Articles

The board selected Project A as the 2019 Business Partner of the Year. When we went to Project A for advice about updating our website, CEO Jim Teece and the staff stepped up in a very big way, offering to donate their expert design and technical assistance for a re-launch to a brand new site as friendsofshlandlibrary.org. Since then, they have supported us with maintenance and hosting services at a very reasonable price. The honor comes with a shelf plaque, and they have chosen to have their plaque placed in the small business section when the library reopens. Special thanks goes to Vice President Paul Steele, who coordinates the project for us.

Leslie Dawson, Friends of the Library; Paul Steele, Project A VP Services; Jim Teece, Project A President & CEO at a morning break thank-you delivery.

Bob Palermini

The board is pleased to announce Bob Palermini as the 2019 Friend of the Year.

For the last few years, Bob has volunteered as our event and newsletter photographer. He also brought valuable leadership and coordination with Project A on our website transition, and now handle updates and maintenance of the website.

Originally from Illinois, Bob and his wife Tracy moved to Ashland from Los Angeles in 2016. Bob spent 35 years in the newspaper business, finishing up as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for the LA Times.

Bob also volunteers for the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Animal Shelter, SOU Athletic Department, and Grace Point Fellowship in Medford.

In recent years, he has also been a contract photographer for OSF, where you will likely have seen him clicking photos at the Green Shows.

Bob’s shelf plaque will be in the photography section. Congratulations and thanks again, Bob!

Nicky Stanke

Thanks to all of you who voted electronically for our newest board member. The vote was unanimous and Nicky Stanke has now joined the board. Nicky and her partner Brian Fitzpatrick moved to Ashland from Kansas City Missouri in 2018, and they are really enjoying life in their new hometown, with our lively theater scene, the great walking trails, and the fun wine tasting.

Nicky worked in public libraries for thirty years, including years as the administrator for the 52 libraries of East Central Regional Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, then years as the administrator for the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, Stockton, California, and ending in various positions at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Welcome, Nicky!

Here’s a little something from a young patron to brighten your day.

Virtual Services

While the libraries’ physical doors are closed, virtual services are still available, and staff are working to boost and promote online resources. Additional funds are being used to increase digital materials collections including Library2Go (OverDrive), Hoopla, and Kanopy. Both Hoopla and Kanopy have made certain parts of their resources available for free, meaning that they do not count against the check-out limits for those collections. A summary of resources that are being promoted can be found here.

Additional virtual programs are being scheduled, including book clubs that will be meeting online, teen programs, and resource information for small businesses. An updated list is on the events page.

Adult Services coordinator Carrie Turney Ross continues to work on ways to help promote US Census participation. Please see this article from the Mail Tribune for an update on the census. Note that the non-response notification for individuals who have not completed the census, originally scheduled to be mailed on April 9, has been delayed to April 23.

For National Library Week, April 19-25, JCLS orchestrated a “Find a Book” program around the county. They packaged donated books in plastic bags with a message about finding your place at the library wherever you are. The bag also provided information about how to register for an eCard and promotes digital resources.

As Friends, we can still help while the libraries are closed:  
Help promote the virtual resources to your friends and family through word of mouth, social media, etc. If anyone has questions about their account or needs to reset their PIN or renew a card that has expired, they can email for assistance: medref@jcls.orgor ashlib@jcls.org. Staff are monitoring email and generally responding within 24 to 48 hours.

Important: Please keep your borrowed items and donations at home for now. 

AND Ashland Branch Manager Kristin Anderson wants you to know that the Ashland team misses you and looks forward to the day they can reopen the library to serve your needs.