It’s been just over 2 years since Douglas County Commissioners closed their public library system citing lack of funding. But one of its libraries never closed thanks to determined volunteers.
The C. Giles Hunt Memorial Library in Sutherlin is operated by the City. The library runs with mostly volunteers. Pat Lynch, Library Director, is the one part-time staff member. He says the library in the community of about 8 thousand people is doing well.
“There are days when it’s just madness in here and there are days when it’s quiet. But, what that amounts to is probably somewhere around 50-80 people a day. For a library in a town our size we’re pretty busy but we’re serving a large geographic area.”
Lynch says library is open 4 days a week and anyone in Douglas County can get a card.
The library has 3 new initiatives coming this summer: the Hunt Research Center—an online research center for Douglas County. Bookshare for those in care: books delivered to child and adult care facilities. And joining the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
The Sutherlin Library is celebrating 2 years as an independent entity this Saturday with a Spring Fiesta Open House. The event is from 3:30 to 5:30 at the library, 210 E. Central Avenue, Sutherlin, Oregon.