The Lake County Library Endowment Fund, in conjunction with the Stratton, Myers, and Koefoed families and the Friends of Lake County Library, are hosting an open house and furniture dedication on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 4:00 PM. Beverages and light hors d’oeuvres will be served at this free event to celebrate donation of a new table and chairs set. The set is in in memory of Virginia and Norman Stratton and Grace and Homer Myers, and in honor of Lois and Ken Koefoed.
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Grace Vernon Myers’ and Homer Myers’ families were Oregon pioneers, who settled in Fort Bidwell and Lakeview. They met and married in Lakeview, spending most of their lives there. Grace and Homer worked at and were devoted members of the local Baptist Churches. Virginia Myers Stratton was born and raised in Lakeview. She and Norman both were schoolteachers in Lakeview and were generous contributors to the local community. Virginia served on the Library Endowment Board for over 25 years. Lois Pierson Koefoed and Kenneth Koefoed are 3rd and 4th generation Lake County residents. They graduated from Lakeview High School and attended OTI. Lois was a round-up princess in 1949. She celebrates her 90th birthday in September at the ranch where she grew up. Ken passed in 2017.
 
The Library Endowment Fund will not be holding their annual dinner in 2021, and board members encourage fund supporters to attend the open house. They plan to have other types of events later in 2021 and early 2022. Donations made to the Lake County Library Building Fund in honor of Virginia Stratton will be matched by the Endowment.
 
The open house and dedication event is free and open to the public. Questions about the event may be directed to Amy Hutchinson, Lake County Library Director, at 541-947-6019. ​

What: 6th Annual Books, Brats and Beer
When: Thursday August 12, 2021, 6-7 pm
Where: Main Library Courtyard, Lakeview
Why: Thank you to those who support the library

The Friends of the Lake County Library District are offering a supper and congeniality event at its 6th Annual Books, Brats and Beer. Members of the Library Board of Directors, the Library Endowment Fund, and all current Friends of the Library are invited to gather in the Main Library courtyard from 6-7 pm on Thursday, August 12, 2021. New Friends are welcome as well.

The event is free to all 2021 paid Friends of the Library. Previous Friends can renew at
the door, and anyone who wants to become a Friend of the Library is welcome to
attend. Yearly dues are $10 for an Individual Friend, $25 for a Family of Friends, and
$50 for a Business Friend.

The purpose of the Friends of the Library is to support and enhance the Lake County
Library District, provide volunteering opportunities, and focus public attention on library
services. Friends are not required to attend meetings, which are held the 2nd Thursday
of the month at 7:00 pm in the Main Library Meeting Room
Activities of the Friends of the Library include:

1. Running the ReRead Room second-hand bookstore in the Main Library;
2. Emailing an electronic newsletter about the Friends and the Library;
3. Planning and running fun events several times a year;
4. Selling books on line;
5. Sponsoring and maintaining the Dolly Parton Imagination Library which mails every month a free, age-appropriate book to each enrolled child, aged 1-5, in Lake County. For more information, or to enroll a child, you can contact any library branch or go on the website https://imaginationlibrary.com/
6. Raising funds and donating monies to purchase books, audiobooks and movies, in all genres and for all ages. These additions to the library collection circulate to all the branches. Most proceeds from bookstore sales and memberships help enhance the library collection but from time to time special projects are also funded by the Friends.

So far in 2021, the Friends have authorized a total of $3,383.00 to support the library:

• $1,083 for WiFi Hotspot pilot project
• $1,500 for nonfiction collection
• $500 for young adult collection
• $300 for book display stands

For more information, or to RSVP, please call the Main Library at 541-947-6019.

Lake County Library District is hosting Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s Lego Robotics camp August 9-13, 2021, at the Main Library. The free workshop for 2nd through 6th graders runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday with lunch provided. The workshop is limited to 20 participants and registration is required. ... SCROLL PAST FLYER FOR MORE INFO.

Using the most advanced LEGO 2.0 WeDo Construction kits, participants will develop a love of robotics while working cooperatively to code and build using motors, sensors,
gears, pulleys, and more. Parents can register by calling the Main Library at 541-947-6019 or emailing info@lakecountylibrary.org. Please note that under current guidelines, workshop participants must wear masks for this indoor program.
 
For more information about this program or the library, please contact Library Director Amy Hutchinson at 541-947-6019 or amyh@lakecountylibrary.org. For more information about OMSI contact Brian Berry at 503.797.4507 or bberry@omsi.edu.

Effective immediately masks or face coverings are no longer required at Lake County Library District locations in accordance with state guidance, and library operations will return to normal operating hours.  Oregon Health Authority strongly recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask or face covering when with others not from their household. Library patrons are welcome to enter the library with or without a mask or face covering. No documentation is required.
 
Oregon Health Authority and Oregon OSHA updated guidance documents earlier this week, retiring the County Risk Protection Framework and its sector guidance and allowing face mask and physical distancing requirements to expire. Library Take Out service will remain available for any patron who prefers not to enter a library facility. HEPA air filter units will continue to run in all library locations, and clear barriers at service desks will remain in place.
 
“These changes have allowed us to not only no longer require masks, but to reduce our level of cleaning to a more normal schedule,” said Library Director Amy Hutchinson. “We are very happy to offer our normal library hours again,” said Hutchinson. Questions about the procedures or the library may be directed to Amy Hutchinson at the Main Library at 541-947-6019 or via email at amyh@lakecountylibrary.org.

​Lake County Library District Director Amy Hutchinson prepared a Geographic Equity Assessment that was reviewed by the Library Budget Committee as a part of the FY 2021-22 budget process. The assessment and the Budget Committee found that, overall, library services were distributed well across the different library locations. The library board is working on a plan to prioritize needs as additional revenue becomes available.
 
“The budget committee, board, and I were all very pleased to see that we found that services were generally equitable on a number of measures even though we have not done this type of assessment in the past” said Amy Hutchinson, Library Director. “I think it shows the level of commitment the library board and staff have to serving the county as a whole over the years,” said Hutchinson.
 
Because Lake County has few incorporated places, school districts were used for the service areas for library locations. The area within the North Lake School District provided about 23% of the General Fund revenue in FY 2019-20, and about 23% of the expenses went to support the Silver Lake and Christmas Valley branch libraries that year. The School District #7, Plush, and Adel school districts provided about 69% of the revenue, and about 66% of the expenses went to support the Main Library.
 
Some locations did better on some measures and worse on others. The library board anticipates that a new Christmas Valley Branch Library would improve the measures on which the North Lake libraries had less service than Paisley or Lakeview. The full report is available below. Questions about the library or the assessment may be directed to Amy Hutchinson at the Main Library at 541-947-6019 or via email at amyh@lakecountylibrary.org. 

​Are you ready for Reading to Color Your World while you prevent the summer reading slide at the 2021 Summer Reading Program at the Lake County Libraries? This summer, school age youth will enjoy songs, games, crafts, stories, snacks, and activities to explore the many colors found in the world and in your imagination. Activities include making Kinetic Sand, competing in an inter-branch competition to create the longest Rainbow Chain, and creating Nebula Art. Registration kicks off the program the week of June 21, 2021, and includes a new book for every reader.
 
At this time, when COVID-19 restrictions have not yet been fully lifted, the library plans to retain some of the features from the 2020 program. In addition to reading calendars and stickers, the ReaderZone app will again be offered to easily track children’s and teen’s reading. All outside performers and special programs will be virtual, but the library plans to allow families to attend in-person events where the special program will be screened, and activity packets given out. You will also be able to watch virtual programs from home or anywhere you have Internet access.
 
Where possible, all programs will be held outdoors or divided between indoor and outdoor spaces to increase capacity. There is no need to reserve a seat in advance, but be aware that capacity limits could be in place at the time of the program. Current capacity limits and procedures on masks and physical distancing that apply to the summer reading program each week will be posted on the library website.
 
All programs begin the week of June 21 and last programs are held the week of August 16th, 2021. For those going into kindergarten through 6th grade, programs will be as follows: at the Main Library on Thursdays at 10 AM or 2 PM; at the Paisley Community Center on Tuesdays at 10 AM; and in Christmas Valley Tuesdays at 2:00 PM (location TBD). For those going into 7th – 12th grades, programs will be as follows: at the Main Library on Wednesdays at 3:30 PM; at the Paisley Community Center on Thursdays at 11:00 AM; and in Christmas Valley Tuesdays at 3:30 PM (location TBD).
 
The Summer Reading Program is supported in part by Oregon’s Ready to Read grant through the Oregon State Library. For more information contact David Lev at 541-947-6019, log on at www.lakecountylibrary.org, or visit your local library.

​LAKEVIEW, Ore.— Effective June 1, 2021, all patrons and library staff must wear masks inside Lake County Library District locations in compliance with Oregon Health Authority guidelines, at least temporarily. Library patrons and community members are encouraged to complete a survey on the subject online or on paper at their local library.
 
On May 24, the library announced they would be allowing fully vaccinated persons to be mask free in Lake County Library locations if they chose to show proof of vaccination. There were a significant number of negative online comments on the change. At a recent special library board meeting, the library board voted to return to masks for both unvaccinated and vaccinated persons in public service areas of the library. They also voted to gather more feedback from patrons and community members. Current Oregon Health Authority guidelines require that businesses and organizations verify vaccination status before allowing employees, customers, or visitors to be mask free.
 
“Personal choice is a strong value in Lake County, and the original change to allow people to be mask free was intended to give people the maximum amount of personal choice available under current OHA guidelines,” said Library Director Amy Hutchinson. “We’ve heard the strong feelings some expressed about the change and are taking a pause to gather more feedback,” said Hutchinson. To make sure they are considering all sides of the issue, the library board asked Hutchinson to create a short survey.
 
The survey for feedback on masking rules at the library may be completed at your local library location or online at https://bit.ly/3c3c9Ah. Questions about the procedures or the library may be directed to Amy Hutchinson at the Main Library at 541-947-6019 or via email at amyh@lakecountylibrary.org. 

The statewide average for public library spending on items such as books, audiobooks, videos, and downloadable and online materials is 9.3%. The Lake County Library District’s current fiscal year budget spends only 3.6% on these types of materials for public use. “The library’s tax base was essentially flat for 8 years prior to this one, and rising expenses ate into library services. Local donations of cash and gently used books have made all the difference for our readers in these difficult years,” said Hutchinson.
 
So far, the library has received a total of $3,716.00 in donations for the “Book” Budget in the current fiscal year. If a donor indicates a preferred library location, that library location will see new items on their shelves first. All items rotate among all library locations. Donations may be made in person at any local library or by sending a check with a note indicating it is for the “Book” Budget to Main Library, 26 South G St, Lakeview, OR 97630. Questions about the library may be directed to Amy Hutchinson at the Main Library at 541-947-6019 or via email at amyh@lakecountylibrary.org. ​

LAKEVIEW, Ore.--May 21, 2021—This week Oregon Health Authority issued updated guidelines allowing fully-vaccinated individuals to be in most public spaces without a mask when they show proof of vaccine status. Also this week, Oregon OSHA issued a statement allowing employers to comply with this new OHA guidance. Your library staff are hard at work to update procedures and signage for our libraries. Expect changes at your library some time early next week, and thank you again for your patience! 
​
LAKEVIEW, Ore.—May 14, 2021—Lake County Libraries will remain open to the public at Level 2: Advanced Precautions, including requiring visitors to wear masks, until more detailed guidance from Oregon OSHA are available regarding exemptions for the fully-vaccinated. Oregon Health Authority guidance was updated in large part on May 18, 2021. If you cannot wear a mask or face covering due to a disability or health condition, contact your local library to find out what accommodations are available for you. For those who prefer not to come inside, Take Out is still available for checking items out as well as printing or copies.
 
“Both Oregon Health Authority’s existing COVID-19 documents and OR-OSHA’s Temporary COVID-19 Rule place specific and detailed requirements on operators of public spaces and employers in response to the pandemic public health emergency,” said Library Director Amy Hutchinson.  “Until those documents or rules have been modified or repealed, we don’t know how to move forward with implementing exceptions for the fully-vaccinated. We ask for your continued patience as updates are made at the state level,” said Hutchinson.
 
Lake County Library District was able to end the disinfection and quarantine of returned library items. Based on advice from Oregon Health Authority through the Oregon State Library, surface transfer has not been a significant source of COVID-19 transmission and these extra steps are now considered unnecessary. Previously, all items returned to the library and any holds that arrived from other libraries were disinfected and put in quarantine for 72 hours before being available to the next patron. Library patrons should see returned items reshelved more quickly as well as faster service on interlibrary loans.
 
The library staff and board would like to thank everyone for their continued patience and goodwill as we begin the transition back towards more normal library service. If you have questions or comments about these changes, please contact Library Director Amy Hutchinson at 541-947-6019 or via email at amyh@lakecountylibrary.org. 

5/19/2021: This post was updated to change the photo and to reflect that OHA has updated guidelines. 

5/21/2021: This post was updated to change the photo and reflect that OR-OSHA has issued a statement allowing employers to follow the OHA guidance.