CURRENT EVENTS
November 28
This Giving Tuesday, you can help make sure that children in our community have at least one book in their home.
This Giving Tuesday, you can help make sure that children in our community have at least one book in their home.
On November 28, we're celebrating the joy of reading. As a library user, you know the unique joy of curling up with your favorite book. You know that reading opens your eyes to new worlds and creates a sense of peace and tranquility.
Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity to celebrate and encourage charitable support of nonprofit organizations, and on this day we ask for your support to help share the wonder of reading.
Children who begin reading at a young age are much more likely to continue reading and
become lifelong library users. While we have books to lend, our library's Outreach to Child Care program needs your help to give books to kids that they can keep and read with the adults in their lives. With your help, we can make sure that children in our community have at least one book in their home.
Please make your most generous gift to provide books for kids and create lifelong library users.
Join us for Giving Tuesday
You know that reading to children is essential - but how can you help make that happen in our community? Join the Foundation for Giving Tuesday as we support the JCLS's Outreach to Child Care program and help give books to kids 0-5.
You know that reading to children is essential - but how can you help make that happen in our community?
Join the Foundation for Giving Tuesday as we support the JCLS's Outreach to Child Care program and help give books to kids 0-5.
Outreach to Child Care is a free book delivery service offered by Jackson County Library Services to child care sites that care for four or more preschool children on a full-time basis. Library staff and volunteers deliver bags filled with age-appropriate books to child care homes and centers each month. Providers can also request bags with special content, such as Spanish-language theme books, board books for babies, or CDs. Library staff can even provide a storytime or family literacy program. Learn more about Outreach to Child Care.
This program, partially supported by the Foundation, can help give children a lifelong advantage by developing a love for books and reading. It helps to brighten and enhance the early literacy skills of hundreds of children throughout our community.
The Rogue Valley Messenger is hosting the Giving Tuesday event. Please join us to help raise support for Outreach to Child Care:
Tuesday, November 28, 5:30-8 pm
Collaborative Theatre Project (555 Medford Center, Medford, OR)
The event is free, but we ask that you consider donating to the Foundation while there.
Giving Tuesday is a nationwide event encouraging donations to nonprofits during the holiday season. The RVM is offering nonprofits the chance to share their mission with new audiences while enjoying some of the area's finest craft beers and wines.
Learn more about the event on RVM's website.
Reception Honoring Mary Mastain
Mary Mastain is a longtime Ashland Public Library volunteer, serving her community for over 30 years.
Mary Mastain is a longtime Ashland Public Library volunteer, serving her community for over 30 years.
In honor of Mary's 90th birthday, her family and the Foundation installed a plaque commemorating her volunteerism.
The plaque was installed in the Teen Reading Area of the Ashland Public Library and reads "In honor of Mary Steele Mastain, Friends of the Library Member and Volunteer at the Ashland Public Library since 1989".
The plaque unveiling was followed by a reception in the Gresham Room. Jamar Rahming, Library Director, spoke on the value of libraries as community spaces and Mary's contributions to the Ashland Library. Kristin Anderson, Ashland Branch Manager, shared Mary's commitment to early childhood literacy efforts, including a pamphlet Mary developed in the 1980s in Sacramento about the importance of reading to young children. Amy Blossom, former Ashland Branch Manager, spoke about Mary's longtime commitment to the Ashland Public Library, from reading to helping with the Friends book sales. Mardi discussed Mary's care for her community and how she inspired her children to do good in this world.
Other attendees jumped in to add their own reflections on Mary's dedication to the library, her community, and Ashland. Cathy Shaw, Jackson County Library District Board Member and former Mayor of Ashland, talked about how whenever she embarked on a new campaign, she called Mary first because Cathy knew Mary would say yes. Several of Mary's friends spoke about her time volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce, Ashland Parks, and other local institutions.
Read more on Mary's dedication to her community in the Mail Tribune.
Oregon Resource Award for 2017 Public Employer of the Year
This award is in honor of the JCLS's work with Pathway Enterprises, Inc. and is in recognition of the JCLS's significant contribution to the employment of individuals with disabilities.
Congratulations to the Jackson County Library System on their Oregon Resource Award for 2017 Public Employer of the Year!
This award is in honor of the JCLS's work with Pathway Enterprises, Inc. and is in recognition of the JCLS's significant contribution to the employment of individuals with disabilities.
The Foundation recently sat down with Laura Kimberly, Medford Library Branch Manager and program liaison, to ask her about the award.
Foundation: Congratulations! Can you tell us more about this honor?
Laura Kimberly: Thank you! Through my work with Pathways, I created a work environment where the employees feel like they're part of the staff - they're welcomed and appreciated. I gave them continuous feedback, including coaching the crew, working closely with staff to address issues, asking them questions, and so forth. We welcomed Pathways with open arms, and they look forward to coming here. We advocate for the Pathways employees and make sure the Library needs are met while supporting the staff.
F: Do you have a favorite story about working with Pathways?
LK: Yes, we were able to fully involve them in our annual Comic Con. I worked with Rick [the Pathways Contract Services Director] to go over the Comic Con layout and review Pathways' needs for the site. We walked the building with the employees, gave them official Comic Con tshirts, and they worked the event alongside the Library staff and volunteers. Afterwards they told me that they loved it - they were part of the event and able to help create that fun and excitement for our Library patrons. They met lots of people, saw their costumes, and just took in the whole experience.
F: What does this award mean to you?
LK: The crew is wonderful, and I love that they're excited to come to work here. I think what really gets me is that Rick started telling stories of things I didn't realize people paid attention to. That the employees are recognized for their contribution to making a difference in someone's life. And that's what libraries truly embody - a comfortable space where everyone is welcomed and included.
Oregon Cultural Trust Grant Recipient
The Jackson County Library Foundation is pleased to share that we have received an $11,432 grant from the Oregon Cultural Trust.
The Jackson County Library Foundation is pleased to share that we have received an $11,432 grant from the Oregon Cultural Trust.
This grant will help support Baby’s First Book. Baby’s First Book helps create lifelong readers and library users, almost from birth. Through this program, the Foundation guarantees that nearly all of Jackson County’s new families will have at least one children’s book in their home.
"We're very excited about this opportunity," says Amy Drake, Executive Director of the Jackson County Library Foundation. "This generous funding will allow us to update our materials and help ensure that we're reaching all of Jackson County's 2,000+ newborns born per year."
Baby’s First Book packets are distributed in either English or Spanish to ensure that all residents have equal access to literacy materials, including information on the importance of reading to babies. Materials include a board baby book, information about library programs, parent’s guide to reading to children, and library card application. This program also helps to promote local libraries as a key free cultural resource in the community, which in turn supports greater access to books and technology. Library program and services information are included in the packet, and families are encouraged to visit their library to get their baby’s first library card.
Other Jackson County grant recipients include Rogue World Music, Southern Oregon Film Society, Southern Oregon University Foundation, and the Talent Historical Society.
A letter from Jody Fleming, Phoenix Library Branch Manager
A little more than three years ago, the citizens of Jackson County voted in favor of their
histories, their communities, and their children, when they created a Library District and approved Levy 15-122.
A little more than three years ago, the citizens of Jackson County voted in favor of their
histories, their communities, and their children, when they created a Library District and approved Levy 15-122. In doing so, you saved toddler story times, Lego Days, computer classes, author lectures, Comic Cons, dozens of jobs, and fifteen clean, safe, and beautiful buildings that are open to everyone.
Carl Sagan observed that “[w]e are the only species on the planet, so far as we know, to have invented a communal memory stored neither in our genes nor in our brains. The
warehouse of this memory is called the library.”
From the history of Gasburg (that’s Phoenix now) to the history of the moon; from my daughter using the public library computers to watch Youtube to a grandmother using them to email her grandchildren; from a young reader who won the grand prize of a kite in the children’s summer reading program to that same reader winning the grand prize of a Barnes & Noble gift card in the teen summer reading program; we build our histories and communities through our connections to the library.
JCLS unites the citizens of Jackson County as patrons, neighbors, and humans. Our humanity is reflected in our confirmation of the need of our precious libraries.
Thank you!
Jody Fleming
Baby's First Book Haiku
Baby's First Book helps create lifelong readers and library users, almost from birth.
The Foundation recently entered the Oregon Community Foundation's 2017 Grantseekers Haiku Contest. The Grantseekers Haiku Contest challenges qualifying organizations to collapse a traditional grant proposal into the seventeen-syllable format of a haiku poem.
We chose to write our haiku about Baby's First Book. Baby's First Book helps create lifelong readers and library users, almost from birth. Through this program, the Jackson County Library Foundation guarantees that almost all of Jackson County’s new families will have at least one children’s book in their home.
$34,806.25 Forgiven!
A heartfelt thank you to our community for participating in Food for Fines and Fine Forgiveness!
A heartfelt thank you to our community for participating in Food for Fines and Fine Forgiveness!
Making a Difference
In just the first week of Food for Fines / Fine Forgiveness, we’re already hearing many heartwarming stories from community members who are overjoyed to be welcomed back to their library.
In just the first week of Food for Fines / Fine Forgiveness, we’re already hearing many heartwarming stories from community members who are overjoyed to be welcomed back to their library.
Here are two from the Medford Library Circulation Staff:
“A couple told me that they are homeless at the moment and under a lot of stress. When I told her about Food for Fines, they were excited to see what it would take to erase their outstanding fines. The couple had me tally up the total fines on both cards, which amounted to over $1,100. I explained that for each packet of Top Ramen, for example, we will erase $5 in fines on their account. Once we calculated that this would amount to about 225 packets, and only a little over nine 24-packs, they were encouraged at how reasonable and manageable this seemed. After they left, I noticed that they had an additional, older account with $41.00 in fines. We’ve already developed a “food kitty” of extra donations provided by Good Samaritans, so I paid off this account with eight extra donated items. This will be a pleasant surprise when they return with their first batch of food donations!”
“A woman brought in three books from 2005. She heard about the program, gave her house a thorough search, and found all three books that had been on her account for over a decade. Since she returned all three, I was able to erase all of her $127.75 in fines, replacement costs, and the collection fee. The woman was so excited to be welcomed back to the library that she immediately got a new library card and headed upstairs to browse. She also mentioned that she plans to come back and donated some canned goods for us to use on accounts with large balances.”
A Tribute to Judy Lozano
Judy Hanshue Lozano channeled her belief into helping start the JCLF’s Baby’s First Book Program. The following tribute was written by her daughters, Sarah and Mandy:
Baby’s First Book is possible thanks to the generosity of our individual and corporate sponsors. Together, we believe in the power of literacy to change and enrich lives.
Judy Hanshue Lozano channeled her belief into helping start the JCLF’s Baby’s First Book Program. The following tribute was written by her daughters, Sarah and Mandy:
“Judy Hanshue Lozano and her husband, Bob, moved their young family to Southern Oregon in 1985 when they purchased a cattle ranch outside of Butte Falls. Judy and her family became active and well-loved members of the Butte Falls and greater southern Oregon communities. Drawing on their backgrounds as educators during the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the Lozanos focused their attention on supporting Butte Falls Elementary and Butte Falls High School with time, energy and financial resources. Once their two daughters graduated from Butte Falls High School and moved on to successful college and graduate school pursuits, Judy shifted her philanthropic and volunteer efforts to supporting local literacy initiatives.
“Judy loved books and what they represented to society, using literature as a means to connect with people. For many years, she was an active member of two longstanding book clubs that she thoroughly enjoyed. Judy believed that literacy, and the concept of being open to new ideas and perspectives one receives when exposed to a variety of literary mediums, was a strong precursor to a successful and fulfilling life. She was a tireless leader of the Butte Falls Friends of the Library Chapter and became a major force to ensure that libraries remained open and supported throughout Southern Oregon.
“Inspired by the birth of her first grandchild in 2009, Judy worked closely with the Jackson County Library Foundation to help start Baby’s First Book – a program ensuring that all babies born in Jackson County are given a board book and their parents given information about free services and programs provided by local libraries to foster a lifetime of literacy.
“After Judy’s passing in May 2016, her family has chosen to continue supporting this valuable community initiative to honor her memory. Please support their efforts to give children the tools they need to be successful and happy people.”
Food for Fines / Fine Forgiveness
Have an overdue book, CD, or DVD from the library? Now’s your chance to clear your fines.
Have an overdue book, CD, or DVD from the library? Now’s your chance to clear your fines.
The Jackson County Library Foundation is partnering with the Jackson County Library Services on this program. Through this program, the Library will forgive fines and fees on all overdue items that are returned during the month of June, without limit. If you’ve lost library materials, you can get a fresh start with the Library’s Food for Fines campaign, also happening throughout June. Food for Fines allows anyone with an outstanding balance for overdue books to have $5.00 in charges forgiven for every can or package of non-perishable food donated, also without limit.
Food for Fines is a collaboration with the Neighborhood Food Project (NFP), a group widely-known throughout the county for its colorful green bags used to collect and share food.
“This is a great opportunity to provide food for hungry neighbors in our community. At the same time, you’re clearing up fines and making our wonderful library part of your life again,” said NFP Executive Director John Javna. “Food donations will stay local to each community, so you really will be feeding your neighbors.” To facilitate this, the Library and NFP will also partner with Shady Cove Upper Rogue Food Pantry, Gold Hill Christian Center, Prospect Community Food Bank, Applegate Food Pantry, and others. Donated food must be in store-sealed cans, boxes, or plastic containers within its expiration date.
The Library’s message to the community is that “We want you back!” The program will allow residents who have stopped using the library to again take advantage of Library collections.
“With the Food for Fines and Fine Forgiveness programs, we aim to recover library collections, eliminate barriers to access, welcome back patrons, and increase library patronage and usage,” shared Susan Bloom, JCLS Access Services Coordinator. “A great side-effect is that we can all help our neighbors with what we collect.”
The Library’s 15 branches will serve as collection sites for the campaign. Patrons can find out the amount of their outstanding fines by calling (541) 774-8689 or viewing their account online at jcls.org. Customers who don’t have fines or fees can be part of the program by making donations of non-perishable food items to any Jackson County Library in June.
Join Us for Medford Comic Con!
Jackson County Library Services and Rogue Community College have teamed up to host the 3rd Annual Medford Comic Con – the largest free Con on the West Coast!
Jackson County Library Services and Rogue Community College have teamed up to host the 3rd Annual Medford Comic Con – the largest free Con on the West Coast!
Where: Medford Branch Library and Rogue Community College Campus
When: 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday, April 29, 2017
The JCLF will help moderate the Superheroes and Villains Q&A at noon in RCC #109
The full schedule of events is available on the JCLS website.
The Medford Comic Con creates a safe, free, and family-friendly space for fans of the arts, technology, and popular culture. It also supports Downtown Medford, local businesses and artists, and creators and makers of all types.
Join us to make this year’s event bigger and better!
Meet and Greet on Tuesday, May 2
Please join us for a Meet and Greet with our new Executive Director!
Please join us for a Meet and Greet with our new Executive Director! Come chat about your library foundation, share your thoughts with us, and hear our plans as we move forward to help fundraise and advocate for our Jackson County Library System.
Tuesday, May 2
Medford Library, Adams Room
4-6 pm
Light refreshments will be served.
Announcing Our New Executive Director
We are pleased to announce that we have hired Amy Drake as our new Executive Director.
We are pleased to announce that we have hired Amy Drake as our new Executive Director.
Amy Drake has nearly nine years of experience in supporting cultural institutions, including grant writing, developing collaborative relationships, expanding audience reach, and executing public events. Drake believes, “Libraries are vital to creating healthy and vibrant communities of all sizes – from the knowledge and materials they steward to the experiences they create.”
Previously, Drake worked as the Director of Exhibitions and Community Engagement for the Southern Oregon Historical Society in Medford. While there, she curated exhibitions that highlighted an underrepresented aspect of local history, including 2016’s Courage in the Golden Valley: Southern Oregon Chinese History. Through Drake’s leadership of the History: Made by You program, SOHS received the Oregon Heritage Excellence Award in 2013. Drake also provided outreach to volunteer-run historical societies, including teaching classes, running workshops, and awarding scholarships.
Drake serves on the boards of the Oregon Museums Association and the Jackson County Cultural Coalition. She holds her MA in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and her BA in History from Grinnell College. She has lived in Ashland since 2011.
The JCLF Board is looking forward to working with Drake, stating that they are “pleased to have Amy on board and leading us in support of all our libraries in Jackson County.”
Honoring Judy Lozano
The Lozano Family, guided by daughters Mandy and Sarah, have chosen to honor Judy with a memorial fund that supports and combines Judy’s passions of reading and encouraging parents to read to children.
The Lozano Family, guided by daughters Mandy and Sarah, have chosen to honor Judy with a memorial fund that supports and combines Judy’s passions of reading and encouraging parents to read to children.
Please consider a donation in honor of Judy to Baby’s First Book.
From Judy’s daughter, Sarah, on her mother’s passing and her passion for reading to children:
“When my son Blake was born in San Diego, I was given a little packet in the hospital that contained a baby ‘board book’, information about free San Diego County Library programs, and other details to help encourage a lifetime of literacy at an early age.
"Mom saw this, and took this into the Jackson County Library Foundation, where she was an active member. With that inspiration, she helped create the Baby’s First Book program which was launched on Mother’s Day weekend 2013.
"Because of our mother’s passion for literacy, nearly all of the 4,000 babies born in Jackson County every year get a packet containing a baby book and information about services and programs at the Jackson County Library. It is fueled by Mom’s hard work.
"When Mandy and I heard about this, we were completely surprised. Mom was so humble that few people knew about her role in this program. In light of this, Mandy and I are working with the Foundation to create an avenue for giving in her name that will help this program continue, and will share the donation details as soon as it’s in place.”
Baby’s First Book is distributed in Jackson County Hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices, in both English and Spanish. The Library Foundation will honor Judy’s influence and compassionate consideration of others in Baby’s First Book packets as well as in our social media, newsletters and web site. Your donation will honor her and advance the library system’s efforts in early childhood literacy.
Thank you, Judy!
Lou Hannum, Former Mayor of Medford and JCLF Donor, Passes Away
Lou Hannum and his wife Carolyn had chosen to help support Outreach to Daycare.
Our dear friend and generous donor, Lou Hannum, passed away. He was 100 years old, and we had the pleasure of celebrating that 100th year on May 31, 2015. He and his lovely family created a memorial fund in honor of his wife of 71 years, Carolyn.
They decided to fund a program that would bring folks into the libraries, and they wanted to encourage young children to read and use the libraries. As a result, the Outreach to Daycare program was chosen for support. That program takes big tote bags full of children’s books, along with puppets and tips for reading to kids, to local daycare centers and homes. Those kids receive a volunteer or staff member for story times, and the bag is replenished each month with new books and goodies. In the last fiscal year, 26,538 kids benefited from the program and from the Hannum Family donation.
I spent a lot of time with Lou since meeting him about this donation to the Foundation – because he was an amazing person. He had stories to tell, he was insightful, smart, caring, funny, engaging, helpful. We watched Will Rogers movies in the afternoons and talked and talked. He loved books. We loved him.
He left a big impression on so many of us. You can too, if you’d like to acknowledge him, please consider a donation to the Carolyn and Lou Hannum Fund. He would have appreciated it. We certainly do.
Sandra Marks Leaves Legacy Gift to Central Point Library
The Jackson County Library Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of a significant bequest of over $200,000 from Mrs. Sandra Marks, which is specified for the benefit of the Central Point Library.
The Jackson County Library Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of a significant bequest of over $200,000 from Mrs. Sandra Marks, which is specified for the benefit of the Central Point Library. Monies raised by or donated to the Foundation generally support the library system above and beyond the constraints of a tax-based budget.
A long-time resident of Central Point, Mrs. Marks’ donation to her home library branch is a significant boost to the Jackson County Library District’s third most-busy library. Central Point Library Branch Manager, Leigh Blair, was so excited when she heard the news, she literally had to sit down. “The Central Point Library is deeply grateful to receive this generous gift from a wise and caring individual. We are thrilled to consider the many possibilities for the benefit of library patrons for many years to come."
Monica Weyhe, Jackson County Library District Board President says, “We are very pleased and grateful for this donation and want to make the best use of it for our current and future Central Point patrons, including my family. We will consider our wishes, hopes, and dreams for the Central Point Library together with what we learn from and about the Central Point community throughout our Strategic Planning process this year. It is premature to guess what the decision will be about what we may actually purchase at this point, though we very much look forward to that decision process in the near future."
Sandra Marks was a private person. Though the Foundation Board and staff didn’t know her personally, the many who did commented on her kindness and generosity. She was a retired nurse, and worked with several organizations as a volunteer throughout her career and during her retirement. She was especially involved with SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) and volunteered at the Mae Richardson Elementary School in Central Point for 10 years. Sandra loved reading and sought opportunities for children to access materials and to learn from books.
The Foundation is one of 10 recipients of Mrs. Marks retirement funds and estate – and since Foundation staff didn’t know her or converse with her about the bequest, it came as a surprise. If you are among those who did know Mrs. Marks, please post a note about her on the Jackson County Library Foundation’s Facebook page. Your stories will help piece together a profile of such a kind and thoughtful woman.