Clackamas County libraries expand services

The Clackamas Review, Dec 8, 2009

ellen spitaleri / clackamas Review

Oak Lodge Library

ADVERTISEMENTS

Clackamas County libraries - Oak Lodge and Clackamas Corner - will expand their hours of operation to include a seven-day week for library patrons. The extension of library hours stems from the 62-percent voter approval of a library district by Clackamas County voters in November 2008 and begins Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010.

Library hours of operation will increase from 37.5 to 52 hours a week. The new schedule includes open hours on both Sundays and Mondays for the first time since 1998. In addition, old and outdated computer equipment is being replaced.

Oak Lodge Library is located at 16201 SE McLoughlin Blvd. in Oak Grove. Clackamas Corner Library is located at 11750 SE 82nd Ave. (in the Clackamas Corner Mall outside Clackamas Town Center — near the Max Green Line station). New hours for both libraries will be Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Other jurisdictions operate public libraries in Clackamas County, including Canby, Estacada, Gladstone, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Molalla, Oregon City, Sandy (two libraries - one in Sandy and one in Welches), West Linn and Wilsonville.

The permanent rate approved by voters is expected to raise a little more than $12 million in FY 2009-2010 to support daily operations of public libraries in Clackamas County.

The Library Information Network of Clackamas County (LINCC) connects each of the libraries inside the county. The new countywide public access catalog, installed in July 2009, may be reached at www.lincc.org and features the following:

It has improved public access to the joint library collections. Cover images of thousands of books are now displayed in the new catalog, along with helpful book reviews and summaries of the book’s contents to help users choose new things to read.

The first library district funding checks will be sent to libraries in mid-January 2010, so some libraries are waiting until the funds are received to initiate changes. Libraries across the county are enhancing their facilities’ offerings in a variety of ways:

Gladstone Public Library: The priority for Gladstone right now is the building of a new library for residents of Gladstone and the Oak Grove/Jennings Lodge areas. Revenue from the library district provides funding so the Gladstone Library can continue to provide strong service to patrons. It also ensures stable funding for operation/maintenance of the planned new library. The funds from the new district have allowed for a slight increase in the library's materials budget and the addition of several new electronic databases.

Ledding Library of Milwaukie : The Ledding Library has increased its open hours from 52 to 66 hours per week, with the new materials budget increasing by 25 percent. One additional story time per week will be a part of the schedule, and more outreach to Head Start will be added.

Oregon City Public Library: The district funds mean expanding from 35 to 50 hours a week so that Oregon City is now open daily. Funds have allowed the hiring of an in-house library director, for the first time in seven years.