Visit All Nineteen Branches in One Year
How well do you really know your library system? I asked myself that question when I became involved with the Friends of the Library. To advocate effectively for something, you kind of have to know about it.
Then I heard that Davida Jordan, a former FOL Board member, made a goal for herself of visiting every library branch. So I unashamedly stole her quest and put a time limit on it. Visit all nineteen branches in one year. Plus the Title Wave Used Bookstore and Library Administration (if they’ll let me in). I want to get to know my library. Follow my exploits on Facebook.
Interesting Tidbits from What I’ve Learned So Far
- Northwest hosts a Pageturners group that is cosponsored by the Oregon State Commission for the Blind.
- Hollywood hosts a nonfiction-only Pageturners group.
- Troutdale, our newest library, has been handing out library cards to an average of 80 people per week.
- Midland is among several “target language” branches with special collections of materials and programs in the target language, and staff members who speak it. These languages are Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chinese.
- North Portland has the unique Black Resources Collection, where you can find materials detailing the African American experience. The building was built in 1909 and is said to be haunted!
- Belmont fulfills 5,000 holds per week and was the busiest library per square inch in America until their 1999 remodel.
- Title Wave sells old library materials to the public, with new items arriving every day. And the store is almost entirely volunteer-run.
I still have a long way to go, but I’m learning a lot about our award-winning library system!
