Josephine Community Libraries group books progress
From our weekly issue dated November 19, 2008
Josephine Community Libraries Inc. (JCLI) announced that Russell Long will serve as its first library director.
Long will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the library; working with the board of directors to establish short- and long-term goals and objectives; supervising staff and volunteers; and establishing relationships in the community.
“I’m pleased to begin work with a community that has shown such enthusiasm for public library service,” said Long. His most recent position was as library director for the Del Norte County Library District in Crescent City, Calif.
Bonnie Johnson, chairman of the Operations Committee for Josephine Community Libraries, said that she is impressed with his leadership at the Del Norte library in “reaching out to the community with a wide variety of programs and successful literacy efforts.”
Long also has served as a regional librarian/collection development manager in Daytona Beach, Fla.; library director at the Sidney Public Library in Sidney, Neb.; and as principal librarian-regional branch manager at the Orange County Public Library in Santa Ana, Calif.
He received bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from California State University at Fullerton, and a master of science in library science degree from the University of Southern California.
The hiring of Long as library director is a crucial next step for JCLI in its mission to reopen and operate the libraries in Josephine County.
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The group is working to meet a $300,000 matching-funds grant from the county, which has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar what the library group raises by Nov. 30. To date, the group has raised $260,536 and needs $39,464 to reach its goal.
The library group also is working to meet its longstanding goal of opening the main branch of the library before the end of 2008.
The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007. In September 2007, committed community members formed JCLI, a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County.
People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org. Those interested in becoming a member can send a check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass OR 97528 or make a secure donation at www.josephinelibrary.org.
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