Page 58 - SOM Summer 2017

neck of the woods | community

Ten rural libraries in Douglas reading programs for kids and
County––including branches in teens help bridge the economic
Canyonville, Drain, Glendale, divide that impacts students’ aca-
Myrtle Creek, Oakland, demic performance.”
Reedsport, Riddle, Sutherlin,
Winston, and Yoncalla––closed Long time library volunteer,
April 1. Three branches have reo- Jackie Sutton, grieves for the
pened as volunteer-run libraries community’s children: “Some
and Riddle will reopen June 6. children maybe don’t have an
opportunity, maybe they don’t
“It is a loss not just for the library have a play school or any other
users, but for the entire citizenry way to meet with other children,
of Douglas County,” says Library and to be introduced to books.
Director Harold A. Hayes. “It’s a We’ll get through it somehow,
resource that was there for eve- but sometimes you don’t really
ryone and a resource to the com- appreciate something until you’ve
munity for everyone and that is lost it, so we’ll come back.”
going away.”
In the words of Ray Bradbury:
The role of a library goes beyond “I discovered me in the library. I
basic knowledge. A library is a went to find me in the library.”
community center, the “people’s
university.” It’s a place for young Save Our Libraries Committee
readers to develop their inter- info@saveourlibraries.org
est in reading. Public Libraries
Online, a publication of the Public
Library Association, advocates,
“Free tutoring…and summer

56 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2017