Friends of the Lacey Library

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Selina Gomez-Benoz, Lacey Library Manager

Timberland Regional Library is going through some big changes in response to touch economic times and a failed library levy measure in February. With lower timber sales and a failing levy rate on property tax revenue, the Library is facing a rapidly diminishing budget that make these changes necessary to work within our available budget. Many of these changes are district wide and some are more local.

Examples of changes include:

• Hiring freeze
• Cuts in collection development monies
• Establishing a large shared collection (a book lives where it lands)
• No additional use of substitute employees
• Shortened open hours
• Possible new charges of overdue fines and computer printing
• Less funding for programs for all ages

What do these changes mean for the Lacey Library?

• Open hours are changing June 1. Lacey Library hours will change to Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 – 6; Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 – 7; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 – 5.
• Staff schedules have changed to cover all open hours and to be able to not use substitutes. This could mean longer lines or a longer wait for holds to come in depending on vacations, illnesses, etc.
• We will need the financial support of the Friends more often.

There are other cost savings measures being implemented across the district to cut waste, conserve energy and more requests are being made of the Friends to maintain some library programs.

These changes will be new for the whole community. But these changes also allow us to begin thinking more creatively when it comes to services and programs. The staff will have more mini-(re)trainings, learn to work across departments and develop new, creative ways to serve our community. We will rework our program lineup so that there are still options and we don’t hamper regular library services.

What does this mean for the Friends of the Library?

Well, the Friends are an important part of our success. Working with the Friends and getting the financial support for projects when TRL funds are drying up will allow us to maintain a level of customer service and programs that our community needs. For example, to create a more tangible relationship between the Lacey Library, the Friends and the community, the Friends have approved the purchase of “giveaway” key chains, library card holders and reusable bags to persons getting their first library card with TRL. These items have the Friends of the Library name on them and create a link to the library when a patron goes home with their items.

Friends’ support also allows us to provide programming for those patrons, of all ages, who are looking for quality entertainment (and learning) at the right price – FREE! Movie afternoons, children’s performers, lectures and Wii Sports for Adults and Seniors are just a few examples of the programs we are offering with the support of the Friends.

These changes will also provide an opening for the Friends to increase membership through specialized projects, fundraising and being an advocate for the Library. When you are out in your community remember to let people know that we are still working hard to provide great customer service, reliable and quick information and fun and exciting programs.

Your enthusiasm, energy and willingness to support the Lacey Library are greatly appreciated.

Sad News: Thefts Force Closure of Friends’ Library Kiosk

For some years, Friends of the Lacey Library have managed a bookcase and kiosk inside the Lacey Library, where library patrons can purchase low-cost, good quality books for adults and children. These sales have accounted for about half of our annual budget. Over the last few months, the locked money box attached to the bookcase has been broken into a number of times. Nearly $1,000 has been stolen – some one-third of all proceeds during this time. This money could have supported the library services listed by Ms. Gomez-Benoz in her article. Because there is no cost-effective way to prevent these thefts, the Friends of the Lacey Library have closed the kiosk sales.

Bi-monthly book sales will continue

The Friends of the Lacey Library will continue the bi-monthly book sales on the first Saturday of even months: February, April, June, August, October and December. The Friday afternoon pre-sales for members of Friends only will also continue. Proceeds from these sales will be more important than ever in enabling us to provide support for Lacey Library programs. Thank you for your past support – and we’ll see you at the June sale!

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Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) is very excited to announce that beginning January 1, 2009, we will become part of the American Library Association ( ALTA) Joining with their existing Association for Library Trustees and Advocates to form a new division called The Association of Library Trustees, advocates Friends and Foundations-ALTAFF

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Meet Selina Gomez-Beloz, our new Library Manager.

She received her masters degree at U. of Illinois. Her adult life has been spent in libraries. In 2002 she worked at the St. Martins College Library. She moved here when her husband became a Biology professor at St Martins. Their three children are 22, 19 and 12. Selina has worked for the Timberland Regional Library for six years. She was first a substitute Librarian in Centralia, then a Diversity Outreach Librarian for TLR, next Library Manager for the Tenino Library and Interim Library Manager at Shelton.

Her wish is that you will feel free to drop into her office at anytime. Her focus will be on our community and making everyone feel a part of the library

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