The voters of Clallam County said Yes! to the North Olympic Library System on election day, August 17, when they passed the “Library Levy Lid Lift” with 59.11% of the vote. This means that the property tax that supports Clallam County’s public library will increase effective January 1, 2011, from the current 33 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This will result in an approximate increase of $1.3 million over the Library’s 2010 revenue level. Property tax bills are sent out in mid-February. The first payments are due April 30. The Library will begin receiving the additional revenue in May, 2011.
With the successful passage of the levy, the Library will be able to implement the NOLS 2012 business plan. The plan can get underway when the augmented revenue begins flowing to the Library in May, 2011. It’s called NOLS 2012 because although the plan will begin to be put in place next year, it will be fully implemented in 2012.
Library patrons will see two major improvements as a result of the NOLS 2012 plan: longer, more convenient hours, and more new books and other materials on the shelves. Starting near the end of 2011, the new hours in Sequim and Port Angeles will be Monday-Thursday 10am to 8pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, and Saturday 10am to 5pm. In Clallam Bay, the hours will be Monday-Wednesday 10am to 7pm, Thursday 10am to 5pm, and Friday and Saturday 12pm to 5pm. In Forks, the hours will be Monday-Thursday 10am to 7pm, and Friday and Saturday (yes, Saturday, year round!) 10am to 6pm. We plan to hire additional staff in the summer of 2011, and to expand the hours once the staff have been trained. The goal is to have the new hours in place by the end of 2011. Similarly, we plan to increase the number of new materials purchased starting next summer. You should see more titles and more variety on the shelves of your local library by the fall of 2011.
Library patrons will see two major improvements as a result of the NOLS 2012 plan: longer, more convenient hours, and more new books and other materials on the shelves. Starting near the end of 2011, the new hours in Sequim and Port Angeles will be Monday-Thursday 10am to 8pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, and Saturday 10am to 5pm. In Clallam Bay, the hours will be Monday-Wednesday 10am to 7pm, Thursday 10am to 5pm, and Friday and Saturday 12pm to 5pm. In Forks, the hours will be Monday-Thursday 10am to 7pm, and Friday and Saturday (yes, Saturday, year round!) 10am to 6pm. We plan to hire additional staff in the summer of 2011, and to expand the hours once the staff have been trained. The goal is to have the new hours in place by the end of 2011. Similarly, we plan to increase the number of new materials purchased starting next summer. You should see more titles and more variety on the shelves of your local library by the fall of 2011.
Once the NOLS 2012 plan gets rolling, Library users will notice other changes, as well. For example, the plan includes a system-wide teen services specialist. This staff member would work in all the Library’s branches to build collections and plan and present programs especially suited to teens. The plan also allows for more children's programs and events at the Clallam Bay and Forks Libraries, and more custodial help, to keep the library buildings cleaner, safer and more enjoyable to use.
The business plan will be our road map, but there’s ample room for revisions in response to your needs and interests. You can read the NOLS 2012 plan online, and you can always email me with your questions and suggestions, or call me at 417-8525.
