A special meeting of the Jackson County Library Advisory Committee on July 29, 2013, focused on proposed funding ideas for the library in light of significant budget cuts. Members discussed the formation of a South Valley Library District to better manage resources and funding, with plans to potentially place a measure on the May 2014 ballot. The committee unanimously supported the district proposal while continuing to seek additional funding for all county library branches.

1. JACKSON COUNTY LIBRARY SERVICES
205 South Central Avenue
Medford, Oregon 97501
Library Advisory Committee Minutes
A special meeting of the Library Advisory Committee was held Monday, July 29, 2013, 3:30 p.m., in
the Adams Community Meeting Room at the Medford Library, 205 South Central Avenue,
Medford, Oregon.
Advisory Committee Members Present
Janet Anderson
Michelle Blum Atkinson
Susan Kiefer
Bruce McGregor
Carolyn Stieber
Absent
George DeMartini
Kevin Keating
Also Present
Jackson County Commissioner John Rachor;
Jackson County Library Business Manager Lisa Garcia;
Library Director Kim Wolfe;
Jackson County Deputy Administrator Harvey Bragg;
Former City of Ashland Mayor Cathy Shaw;
Former Library Advisory Committee Chair Lynn Howe;
Medford Library Manager Suzann Harrison;
Jackson County Library Foundation Executive Director Shelley Austin;
Friends of the Medford Library members Mitchell Seidman, Marjorie Showalter, and Maureen Swift;
Members of the public
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:31 p.m. by Library Advisory Committee Chair Bruce
McGregor.
Chair McGregor welcomed the audience. This special meeting of the Library Advisory
Committee had been called in order that the members might further discuss the proposed library
funding ideas that were put forth during the recent Board of Commissioners public hearing on
library funding and the continued discussion with stakeholders that occurred on Friday, July 26,
2013.
Note: The following minutes of the Library Advisory Committee are presented in draft form
and have not been approved by the Committee.

2. Library Director Kim Wolfe briefly recapped Jackson County Library Services’ current fiscal
year 2013-14 budget situation. The materials budget was reduced approximately 19 percent
($142,000). An additional $250,000 reduction was imposed on the budget beginning July 2013.
If no sustainable funding is generated by the end of fiscal year 2013-14, all library branches, with
the exception of Medford, will close. If no sustainable funding is found by the end of fiscal year
2014-15, the Medford library will also close. A two-week temporary closure is planned for
spring of 2014 to help offset part of the $250,000 additional reduction.
Commissioner John Rachor spoke about the public hearing two weeks ago and then the library
stakeholders’ meeting last Friday. He expressed that while he and his fellow Commissioners
would like to see all the libraries stay open, “we know the reality.” He indicated that he,
personally, was in favor of the idea of the creation of a South Valley Library District. That
district would approximately follow the boundaries of House District 5 which include Ashland,
Talent, Phoenix, Applegate, Ruch, and Jacksonville.
A discussion ensued, with input from Deputy Administrator Harvey Bragg, about the various
models of library districts that could be formed and the governance of those districts. A special
or service district need not be contiguous, but each city within its boundary and wanting to be a
part of it would need to pass a resolution to join. Unincorporated areas within a district’s borders
could be included in the district by resolution by the Board of Commissioners. If the Board of
Commissioners did not want to refer a district to a ballot, then signatures would have to be
gathered to qualify a measure to be placed before voters. A special district could be funded by
either asking for a permanent rate (which would be attached to the State’s tax cap) or by an
operating levy for a specified number of years. A special district would be governed by its own
elected board whereas the County Board of Commissioners would govern a service district.
Cathy Shaw, Chair of the committee proposing the South Valley Library District, addressed the
Library Advisory Committee. The area chosen for the South Valley Library District was based
on voting patterns of prior library elections and roughly follows the boundaries of House District
5. The committee felt that voters this area would be most favorable to passing a library district.
In looking at Jackson County as a whole, it would also encompass the largest area as possible to
canvass for support in the least amount of time in order to put a district measure on the May
2014 ballot. They recommend the South Valley Library District be a special district in which its
own elected board would govern those library branches within its boundary, rather than a service
district tied into the County, its funding, and governed by the Board of Commissioners. She said
the supporters of the special district want to make sure that the voters’ money is dedicated
strictly to the libraries and could not be used for anything else.
Ms. Shaw also indicated that by pulling those six branches within the South Valley Library
District boundary “off the County’s ledger,” the County would possibly then have funds to keep
the other branches open for another year. She said that two Commissioners had indicated to her
they were committed to the idea of the South Valley District and if it passes, they would be
amenable to doing just that. Finally, Ms Shaw indicated that if a service-type district was
ultimately recommended, then their district steering committee would most likely decide to
formulate plans to fund Ashland branch on its own.

3. Former chair of the Jackson County Library Committee Lynn Howe addressed the group. She
indicated that of all the ideas she has heard, the South Valley Library District plan is the one that
she feels works best. She recommended that a Library Advisory Committee member be at “all
the tables” to make sure that the ultimate goal of a county-wide library system be retained.
Jackson County Library Foundation Executive Director Shelley Austin recommended that a
member of the Library Advisory Committee be included on the South Valley District’s steering
committee.
In answer to an audience member’s concern, Mr. Bragg said that the formation of a South Valley
Library District would not preclude other cities or areas opting in to join the district nor to run
their own campaign to order to fund their local branch library.
After further discussion, Library Advisory Committee Member Susan Kiefer made a motion that
the Library Advisory Committee supports the plan of the proposed South Valley Library District,
along with the idea that, if the district passes, then additional funding methods will continue to be
pursued in order that all of the existing County library branches eventually are funded. The
Library Advisory Committee directs Chair Bruce McGregor to convey its recommendation via
letter to the Board of Commissioners (MSC Kiefer/Anderson). The motion passed unanimously.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 4:38 p.m. by Chair Bruce McGregor.
Next Meeting
The next regular business meeting of the Committee will be held in the Administrative Offices
Conference Room at the Medford Library, 205 South Central Avenue, Medford, on Monday,
August 12, 2013, at 3:30 p.m.
Betsy Randolph
Recording Secretary