[Libs-Or] Douglas County Library System Grants for Operations Support 2016

[Harold A. Hayes]

Press Release from the Ford Family Foundation & email from the Oregon Community Foundation:

A bridge to the ballot
Douglas County Library System receives short-term funding from
The Ford Family Foundation, The Oregon Community Foundation, others

In a highly unusual move, The Ford Family Foundation has awarded the Douglas County Library System a $300,000 time-limited grant to support operating costs. The grant will serve as a critical bridge to a public vote in 2016 that will decide the future of the library system. Since 2007, Douglas County funding for the library has been cut by more than half. By 2019, no Douglas County general funds will be allotted to the library.

"The grant is a one-time exception for the Foundation," said Anne Kubisch, president of The Ford Family Foundation. "We do not fund operating costs of a publically funded system due to a decrease in public funds. However, our Board of Directors believes that losing the Douglas County Library will have a negative economic impact on the area. Like good schools, public libraries are an incentive for businesses and families to locate in Douglas County."

The Ford Family Foundation grant is designed to help keep the main and branch libraries open at current levels until next November when voters will decide on a library tax district.

"This is only a bridge to the ballot in 2016," Kubisch emphasized. "After that, the library's fate will be decided by Douglas County voters."

Other funders are also stepping up to help support operating and materials costs until the 2016 ballot. They include: The Cow Creek Foundation, and The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) including the Lilja Family Fund, the Ben Serafin Fund, the Crane Creek Family Fund and the Whipple Foundation Fund.

***
>From Joan Kearns of the Oregon Community Foundation:

Good Afternoon!   I am pleased to share that the OCF board of directors approved several grants yesterday in support of the Douglas County Library System for the Library Tax District Bridge Funding Project.   They are as stated below:

>From The Oregon Community Foundation (discretionary grant program):
Douglas County Library Foundation         $73,000            to be used only to support the Douglas County Library System for the Library Tax District Bridge Funding project.  Grant funds are not to be used to meet any other request submitted to the foundation by the Douglas County Library System or other Douglas County Library Foundation commitments to the stated project, the "Community Campaign" or the "Enhancement Campaign".

>From OCF advised funds:
Douglas County Library System                 for the Library Tax District Bridge Funding project.
               $ 50,000              Crane Creek Family Fund
               $ 25,000              Whipple Foundation Fund (with an additional $25,000 to be considered in early 2016)
                             $ 20,000              Lilja Family Fund to be dedicated to the branches in southern Douglas County
               $   7,000               Ben Serafin Fund to be dedicated to the Glide Branch.

$175,000             Total awarded now with an additional $25,000 under consideration.

Award letters and checks (likely to arrive under separate envelopes) should arrive by the end of November.  I am happy to visit by phone in the next week or two if you have any questions or concerns.  I would welcome the opportunity to visit with you!

Congratulations!

We applied for these grants with the intent to provide support to the library system as Douglas County significantly cuts the library budget (25% this fiscal year and an expected 25% cut next). These monies are largely geared towards augmenting operations. We will be putting these dollars towards staffing and open hours in the branches and increases in staffing at Roseburg. These changes will be for calendar year 2016. We anticipate the PAC "Save Our Libraries" put a tax district on the ballot in Nov. 2016


Harold A. Hayes
Library Director
Douglas County Library System
1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd.
Roseburg, OR 97470
541-440-4311
hahayes at co.douglas.or.us

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