Every August, as part of our commitment to transparency and accountability, I complete an annual report — a requirement outlined by the library board’s bylaws and mandated by ORS 357.520, to be submitted to the State Library of Oregon. Since 1914, the State Library of Oregon has been collecting and publishing data on collections, circulation, staffing, facilities, technology, and other statistics from all legally established public libraries in Oregon. The reporting period aligns with the state fiscal year, running from July 1 through June 30 each year. You can access this wealth of data for every Oregon public library on the state’s website at oregon.gov/library.
The most recent Josephine Community Library annual report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is now available for your reading pleasure on our website. I presented the data to the board at its August meeting.
What stands out about this year’s report is the fact that we are still recovering from the pandemic. I would like to say the pandemic is ancient history, but the reality is that we are still building back services after the lockdowns. This has made goal setting a challenge. Typically, annual reporting involves comparing data from the last three years to get a sense of change over time, then determine increases or decreases. However, these past four years have been skewed by inactivity. To set realistic goals, I used fiscal year 2018-19 as a baseline, looking back to before the pandemic to establish meaningful targets.
This is most evident in volunteer engagement. Volunteers are integral to daily operations, from cataloging books and issuing library cards to assisting patrons with technology and providing information services. This legacy of volunteerism is deeply embedded in the culture of Josephine Community Library. Even as a tax-funded district, the library continues to thrive thanks to the efforts of around 240 volunteers annually, serving a total of 18,229 recorded hours. That’s the equivalent of 8.5 full-time employees, saving the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. While these numbers are impressive, they still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. We are working to increase volunteer engagement by 46 percent over the next three years — a lofty goal but one that I’m confident we can achieve.
Along with ongoing pandemic recovery, this past year saw services impacted by building projects, reflecting our focus on repairing and rebuilding library facilities after years of county neglect. Notably, innovative building projects were completed in Williams and launched in Illinois Valley.
In Williams, the library district collaborated with the library foundation to construct a new branch at 158 Tetherow Road, which opened in October 2023. These improvements led to increased library usage, reflected in higher numbers of checked-out materials, program participation, and new library card registrations.
In Illinois Valley, the district and its partners undertook a renovation of the existing branch at 209 W. Palmer in Cave Junction. The branch closed to the public in March, with the anticipated reopening set for October 2024. Temporary curbside services are offered at the Illinois Valley Senior Center, but the closure still negatively impacted usage statistics.
So, while the Illinois Valley branch saw a 29 percent decrease in the number of items borrowed because of the closure during renovation, the Williams branch experienced a 77 percent increase in circulation in its new building.
Across all four branches, including Grants Pass and Wolf Creek, the overall usage of library materials and participation in programs remained stable, balancing the effects of new construction with the reinvigoration of rural library services.
Here are some additional highlights for the year: our library hosted 355 youth programs with 10,051 participants, including parents and children; fulfilled 760 interlibrary loan requests, saving the district approximately $15,000; and, facilitated 44 service partnerships, increasing its collective impact tenfold. Most notably, the library partnered with the four Rotary Clubs in Josephine County to deliver 24,704 books to children in our community through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Since 2018 when the program launched, 6,169 Josephine County children have received 135,822 books — all funded by the Rotary Clubs and grant funders.
The progress we’ve made in the past year, particularly in improving our facilities and re-engaging volunteers, demonstrates a strong foundation for future growth. Remaining stable through intense change is a win in my book, especially as we strive to meet the needs of our community today and for years to come.
I encourage you to dive deeper into our 2023-24 annual report on our website or visit the State Library website to compare services over decades. Better yet, come see the changes for yourself — visit the new Williams library facility or join us for the grand reopening of the Illinois Valley branch this October. I look forward to seeing you at the library!
Between the Pages is a monthly column written by Kate Lasky for the Grants Pass Daily Courier. Ms. Lasky has worked with Josephine Community Library since 2009. She holds a master’s in education and recently completed her master’s in library science. To send comments or questions, email klasky@josephinelibrary.org.