When Jackson County libraries closed in 2007, many of the enrichment programs like summer reading and storytelling ended, too.
During the past eight months since a private company took over management of the 15-library system, it has been restoring those programs and adding a few of its own.
"Almost all programs have been restored," said Mark Smith, transition team leader for the Maryland-based company known as LSSI.
He said the only program that isn't fully up to speed is the book talks in the schools, and LSSI hopes to get that program going by the fall.
Smith said a $25,000 grant from Wal-Mart will helped support the summer reading program.
In the near future, the library system also hopes to augment the number of computer class offered at the branches. At present, only Ashland offers these classes.
The libraries closed April 6, 2007, after the federal government failed to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act to provide financial support for counties that depended on federal timber for income.
After the U.S. Congress passed a one-year extension that brought $23 million to Jackson County, the county decided to outsource the operations of libraries.
Because of limited funding, libraries opened for roughly half the hours they previously kept. Some communities have raised extra money to keep libraries open longer hours.
Denise Galarraga, county library director, said that once a program stops, it takes time to get the word out to the community that it has restarted, but community members appear to be taking notice, particularly as students begin their summer vacations.
A recent storytelling session drew 80 people recently — more than librarians expected.
"We could hardly get them all into the library on Wednesday morning," said Galarraga.
Still she is eager to see how well-attended the summer reading program will be this year because there wasn't one last year.
After LSSI started, library managers found that attendance at the programs it offered in November 2007 was 1,783. By May, the monthly count rose to 4,002.
A new summer reading program that didn't exist before is being offered as an outreach to day-care centers and other organizations that help children.
Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.
