the issue forward public library. Herb envisions a library with 10
comes from raising three school-age children to 15 paid staff members, including certifi ed li-
in the city and as a business
brarians that would qualify the
development manager at Bak-
library for CCRLS member-
er & Taylor which has allowed
ship, about 90,000 items and
her to visit libraries through-
bevy of public access comput-
out the country and see their
ers and public wifi . CCRLS
impact. Baker & Taylor is a
membership would allow the
book distributor specializing
library to qualify for additional
in libraries and schools.
funding and opportunities like
“Libraries aren’t dusty old
interlibrary loaning, catalogu-
warehouses of books any-
ing and a exponentially faster
more,” Herb said. “They bring
internet connectivity.
people up out of poverty by
The cost is estimated to be
— Jane Herb
giving them access to the in-
about $1.3 million annual-
ternet or loaning out hotspots
ly, which includes a materials
so residents can have wifi in their home. Librar- budget of roughly $75,000 per year. If voters
ies are critical to the structure of our society were to approve the creation of a special library
and democracy.”
district, the cost would be about $30 per capita.
While books remain the most circulated That is roughly half what it costs to pay for
items, the spaces libraries become are fertile ar- a full, annual membership at the Salem Public
eas of innovation. Some recent efforts include Library for current Keizer, Brooks and Gervais
renting out garden plots, adding Maker spaces residents.
with items like 3D printers and helping kids
“My dream would be brand new construc-
talk to parents in prison.
tion with some sort of beautiful outdoor space
Late last year, Herb applied for a $45,000 that refl ects Oregon and wired for 21st Centu-
grant through the Oregon State Library to ry use,” Herb said.
rehire Ruth Metz and it has already made it
If the grant succeeds, Herb will begin plan-
through the fi rst round of scrutiny. She will ning community outreach efforts. Residents
fi nd out in May if the Keizer project qualifi ed interested in taking part should watch the Keiz-
and work toward putting the question of es- er Community Library website, www.keizerli-
tablishing a special library district to voters in brary.org.
“Libraries are
critical to the
structure of
our society and
democracy.”
Pro Life rally planned
in Salem March 8
Dr. Haywood Robinson,
former abortion provider and
director of medical affairs and
education of the 40 Days for
Life project, will tell the sto-
ry of the effort in Salem on
March 8.
Robinson will speak at the
Salem 40 Days for Life Grand
Opening Rally, which is set
for 3 to 4 p.m. at Planned
Parenthood, 3825 Wolverine
Street NE, Salem.
40 Days for Life is an in-
tensive campaign that focuses
on 40 days of prayer and fast-
ing for an end to abortion,
peaceful vigil at abortion fa-
cilities, and grassroots edu-
cational outreach. Since 40
Days for Life began, 16,742
mothers have chosen life for
their children; 196 abortion
workers have quit their jobs;
and 106 abortion centers
where 40 Days for Life vigils
HISTORY: Three previous
task forces came up empty
(Continued from Page A1)
Cooperative Regional Library Service, which would give it
access to library materials throughout the region. Another
faction advanced the idea of a 21st Century library focused
on providing access to technology with a smaller collection of
books and periodicals.
A second library task force convened in 2002. It recommended
moving forward with the 21st Century library so long as an
agreement could be reached that included membership in the
CCRLS.
In 2004, a third iteration of the library task force tried to
negotiate with CCRLS for an agreement that would allow
the issue to be put to voters. CCRLS was unsatisfi ed with the
groundwork Keizer had done because no professional librarian
had been part of the process. Keizer enlisted the help of a library
consultant, Ruth Metz Associates, and conducted a poll of
Keizer residents. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed supported
a new library and roughly 47 percent said they would support
it through a new tax.
When the city council received the report, it agreed to put
the measure on the ballot if the supporters raised half of the
$40,000 it would take to do so. The money never materialized
and the economy was tanking as a result of the Great Recession
at about the same time.
The new effort is hoping to build on the work that has come
before with an actual library proposal, not the 21st Century
model.
crossword
have been held have gone out
of business.
Salem
is
one of over
500 commu-
nities around
the
world
conducting
simultane-
ous 40 Days
for Life cam-
Robinson
paigns from
February 26
through April 5.
Robinson is a former abor-
tion provider who has partici-
pated in numerous campaigns
throughout the world—in-
cluding across the United
States and Africa.
To learn more about 40
Days for Life, visit: ww-
w.40daysforlife.com. For in-
formation about the Salem
campaign, visit: www.40days-
forlife.com/Salem.