Medford ‘Friends’ giant book-clearance event

Southern Oregon readers, note: Friends of the Medford Library​ is holding a “giant” book-clearance event, its “largest event ever,” noon to 4 p.m. Friday, July 28, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the central library in Medford, Jackson County Library Services - Oregon​. The latest “Friends” newsletter features details of this event, as well as other news of interest. During the “sale,” you can take whatever — and however many — books you like, and leave a donation of your choice. Three rooms of books will include large selections of science fiction, fiction and other categories, including record albums and other audio/visual materials.

Winter Reads program at Jackson County libraries

Near-record snowfall isn’t the only thing that arrived with the New Year, 2017. Jackson County Library Services is offering its Winter Reads program for adults, Jan. 3 to Feb. 14, and it all begins when you pick up a Reading Log from your local branch library.

JCLS seeks relief from library management contract

Officials with Jackson County Library Services in Jackson County, Ore. are exploring options for getting out of a contract for library management with Library Systems and Services (LS&S).

Friends of Medford Library ‘clearance event’

Source of image:
Friends of the Medford Library

From Friends of the Medford Library, comes word of its “largest clearance event yet,” Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19. Doors open at noon on Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday. On both days, supporters can shop until 3:30 p.m. “Our special ‘sale’ lets you take books — whichever ones you like, and as many as you like — and donate what cash you can to the Friends of the Medford Library.” The Friends bookstore is located at the Medford library, 205 S. Central Avenue. Bookstore proceeds help Friends of the Medford Library enhance library programs and services.

JCLS’s Westergard, library ‘Mover and Shaker’

Congratulations to Jackson County Library Services director Tammy Westergard, named a “Change Agent” among Library Journal’s annual “Movers and Shakers” roster. The write-up honors her for workforce development and technology efforts in Carson City, Nev.

‘Book Club in a Bag’ at the library

Image credit: Friends of the Medford Library

Beginning March 1, more than 100 titles will be available for reading group use through “Book Club in a Bag,” Jackson County Library Services in Oregon. Each bag includes 10 copies of the book, book club support questions and a reader’s guide for that title. In its Feb. 12 eNewsletter, Friends of the Medford Library shared a partial list: Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Friends of the Medford Library recommends that readers watch JCLS.org for more information and a full list of available Book Club Bags and book titles.

Jackson County Library Services, re-branded as independent entity

During a recent visit to the Ashland library, I picked up a letter that was sent to me. It announced my transition from Jackson County volunteer to being a volunteer specifically with Jackson County Library Services (JCLS).

Summer reading at Jackson County libraries

Jackson County libraries’ summer reading program starts as soon as school finishes. During these final days of the year in Bellview Elementary School library, I’m promoting the summer reading program by making bookmarks available.

Pizza dinner was on Friends of the Library

Our dinner from The Great American Pizza Company​ was courtesy of Friends of the Library. For each reading log filled out and completed for Jackson County Library Services’ 2015 “Winter Reads” program, we were entered in a prize drawing and I won a gift certificate to the restaurant of my choice. (I could also select a free “gently used” book for each reading log turned in. In that sense, everybody won.)

Friends of Medford Library ‘clearance event’

Source of image:
Friends of the Medford Library

From Friends of the Medford Library, comes word of the “biggest clearance event” it’s ever had, from noon to 3:30 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 27, and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. If you haven’t yet been to the book shop that Friends operates out of the Medford library, it’s definitely worth a visit. “This special ‘sale’ lets you take books for free and donate whatever amount of money you want.” Proceeds help Friends support the Medford library by “enhancing library programs and services for children and adults.” Medford library is located at 205 S. Central Ave.

Hand-made books during ‘Teen Crafternoon’

Having been exposed to the rewarding task of library book repair, I’ve long wanted to try hand-bookbinding. I got the opportunity during “Teen Crafternoon” with the Ashland library teen department.

Teen Crafternoon: Repurposing sweaters

Ashland Teen Library on Facebook

Teen Crafternoon continues with the Ashland Public Library’s Teen Department at its new time, 3:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.

This coming Monday, Nov. 10, teen librarian Esther Mortensen will guide us in upcycling sweaters into bracelets, arm and boot cuffs, hats and stuffed animals. Sweaters will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring one to upcycle if they’d like.

Teen Crafternoon begins new year at Ashland library

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Ashland Teen Library Fans

Who else is looking forward to a new year of Teen Crafternoon with the Ashland library teen department, Jackson County Library Services?

First off, participants will paint masks for Day of the Dead, 4 p.m. today.

I found my niche volunteering at Ashland library through summer craft events, and am looking forward to another school-year volunteering each month with Teen Crafternoon.

The Ashland Branch Library is located at 410 Siskiyou Blvd. For more information, contact the library’s teen department, 541-774-6994.

Jackson County Library Services: new website

Image source: Jackson County Library Services

A new website recently went live for Jackson County Library Services, at http://jcls.org/. Developed by iOR Consulting with the Wordpress blogging and website-hosting platform, the site employs a much more hierarchical approach that helps direct viewer attention, instead of confronting a jumble of information all competing to be noticed by the viewer.

Library teen crafting: Decorated book bags

Had a great time Tuesday decorating this canvas bag during the Ashland library teen department’s summer crafting activity. Watch the Jackson County Library Services calendar for upcoming activities. Summer reading activities are scheduled at multiple branches in our library system.

Jackson County Library District: Full rate first year

Jackson County homeowners will pay the maximum tax rate possible for the first year under the Jackson County Library District, as reported July 17 by the Medford Mail Tribune.

‘Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Art’

“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Art”: There was an abundance of activity on Tuesday in the Ashland Branch Library.

After helping teen librarian Esther Mortensen set up for the construction of found-object robots, I responded to a request by Denise Wilson for additional volunteers in the library children’s department.

The children’s department had been transformed into a multi-station setting that explored color, collage, sound and the alphabet.

Teen summer reading: ‘Fobots’ at Ashland library

Image credit: Jackson
County Library Services

Found objects become “robots” during the Ashland library teen department’s summer reading program, 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Talk about a great way to repurpose found objects into unique, one-of-a-kind art. Mary Wilkins-Kelly leads Tuesday’s “Fobots” activity.

Upcoming teen activities include the monthly video and board games, noon to 3:30 p.m. July 19, and painted book-bags, 1 to 3 p.m. July 22.

Ashland Branch Library is located at 410 Siskiyou Blvd. For more information, contact the library’s teen department, 541-774-6994.

Summer reading: display at Medford library

Check out the children’s summer reading display that I recently assembled at Jackson County Library Services’ Medford library.

Jackson County Library District: Early results

Unofficial election results showed Measure 15-122, the proposed Jackson County Library District, with 54.75-percent voter approval among 44,482 ballots cast as of a 7:55 p.m. Summary Report. Thank you to everyone who campaigned for our libraries and cast your votes in support.