Please Be Seated!
(July 2019)
Upstairs, downstairs, the library has upped its game. We have created new spaces, new looks and a variety of new seating locations.
New furniture decorates the new teen space on the first floor, and much of our existing furniture has taken a staycation. It’s still in the library; it’s just visiting other areas and finding new scenic views. Many of our overstuffed chairs have moved elsewhere on the first and second floors, including:
- Left of the Welcome Desk
- Beneath the weaving across from the Bestsellers section---a great place to rest your feet while you’re contemplating whether to check out a new book.
- At the top of the stairs facing the closest bank of public computers.
- Near the DVDs and Blu-rays upstairs.
- In the World Languages section upstairs accompanied by a beautiful book display.
And a few of the shyer chairs are tucked away discreetly in corners. They would love some attention.
Whether you’re reading a book or people-watching, try out some of our new, old seating and see if they give you a new perspective---either on the library or on life. That’s what we’re here for!
Give Me Some Space
(July 2019)
We’re making some changes and moving some collections. While it’s still a work in progress, you may have already noticed some of those changes: a new Teen Scene space on the first floor where the audio-visual materials used to be. Teens were instrumental in the design and development of the room. Here’s one teen’s take on the new space.
Several of them are seniors who are graduating and wanted to leave younger teens with an inviting area for studying and socializing. Coming soon in a drawer near the new alcove, teens can look forward to video games to check out.
DVDs, Blu-rays, books on CD have rocketed upstairs and are now located in the former Young Adult space. Music CDs also have a new home upstairs in the row behind the magazines. Adults will find some quiet study space there as well as rows of films to browse and borrow. Come find your own space in the Tigard Library.
Budget Cuts Mean Fewer New Materials (July 2018)The library’s budget this fiscal year includes a 25 percent reduction in the materials budget. That means the library will order fewer new items. People may need to wait longer for new materials, and there may be more holds on popular items. Despite the cutbacks, the library is committed to providing the high level of service the community expects. We will work hard to get you the materials you want as quickly as possible. The fall story time schedule will also be adjusted. An updated schedule will be available in the fall kids’ program brochures and on the city’s website in late August. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we implement these changes. We regret any inconvenience.
Books on the Go Really Get Around
(June 2018)
Not everyone can get to the library to sign up for summer reading. So Tigard’s librarians are bringing it to them.
For five years, librarians have visited free lunch sites in Tigard to sign up kids and teens for summer reading and provide activities. Last year, librarians signed up 344 kids during 31 outreach visits.
This year, they’ve added something new: a Books To Go collection, courtesy of the Friends of the Tigard Library. To encourage kids to make the most of summer reading, the library will provide books during their outreach visits. Even if a child does not have a library card, they will have access to books they can read at home.
“We encourage every kid to participate in summer reading!” said Amber Bell, the Tigard Library’s’ Youth Services Supervisor. “If it’s hard for a family to get to the library, it’s great to be able to provide reading materials directly to outreach locations.”
Summer Reading is one of the most significant initiatives the library undertakes. Research shows that kids who read over the summer are better prepared when they go to school in the fall.
Every child and teen who achieves their reading goals is rewarded with a free book and other prizes. Bell called the prize book, “the ultimate reward for reading: more reading.”
Fines on Kids Materials? Nope. Due Dates? Yep.In June when Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) eliminated overdue fines on children’s materials, both parents and kids cheered. WCCLS implemented these changes to encourage more families to visit the library and get an eyeful and an earful of reading and viewing. Research has shown that some people avoid libraries because they are concerned about the fines.
Although the fines went away, due dates did not. People are still responsible for returning the items on time or renewing them. Fortunately, it’s easy to renew. You can do it online, in person or on the phone at 503-846-3245.
If items are not returned in a certain amount of time, they will be categorized as “Lost” and patrons will receive a bill for the cost of replacing them. Avoid that rude awakening by renewing them or returning them on time. Most items can be renewed up to four times, except for bestsellers and items that another patron has reserved. Patrons will continue to be responsible for replacement fees for all materials that are lost, damaged or never returned.
Overdue Fines Have Gone Down, Up, or Disappeared
(October 2017)
Did you know that overdue fines have changed? All public libraries in Washington County have eliminated overdue fines on Children’s materials, including DVDs and CDs. Adult and Young Adult overdue fines are now 25¢ per item per day. That includes DVDs and CDs, which used to be $1 a day.
Why?
- Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) has implemented these changes to encourage more families to visit the library and get an eyeful and an earful of reading and viewing. Research has shown that some people avoid libraries because they are concerned about not being able to pay the fines.
- Standard overdue fines of 25¢ for adult and young adult materials will be easier for patrons to remember.
Maximum fine accruals will remain at $5 per item. Patrons will continue to be responsible for replacement fees for ALL materials that are lost, damaged or never returned.
Questions? Ask Library staff or you can find much more information about the new overdue fine policies at the WCCLS site. https://www.wccls.org/overdue-fine-rate-changes-faq
Bringing the Library to You
(August 2017)
Summer is a busy time! With a few thousand kids and teens and several hundred adults signing up for summer reading, and events almost every day of the week, there is a lot to do at the library. But what if you can’t get there?
We are taking the library outside its four walls and sharing library love throughout the community. Summer is a busy time for outreach, beginning with Youth Services staff. We made visits to as many schools in our area as we could. In May and June, library staff made 29 school visits, sharing our enthusiasm for summer reading with 4,908 students.
And it didn’t end when school did. Staff continues to bring the library to the community, stopping by the farmers’ market, summer school programs, free summer food sites at local apartment complexes and more. At summer food sites, we are hosting weekly activities, signing kids up for summer reading on the spot and handing out prizes to summer readers.
Want to say hi to the library in your neighborhood? Come to a free food site at Bonita Villa on Tuesdays 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. or The Colonies on Thursdays 11 to 11:30 a.m., a City-sponsored ice cream social, or stop by the Street Fair at Family Fest! We’ll be happy to see you.
We are reorganizing our digital library this summer
(June 2017)
On June 14, WCCLS will move to its own OverDrive collection, out of the Oregon Digital Library Consortium (Library2Go) and into an independent OverDrive collection to better serve e-book readers in Washington County. Also on June 14, WCCLS will move many of the e-books and all of the audiobooks in Cloud Library to the OverDrive platform. What do you need to do? Find out more here.
Social Services Counselor Provides Assistance
(March, 2017)
In March 2017, the Tigard Library entered into a partnership with Luke-Dorf mental health center to assist people who need help with housing, health care and other services. A homeless outreach worker from Luke-Dorf will have office hours in the library on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 10 a.m.-noon. People can make appointments or just walk in. Luke-Dorf is providing the counselor. The library is making space available for the appointments. The library is also providing business-sized cards with information about the dates and times Luke-Dorf will offer the service, as well as how to make an appointment. For more information, people can call 503-726-3736 or email outreach@luke-dorf.org.
Print From Anywhere
(October 2016)
Do you use your laptop or mobile device at the library? Ever want to print something you’re working on? Is your home printer on the blink? Printing at the Tigard Library just got easier. Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) now offers a cloud-based service that provides more options for printing.
With Print from Anywhere, you can print to a library printer from your laptop in the library, your computer from home, or your mobile device from almost anywhere. When you submit a document, it stays in a private queue at the library for at least four hours. Get your print job at the library by entering your email address and paying for the pages you print. Learn more, get the code to print from Tigard and print on-the-go.
Library to Show Presidential Debates
(September 28, 2016)
The Tigard Library will show two of the remaining debates in the Houghton Room. On Tuesday, Oct. 4, the library will air the vice-presidential debate at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the library will air the final presidential debate at 6 p.m. The Houghton Room is on the second floor of the Library. The Library is closed on Sunday evenings, so we will not show the October 9 debate.
Library Gets High Marks for Customer Service in Annual Survey
(March 14, 2016)
Of the 3,094 completed surveys, more than 98 percent rated Tigard Library service as excellent or good. Satisfied patrons commented on how friendly and clean the library is and gave a “thumbs up” to its collection and programs. One respondent commented “Love libraries & how surveys (like this) help to continue progress & improvements to serve all ages & levels of library usage.”
A total of 1,289 people responded to an open-ended question for comments and suggestions. Many provided suggestions for additional services or improvements. Nearly 100 said they were glad the library had re-opened on Thursdays.
Over half of the respondents (58.9%) said they learned about library services and programs from the City’s website, followed by the library’s e-newsletter Books and Bits and library posters, brochures and bookmarks.
A total of 33% of survey takers said they had walked or biked to the library, compared to 32% last year. In keeping with the City of Tigard’s vision to become the most walkable community in the Pacific Northwest, the library has offered several programs to encourage people to walk or bike when possible.
You may already know that the library is one of the best bargains around. Now you can find out just how much of a bargain it is, thanks to Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS). Whenever you check out any books, films or other materials, your receipt now tells you how much you saved by borrowing instead of buying.
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