Budget Cuts, Library Hours Cut

The budget cuts made by the Russell County Board of Supervisors do impact the budget of the Russell County Library. Patrons will notice hours being reduced slightly effective August 1, 2012; the new hours are below.

The Library Board of Trustees examined many options when making the reductions. They decided to distribute the cuts across the budget so that no budget line had a zero in it. Part time employees will be working fewer hours; full time employees will take a small cut in salary.

The good news is that state funding is stable so that our budget for books and magazines and other library materials has stayed the same. (You may thank your state legislator for that!)

Why did we select these hours? We looked at the usage patterns and staffing patterns. Early morning is typically our quietest time. We hope our morning 'regulars' don't take it personally and that we don't inconvenience folks that stop on their way to work. We continue to stay open certain weekend and evening hours because the rules governing state aid require it. Tracking the number of people who use the library per hour finds that Sunday afternoon can hold its own against other days. And in a world where work schedules are distributed 24/7, we continue to try and serve all the citizens.

Lebanon Library

Monday        9 am - 7 pm

Tuesday       9 am - 7 pm

Wednesday  10 am - 5:30 pm

Thursday      9 am - 8 pm

Friday          10 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday      10 am - 2 pm

Sunday         2 pm - 5 pm

Honaker Community Library

Monday         3 pm - 7 pm

Tuesday        3 pm - 7 pm

Wednesday   3 pm - 7 pm

Thursday       9 am - 1 pm

Friday           Noon - 5:30 pm

Saturday        CLOSED

Sunday          2 pm - 5 pm

Library News

Russell County Public Library Has a New Genealogy Database!

The library has a new subscription to Fold3 (Formerly called Footnote). This is a history and genealogy database containing over 5 million documents. Fold 3 specializes in U.S. military documents from the Revolutionary War to the 20^th century. It also has many other records, such as homestead records, city directories, naturalization records, Black history, Native American history, major newspaper articles, and the U.S. Bureau of Investigation case files, to name a few. The latter was the precursor to the FBI. Charlie Chaplin, Babe Ruth, and Helen Keller as well as many other famous citizens were investigated by this agency. To access this great resource, visit the library’s website and click on eShelf & Research, then Databases, then Genealogy, then Fold3. Log in using your library card number. The library also offers Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest.

Russell County Public Library is Now Mobile!

The library now has a mobile app available. With the app, you can check our hours and our calendar for events… all from your phone—wherever you are! With the app, you can also access the library’s catalog via your phone; this access allows you to look up books and place them on hold, as well as renew your books and DVDs. To get the app, you can point your mobile device browser to http://va.boopsie.com and it will download from there. You can also go to our website where the QR code is posted; you can scan it and be prompted to download the app. Access your library with your smart phone. For more information, call your local branch at 889-8044 or 873-6600.

 

Remembering Marion

Marion Smith
1931-2010

This Sunday, we will honor the employee who set the Library record for longest employment. Marion Smith began working for the Russell County Public Library in the spring of 1976. At her death in 2010, she had worked for 34 years in various jobs at the library. We will dedicate a tree bench on the front lawn in her memory this Sunday, July 8, 2012, at 3 pm.

Marion was hired as the bookmobile driver, in the days when the bookmobile still visited the schools that didn't have their own library. Many residents will remember Marion as their school bus driver. She also was a band booster and often drove the bus for the band. After the bookmobile was discontinued, Marion moved on to other jobs in the library, including resident carpenter and jack-of-all-trades. If it was broken, Marion could fix it. Her last job was repairing and processing library materials.

I always thought of Marion as the resident library historian. She had a phenomenal memory, especially for dates. She could tell me on what date the staff moved into the building on Main Street that most of you know as the library; and she would tell me that it was a Wednesday. A caring person, Marion remembered the birthdays of previous library staff members and their children.

After her death, the staff and board pondered what we could do to honor and remember Marion. We thought of adding books to the collection on topics that she liked in her memory. But that didn't seem significant enough to any of the staff.

Then we saw a circular tree bench. For many years Marion cared for the library building and
grounds. She loved impatiens and planted them every year until she was physically unable to
do so.

Join us this Sunday at 3 pm on the lawn of the Lebanon Library for a brief ceremony. We'll
have cookies and lemonade and family, friends and staff will have an opportunity to offer a
few words or share a memory.

And yes, there will impatiens under the bench.

Kelly McBride