Campaign Kick-off!

Save Our Library PAC meeting Wednesday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (next to Good News Gardening on Tucker Road) to start moving forward on structuring the SOL campaign for November, including setting up committees for budget/finance, fundraising, the campaign, and communications.

Going for a Special District Again in November

The Hood River County Board of Commissioners today (July 12) voted to put a special library district on the ballot again in November. Polling results so far show people overwhelmingly in support of the library in principle and also willing to vote for a lower tax levy combined with other funding sources. The special district, if approved, would be administered by five elected board members. The exact level of the proposed tax levy will be decided later.

The really good news about the polling results, by the way, is that ONLY the precincts that defeated the previous measure were polled.

Upcoming Meetings!

Next Monday (July 12 at 1:30pm) is the County Commission meeting where a decision will be made about the library district type we will attempt to pass in November. There will also be polling results shared (even if only preliminary). In order to prepare for this meeting, the library supporters will be meeting on Sunday, July 11 at 3pm at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church - the one around the corner from Good News Gardening on Tucker Road.

JULY 6 MEETING CANCELLED

Message from County Commission Chair Ron Rivers:


"I have cancelled the July 6th meeting. After talking to the pollsters, our July 6th meeting would be to premature to garner any trends from the polling. The Board of Commissioners will meet on Monday July 12th at 1:30 pm. The reason for the earlier time is because of the resolutions that must be written that afternoon for both cities. We should know much more about trends at this later date."

Contributions Needed for Polling Effort!

The Save Our Library group is sending out a call for donations to support a polling effort. We would like to hire a professional to do some polling for us so we can figure out why exactly the May measure did not pass, and what exactly people would be willing to vote for in November. We will then share these polling results with the County Commissioners in order that they may make a decision on a creating a workable measure that has the best chance of passing in November. In order to get this polling done in a very timely manner we need to raise some money, and the sooner the better. Click on "support / contact" above to see the address for donations and the info that must be provided with the donation. Thank you!

Decision Meeting July 6

The County Commission will be deciding at their July 6 meeting whether the next ballot proposal will be a special or service district. They will also establish a preliminary (subject to further hearings) levy rate at that time. Meanwhile the Save Our Library Options Committee is committed to do some polling of voter preferences and gather cost comparisons for the two kinds of districts.

TWO MEETINGS UPCOMING:

Library supporters meeting Saturday, 11 a.m. at Riverside Church (4th & State) to prepare for County Commission meeting Monday, 6 p.m., at County Building (6th & State).

The June 7 County Commission meeting...

Was packed with library supporters full of appeals that the Commission get the library reopened as soon as possible and ideas that might make it happen. The Commissioners stated emphatically that they wanted to see the library up and running again and promised to facilitate some meetings toward that end starting this week or next.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING....

Show up for the County Commission meeting Monday, June 7, at 7 p.m. One of the main items on the agenda is "Discuss with staff options on how to proceed with the closure of the library." Anyone can sign up to speak for 5 minutes and we ALL need to let them know that it should be "Options on how to proceed with keeping the library open"!

Moving Forward!

Extremely productive meeting this morning at the library with somewhere between 50 and 100 people in attendance. Lots of information shared, lots of misinformation cleared up, and lots of ideas about how to move forward, including many thoughts about how to reduce costs and thus the required tax levy if it's decided to go back to the voters again. Many other possibilities were also brought forth, such as running the library through the Library Foundation using donations, privatizing the library, going for a service distict (like 911) rather than an independent district (like the school district), establishing a "cultural district" that would include the library, the museum, 4H and possibly some other entities, having each city (Hood River, Cascade Locks, and Parkdale) responsible for its own library.... There were too many ideas to list them all here. Everyone who attended is on an e-mail list now and will be notified of further meetings to begin to sort all this out and focus in on what looks like it will work best. If you weren't able to attend and want to be on that e-mail list, send your e-mail address to saveourhoodriverlibrary@gmail.com.

No, We Are Not Giving Up!

The library district was not approved in this election, which means that the three branches of the library will be closed as of July 1...and already people are beginning to realize how devastating this is going to be, both economically and socially, for the county. We will try again, with even more support from the community, and we will succeed! We will be updating you as plans develop, both on this website and on our Facebook page.

VOTE!

Ballots are arriving in homes across the county and we just want to remind everyone to be sure to fill in the "YES" bubble under measure 14-37 (it is kind of hidden under the last fold, so be sure you don't miss it). Fill out your ballot and REMEMBER to RETURN it ASAP and at least by MAY 18. We need all of our supporters to make sure they get their ballots in - EVERY VOTE COUNTS (REALLY!) in this election and we need all the YES votes counted.


PLEASE PASS THIS REMINDER ON TO ALL YOUR LIBRARY SUPPORTER, REGISTERED VOTER FRIENDS.

and check out our "Save the Hood River County Library" Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=322764247896&v=wall

More Perspective on the Tax Rate

It's very important for voters to understand that the 70 cents is the maximum tax rate that can ever be charged without going back for another vote. Once a district is approved, the newly-elected Library Board will take input from the public about what the rate should actually be. The consensus among the candidates running for the Board right now is that the rate should initially be around 56 cents. That's not in stone because it still depends on the public input, but certainly the initial rate will not be anywhere near 70 cents.

It's equally important for the voters to realize that the tax rate will apply to the assessed value of their home, not the market value. Assessed value might be as low as fifty percent of market value in this area.

Rumor Control Central

If the Library District is approved, the Parkdale and Cascade Locks library branches will stay open along with the main library in downtown Hood River.

The tax money collected by the Library District will all go toward maintaining the library. None of it will be available to the county for other purposes.

The Library Board positions are unpaid. They are five volunteer positions with no compensation attached.

If the Library District is not approved, there will be no “rescue” of the library by some other governmental or private entity. The three branches will close. The staff will move on. The county will attempt to do something else with the property.

Want to know how much the Library is worth to YOU?

Check out the Value Calculator at http://www.hoodriver.plinkit.org/library-use-value-calculator.html.

Economic Impact of Libraries

It's a fact that a public library has a significant impact on the property values and economic development in its community. Check out the studies linked to this website: http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/econimpact.html. See especially the Urban Institute Study. Then vote YES on Measure 14-37 on May 18!

Major Fundraiser and PAC Meeting March 20 at The Pines Tasting Room

5-8 p.m.
Corner of 2nd and State in Hood River

Everyone interested in supporting the Library District is invited to attend this event where we will have entertainment, a silent auction, a no-host bar, and the opportunity to sign up for various support activities such as phone bank, letter writing, etc.

There will be no charge at the door, though of course contributions will be welcome.

Perspective on the Proposed Library District Tax Rate

Say you have a house with an assessed value of $350,000. Your annual support of the library district would be $245. That would be 67 cents per day. In other words, would you give up one package of Sara Lee Frozen Fruit Pies per week to keep the library open?

“Support Our Library” Night at Skylight Theatre & Pub March 18

Two family-friendly films will be shown and proceeds will go toward supporting the campaign to establish a Hood River County Library District. The early show (6 p.m.) will be Akeelah and the Bee. The second show (8:30 p.m.) will be Dreamgirls. Tickets are $8.75 per movie and will be available at the door.

Skylight Theatre & Pub is located inside Andrew’s Pizza, 109 Oak Street, in Hood River.

Our yard sign and campaign button:

Vote Yes on Measure 14-37

And remember, to do so you must register to vote! You can now register on-line at http://www.oregonvotes.org/.

The 5th annual ‘Hood River County Reads’ officially begins…

Sunday, February 28, 2 PM at the Hood River County Library with a performance and sing-along by performer Rick Meyers. The Library will be open for this free event.

The books selected for this year ‘Hood River County Reads’ both feature pioneer life. Molly Gloss’s ‘The Heart of Horses’ is set in rural Eastern Oregon in WWI. Pam Munoz Ryan’s ‘Riding Freedom,’ a book for middle school readers, deals with the settlement of California during gold rush days.

Performer Rick Meyers has been performing and teaching pioneer music and folklore to children and adults since 1976. His performances are known for their educational value, humor and high level of audience participation. Meyers plays and demonstrates the banjo, guitar, autoharp, musical saw, spoons, mouth harp, limberjack, washboard, ukulele, and washtub bass.

Each year the Friends of the Library search for a new book that the community can read at the same time and talk about with their neighbors. Wendy Best, journalist, says of ‘The Heart of Horses: ‘Just because there is a picture of a horse on the cover, don’t think this book is all about horses. It’s actually about ranching and farming in Eastern Oregon in 1917. You will meet wonderful people, horrid people, and sick and troubled people. History is dropped in like little jewels here and there, and pretty soon you fell as if you have been there. Molly Gloss lets the story tell itself. It’s a great read.’

Additional ‘Hood River County Reads' Events are: February 25, 7 PM: Book Discussion at the Cascade Locks Library; March 14, 2 PM, Library: Mary Schlick, author of ‘Coming to Stay;’ April 11, 2 PM, Library: Jody Foss, ‘The Sagebrush Story’, a lecture by a modern woman who still travels the west by horseback.

Author Molly Gloss will conclude ‘HRC Reads 2010’ with a public presentation at the Library, Sunday, April 19, 2 PM. On Monday, April 20, Gloss will make presentations at the Hood River Valley High School speaking with students there about her book and the writing process.

Molly Gloss says of ‘Heart of Horses: ‘I was looking for a way to rework the classic cowboy story: to find a central place in it for women, reshape it around the realities of the

Historical West, and retell it, not as a legend of a lone, wandering hero, but of a community of people putting down roots, and the courage of ordinary lives.’

Copies of the books are now available for check out at the Hood River County Library. ‘Hood River County Reads 2010’ is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and funded with grants from the Hood River County Library Foundation, the Hood River County Educational Foundation, and Starseed Foundation.

Vote to Save Our Library in this Upcoming May Election!

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Storyteller Adeline Miller at Library Feb. 26

Adeline Miller, Storyteller, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, will tell stories in the Hood River County Library meeting room, Friday, February 26, 3-4 PM. Her visit is sponsored by the ‘Oregon Is Indian Country’ public programs.

Many years ago, an elder would always remind Adeline Miller that she was ‘born up in the mountains, during huckleberry time.’ Now a tribal elder herself, Miller reminds her children and grandchildren of their origins – through song, dance, and ceremony. It's what keeps Miller spry.

Adeline Miller remembers a time where people made the things they needed – and stories were shared by elders, not a TV or movie screen. Born of Warm Springs, Yakama, Klickitat and Paiute stock, Miller recalls her rustic childhood in the pine forests and sage covered hills between the Cascades and Deschutes River valleys.

‘Once I lived with was my mother's aunt. She was one of the cornhusk weavers. She'd make these great big root bags like you see in the museum,’ said Miller.

Miller's aunt and grandmother had her deliver food to the elders, as a way to honor and care for them. ‘I was very fortunate to live with grandmother to learn all this. And this is where I learned most of my knowledge that I remember.’

Miller worked a number of jobs, including farming and working at the tribal office. After retiring in 1991, she finds herself busier than ever.

‘Right now I work with the language. I help early childhood school by going over there singing song or recording songs for them and teaching dances. So I feel that to teach them at a young age they know who they are, to be proud that they're Indian people that they'll never be anything other than that, said Miller.

Miller says by caring for elders, sharing knowledge with youngsters, and being generous with everyone, people can live full and happy lives. It's what keeps her traditions alive, and her spirits high.