Seniors help library vision become reality

More than a year ago, with about 50 boxes of library books, donated by the Friends of the Bend Library in Bend, Oregon, a huge project began to unfold in Rosburg. A public and free library for the west end of Wahkiakum County was envisioned by a few interested volunteers, as well as many residents. With a room available in the old Rosburg School, the blessing of the Johnson Park Advisory Board, and lots of work, it looks like this dream will become a reality in 2009.

The community of Seaside, Ore. donated their old shelving units to the project, after constructing a new library of their own, and with the help of still more volunteers, a trip was made to Seaside to pick them up. With announcements in the local newspaper of the impending library, the community came forward with many individuals making donations from their personal libraries. We now have a huge selection of VHS tapes, DVD movies, audio books, children’s books, teen books, adult fiction, reference materials and just about everything in between, all in the process of being catalogued and made ready to be checked out by members of the community.

Two young ladies from Naselle High School decided that they wanted to be involved in this program and made it a part of their 2009 graduation plans. Rebecca Rostad and Mercedes Barnes have been with this project from the ground up, literally. They have put in many more than the required hours of community service, by oiling the shelves, unpacking books, labeling books, cataloging books into the system, shelving books, and generally making some of the decisions on how the library will be run.

Becky and Mercedes took it upon themselves to do a book drive, that is still bringing in books. They will also meet with the Seaside City Council and do a powerpoint presentation in order to let them know how much we appreciate their donation of the library shelving, and to update that group on how the project is progressing.

No date has yet been set for the library opening.