Library Proposes Operating Levy

What is the library levy and when will it be on the ballot?

The library is proposing a 1-mill operating levy for 5 years to be on the November 3rd ballot.

How much will the levy cost?

The levy will cost $2.91 per month for the owner of a home valued at $100,00.00.

How will the levy funds be used by the libraries?

The levy funds will be used to restore hours and services at the Pike County libraries. The Piketon, Eastern, and Western Libraries will be able to resume six-day-per-week service and lost morning and evening hours will be restored the at the Waverly Library. In addition, we'll increase the ability to purchase books and other library materials by 75%.

Doesn't the library already have an operating levy?

No. In its 70 year history, the library has never sought local support to operate its Waverly, Piketon, Eastern, or Western libraries.

Doesn't the library receive money from the J.B. and Garnet Wilson Trust?

No. The library has never received any money from the Trust. The Wilsons left their trust to support college scholarships.

If the library receives no money from the Trust, why is it called the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County?

The library accepted its Waverly building from the late J.B. Wilson, with the stipulation that it be named in honor of his wife, Garnet.

What will the library use the levy monies for?

The funds will help to give financial stability to the library, as well as enable us to add thousands of best-selling books, DVDs, audiobooks, and more to our collection. It will also restore lost hours of operation at all our libraries and allow each library to be open to the public 6 days per week. In addition, the funds will improve internet and computer access at all our libraries.

New Hours Start on August 17th

The Pike County Library currently receives 93% of its funding from the State of Ohio through the Public Library (PLF). The remaining 7% comes from donations, fines and fees, interest, and other miscellaneous revenue sources.

But with state revenue projected to be down 20% in 2009, and with a further 11% cut to the PLF over the next two years, Pike County's public libraries will lose 31% of their funding.

These reductions and funding cuts have forced your public library to reduce hours of operation, lay off employees and make drastic cuts to book and library materials purchases.

Beginning on August 17th, the new hours will be:

Waverly

Monday 10:00 am--8:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am--8:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am--6:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am--6:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am--5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am--5:00 pm
Sunday--CLOSED

Piketon

Monday--CLOSED
Tuesday 12:00 pm--8:00 pm
Wednesday 12:00 pm--6:00 pm
Thursday 12:00 pm--6:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm--5:00 pm
Saturday--CLOSED
Sunday--CLOSED

Eastern

Monday--12:00 pm--8:00 pm
Tuesday--CLOSED
Wednesday 12:00 pm--6:00 pm
Thursday 12:00 pm--6:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm--5:00 pm
Saturday--CLOSED
Sunday--CLOSED

Western

Monday--12:00 pm--8:00 pm
Tuesday 12:00 pm--6:00 pm
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 12:00 pm--6:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm--5:00 pm
Saturday--CLOSED
Sunday--CLOSED

Bob Evans Community Fun Night

To Support the
Garnet A. Wilson Public Library
Tuesday, August 18th
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
We will earn 15% of sales when you carry out or dine in at

50 Morningside Drive
Waverly, Ohio
Flier must accompany check for donation to be counted.
Fliers available at all Library locations.

Accomplishments in 2008 - The Numbers

• In 2008, library users checked out 214,795 items from our libraries. That's an average of 8 items per Pike County resident!

• There were 165,000+ visits to our libraries in 2008, up nearly 50,000 from 2007.

• Over 115,000 items are held at the four Pike County library locations.

• Nearly 4,000 audio books are held at the libraries.

• There were 25,551 active library card holders at the end of the year, which represents almost 90% of the county's population.

• Over 4,000 children attended 427 programs at the libraries.
  

• Over 7,400 people attended 749 library programs.

• Over 88,000 questions were answered at our reference desks.

• The libraries saw nearly 2,000 internet and computer sessions per week. That's over 100,000 sessions per year!
  

Game Night Cancelled for Monday, August 10th

Read for the Gold!

The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library's Read for the Gold! fundraiser race will be held on Saturday, August 15th, 2009. The 5K Run and 3K Walk will be held, rain or shine, in Bristol Village, beginning at the Activity Center, located at 625 5th Street, Waverly.

Registration and check-in begin at 7:30 am, with the race beginning promptly at 8:30 am. The registration fee is $10 if registered on or before August 8th, $15 if registered after August 8th. Participants are ensured a t-shirt commemorating the event. Race registration sheets may be picked up at the Waverly, Piketon, Beaver, and Western library branches. You may also register the day of the race.

The course is flat and shady through beautiful Bristol Village. Participants compete on a combination of asphalt and concrete course.Everyone is encouraged to participate, whether you compete or cheer on the participants!

The mission of the library is to encourage community members to read throughout the year. This race is a fun way to raise funds to continue our endeavor of promoting literacy within our community. And you can help support our library by registering for our race! For more information, contact Jennifer Wright at the library at 947-4921.

State Budget Impact on Libraries

First and foremost, thank you for your support. The Governor's Office and General Assembly received thousands of calls, letters, and emails in support of Ohio libraries. Your voices made a difference. The governor's proposed budget called for a $227.3 million cut, and it was reduced to $84 million.

Nevertheless, this still amounts to about an 11% cut, in addition to 20% cut already in place because of lower tax revenues, bringing the total up over 30%. The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library will still have to make significant cuts and changes in some areas, while we continue to strive for the best possible service to this community. We will keep you updated on new developments.

Thank you again for your continued support!

Signing Time

Jennifer Slone, a senior at Ohio University-Chillicothe who is
participating in the Deaf Studies and Interpreting program, will
present Signing Time Wednesday, July 15 at 10:30 a.m.

Come to learn about:

Deaf Culture
ABCs and Fingerspelling
Beginner Words and Signs

Fun and educational for all ages!

Game Night Cancelled July 13th

Friends of the Library - Organizational Meeting

An organizational meeting of the Friends of the Library will take place on Monday, July 13th at the Garnet A.Wilson Public Library in downtown Waverly.

The meeting is open to the public.

The agenda includes the adoption of by-laws, acceptance of the report of the nominating committee, and election of officers for the group, which is dedicated to supporting local library services through a variety of public awareness and fund-raising activities.

For more information, contact:

Dee Dawson

835-8218

Rally in Waverly to Save Our Libraries!

There will be a rally to support your library in front of the main library in Waverly on Friday, June 26th at 3 pm. The address is 207 North Market Street in Waverly. Wear red and bring your signs!

Governor Strickland's proposed budget cuts library funding by 50 percent. This would be devastating to ALL libraries in Ohio. This would result in severely reduced hours and services, and could result in many libraries closing completely. Act now to stop this from happening! Time is short!! Send your objections to the Governor and your state legislators. And come out for the rally!

Author Mack May to Visit Waverly Library

"The Consort" is a story that takes place in the Mississippi port town of Grand Gulf, Mississippi, which flourished between 1830 and 1856, until the river washed most of it away. Still standing is an old cemetery, with tombstones bearing witness to those who lived and died there so long ago. Though the story is fiction, several of those real tombstones inspired the author to write the book, reflecting the tragedies and hopes of those early settlers of our country.

Author Mack May is presently working locally at uranium recovery facility. He lives in Port Gibson, Mississippi, with his wife, Claire. After his discharge from the Air Force in 1979, he moved to Port Gibson as a Nuclear Instrument Technician at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. He retired from that facility 2006 and now works contracts, traveling to interesting places and gathering more research for upcoming books. May is a senior instructor and training developer. He is also a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Port Gibson. He has two children and two grandchildren.

May will present a program and hold a book signing at the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library in Waverly on Saturday, June 27 at 2:00p.m. in the Community Meeting Room. No registration required.

Free Lunches for Children

Free lunches to children 18 years of age or younger, or people (of all ages) with physical or mental disabilities who participate in special school programs for the disabled are being offered at all branches of the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library through August 14th. For more detailed information, please contact one of the libraries.

Waverly - 740.947.4921

Piketon - 740.289.3064

Western - 740.493.1745

Eastern - 740.226.4408

Weekly menus will be available at all branches.

Game Nights Move to Mondays

Game nights will now be held on Mondays, 5:30-7:30. Play Rock Band, Super Smash Brothers, Wii Sports, or Wii Play. Due to the current budget crisis, we can't afford to buy any new games at this time, so feel free to bring your own. We have the Wii hooked up to a big projection screen and another TV for the PS2 and Rock Band. Popcorn and pop! Come out and play!

Ventriloquist Show @ The Library

Mark Wade, America's #1 Children's Ventriloquist, will perform at the Waverly Branch Library on Monday, June 15th at 2:00 pm.

Come out and see "Eggmont" the bird and "Horace" the back-woodsy horse! You're sure to be entertained!