Library Levy in the News

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 - Pike County News Watchman

Friday, August 14th, 2009 - Portsmouth Daily Times

Sunday, August 16th, 2009 - Pike County News Watchman

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 - Pike County News Watchman

Sunday, September 20th, 2009 - Pike County News Watchman

Sunday, September 27th, 2009 - Pike County News Watchman
Friday, September 25th, 2009 - Chillicothe Gazette
Pike Voters to Make Choice About Library, Nov. 3rd
Click Here

Monday, October 5th, 2009 - Chillicothe Gazette
Pike Library System a Goldmine of Knowledge
Click Here

Monday, October 5th, 2009 - Chillicothe Gazette
Kroger Customers Can Help Waverly Library
Click Here

Game Night Cancelled Until Further Notice

4-a-Lark - Benefit for Friends of the Library

On September 11th, 2009 Bristol Village will the sounds of 4-a-Lark, an acappella quartet that specializes in great music, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm at the Terrace Cafe.

Dinner is $15.95 per person, with the performance following. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Library.

Library Closed for Labor Day - September 7th

All branches of the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Food for Fines - September 1st - 5th

Help the Pike County Outreach Council food pantry this week by "paying" your library fines with nonperishable food items at any branch of the library, September 1st - 5th. Simply bring in one nonperishable food item for every $5 in library card fees, and your fees will be waived.

For example, if you owe $12.95 in fines, a donation of three nonperishable items will clear their record. The library reserves the right to reject donated items that are damaged, dented, expired, etc.

Items needed most at the pantry:

• canned fruit
• noodles/pasta
• dried beans (navy or pinto)
• soups
• cereal
• peanut butter
  

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