Big Check Event!

Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries,

Members and former members alike, please join me in a BIG CHECK conveyance event at the Amazing Bookstore (get directions) next Friday (2/8) at 10 am. A photographer from the Empire will be on hand to record the conveyance of the first $250,000 check to the CBJ of the Friends promised $1,000,000 contribution toward the design and construction of the New Valley Library. It would be great if everyone who has contributed their time and efforts (including current and former board members and bookstore volunteers) towards reaching this historic milepost could be on hand to share in the credit.

 Thank You,

 Paul Berans- Board President, Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries

Donna Pierce hired as Project Manager

To help ensure the success of the New Valley Library project at Dimond Park, the CBJ Manager’s office has hired  Donna Pierce to serve as a part-time Project Manager to keep the library project on track. Donna will advocate for the needs of library staff and programs in the design of the new building. She will be starting in her new position this month, and will continue to serve until bid award, expected to occur in January of 2014.

Outgoing Library Director Barbara Berg and Pierce will meet intensively during the next couple of months to bring her up to speed on the design process so far. Throughout the next phase of the project, Donna will meet with library staff, the new Library Director, the engineering project manager, and the architect as much as is needed and will help facilitate public meetings. Barbara Berg speaking on behalf of Pierce said, "I can assure you all that the project will be in the best possible hands. Donna has offered her support and advice toward achieving a new Valley library since 1983, and she is as eager as any of us to see that the best possible library is built.”

Thank You Juneau!

The Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries as well as the Staff of the Juneau Public Libraries would like to thank Juneau voters for their support at this year's Municipal Election!  With the passing of Proposition 2, the final piece of local funding has been put in place for the construction of the New Valley Library!

We look  forward to working with the community as the project moves forward into the next stages of design.  This site will continue to track project progress so check back soon.

Library is Community!

Did you know that…?

•       Over 23,000 Juneauites hold library cards.  Total library visits last year in Juneau were over 300,000, with the Valley accounting for over half of those visits.
  
  

•       The square footage per patron in the Valley is one of the smallest in the whole state.  Our new design provides a right-sized library.

 

•       1 out of every 4 people attended a meeting in one of Juneau’s Public Libraries last year.  There were many times that people had to be turned away.  The new Mendenhall Valley Library will offer a mix of large and small meeting rooms.
  
  

  Help us build a new library for the Mendenhall Valley!

  Please join us in voting YES on the 1% sales tax.

Let’s have fun at the Library!

This week’s bookmark facts are about kids.   The Friends of the JPL organization provides financial support for many library programs for youth including the Summer Reading Program and author visits.

Did you know that…?

• The Mendenhall Mall Library serves 61% of the Juneau youth population but has the least space available for youth activities of all the libraries.

 

• The library provides an average of 10 youth and family related activities each month. All of these activities are free!

 

• The new valley library will have dedicated space for young children and teens separate from each other and from adult areas.

 

Help us build a new library for the Mendenhall Valley!

Please join us in voting YES on the 1% sales tax.

The importance of meeting space; and an important meeting

The Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries board is producing a series of bookmarks highlighting the many reasons we believe that a new library building is right for the Valley.  We are making these available at our Amazing Bookstore and at other events around town. 

One such upcoming event is our annual meeting, Saturday, September 15^th at 3pm at the Downtown Public Library. This is an open meeting. We invite you to attend.

Speaking of meetings, this week’s bookmark highlights the important role the new library will play as a community meeting space.  Here are the facts:

 
Did you know that…?

•  More than 190 different organizations used the Mendenhall Valley Library meeting space last year.

 

•  The new Mendenhall Valley Library will offer large and small meeting rooms, with adjustable heating and lighting, and more flexible hours.

 

•  The new library at Dimond Park will make this area a true community center for Juneau’s most populated neighborhood.

Help us make Dimond Park a place to exercise your body and your mind. The library is free, and it’s for everyone.

Please join us in voting YES on the 1% sales tax.

Thank you, CBJ Assembly

Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries thanks the members of the CBJ Assembly for including the new Valley library on the list of projects to be partially funded with the special 1% sales tax.

 We are grateful to have this proposal sent to the voters on October 2nd.  

Through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers at the Amazing Book Store, Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries has raised over 1 million dollars for construction of a new library. 

Look for us at the Food Festival this Saturday, September 1st at the JACC.  We will be handing out stickers and bookmarks to support the new Valley library project.  Here is a sampling of the compelling facts we are highlighting on our bookmarks:

        Did you know that…?

  • By 2014 the city will have paid more than $6.5 million in today’s dollars for rent for at the mall.

  • The library pays more for rent in the mall than it does for books, computers, and supplies for all three Juneau Public Libraries.

  • That rent in the mall has increased 14%, but the library’s total budget increased only 1% since 2009.

  • The new library will save operating costs by not paying rent.

Help us build a new library for the Mendenhall Valley!
Please join us in voting YES on the 1% sales tax.