Page 8
The INDEPENDENT, October 3, 2012
Between the Bookends
by Nancy Burch, Librarian
Vernonia Public Library
Positive changes too
numerous to mention
have taken place in the
library over the past
twenty-four years. Most
of these have been
made possible by mov-
ing from a space of ap-
proximately 600 sq. feet
to one of nearly 3500 sq.
feet. This has allowed the collection’s number of
titles to increase from around 5,000 to nearly
25,000; the number of service hours a week to
increase from 20 to 39; the number of people at-
tending library programs to increase from about
120 to about 1,500; and the number of items cir-
culated yearly to increase from about 10,000 to
nearly 25,000.
For those who do not remember Vernonia’s li-
brary in 1988, it, along with city hall and the po-
lice department shared the space that is now
The Blue House. Before it was remodeled the
back portion had been condemned, and the rest-
room nearly always had water standing on the
cement floor (I don’t know if it was someone’s
idea of a joke, but for a long time there was a
pair of rubber boots outside the door of the rest-
room). There was no ventilation, as the front
door opened directly onto Bridge Street, making
the noise and blowing dirt more of a problem
than a solution. When the city hall turned on the
air-conditioner, fuses were blown. Periodically,
the furnace would spew black gunk into the
building. There was absolutely no room to add to
the collection. Because municipal court and
council meetings were held in the library, materi-
als had to put away each evening. Just providing
library service was a challenge, but there were
many loyal patrons as well as cooperation and
support from the rest of the city staff and volun-
teers that shared the space.
The month of October presents a prime ex-
ample of events that could never have taken
place in the old building. The after school pro-
grams, consisting of stories and crafts for young-
sters from kindergarten to sixth grades, will take
place on each Tuesday afternoon from 3:30 to
4:30; Friends of the Library will meet Tuesday,
October 2 at 6:30; a conversation project (From
Print to Pixels) sponsored by Oregon Humani-
ties will be held on Saturday, October 20 at 4:00;
Movie night will be Thursday, October 25 at
6:30; and book discussion (Where Lilacs Still
Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick) will take place Mon-
day, October 29 at 5:30.
Space for displays of any type were also im-
possible in the old building and an exciting, rele-
vant display featuring books that have been
banned or challenged greets patrons head-on
as they enter the library during Banned Books
Week—the week of September 30 to October 6,
2012. Be sure to check out this display and take
part in the discussion on the subject to be held
Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 p.m.
A designated area for Young Adult readers
has been created this past year, with of all of the
ORCA (Oregon Reader’s Choice Award) nomi-
nees for 2013 having recently been added.
During a recent conference on programming
for young readers, Jennifer was introduced to
and purchased some fabulous books for young-
sters, including Butterfly, Butterfly, The Black
Book of Colors, and Little Rooster’s Diamond
Button. The space for these and the recently
purchased adult novels, A Wanted Man by Lee
Child, Low Pressure by Sandra Brown, Zoo by
James Patterson, The Three Day Affair by
Michael Kardos, Delusion in Death by J. D.
Robb, and The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie
Macomber would have been very hard to find in
the old library.
Enjoy your library—its materials and pro-
grams.
To help with the rising num-
bers of whooping cough cases
this year, Columbia County
Public Health has received
vaccine targeted at adults with
no medical insurance between
the ages of 19 and 64.
“This is a one-time adult
booster,” said Mary Altenhein,
immunization coordinator for
the Public Health Foundation of
Columbia County. She said
adults who expect to have
close contact with a baby
younger than a year should be
immunized to protect the child.
Pertussis is more severe in
children than adults.
The Public Health Founda-
tion offers immunizations on a
sliding fee scale. Call 503-397-
4651 ext 2023 to make an ap-
pointment. Hours are 8 a.m.-
4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Nine cases of whooping
cough have been reported in
Columbia County this year.
Oregon has 679 cases, over
twice as many as reported last
year. Washington State has
4,007 cases, nearly 10 times
the number reported this time
last year.
“Prevention is the best de-
fense against this disease,”
said Karen Ladd, Columbia
County Public Health Adminis-
trator. “Not being current on
vaccinations clearly puts peo-
ple at risk of contracting pertus-
sis.”
“Children should see their
doctors if they have a cough
longer than two weeks,” said
Altenhein. Whooping cough
starts with a runny nose,
sneezing, cough and fever. The
cough worsens, frequently
comes in fits, and can last six
weeks or longer. In youngsters,
a whooping sound can follow
coughing fits as they try to
catch their breath; sometimes
infants grow blue in the face
from lack of air.
The tiniest children have
such small airways that when
racked with whooping cough,
sometimes for weeks on end,
they struggle to breathe and
may have trouble eating or
drinking.
Children should get a series
of four vaccinations at 2, 4, 6
and 15 to 18 months, and
again at age 4 to kindergarten,
according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Preven-
tion. Everyone else – infants’
parents, siblings age 10 and
older, grandparents, caregivers
and even adults who aren’t
around small children should
be vaccinated.
Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Avenue
Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tues., Thu. 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m.
Phone: 503-429-1818
Columbia County
Mental Health
Domestic Abuse
800-294-5211
503-397-6161
-----------------
Suicide Hotline
or
State Farm ®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710
Action Ads
INEXPENSIVE – EFFECTIVE
503-429-9410
Bunny Girt, Agent
1229 N. Adair
PO Box 543
Cornelius, OR 97113-0543
Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667
bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com
Mariolino’s
Public Health has whooping
cough vaccine for the uninsured
1-800-
784-2433
C OMING S OON !
or
Friday & Saturday
Dinner Specials!
721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018
503-901-1705
1-800-273-
TALK(8255)
Hotline
866-397-6161
-----------------
Military Helpline
888-HLP-4-VET
(888-457-4838)