Larger Rural Libraries Coming Soon?

PRESCOTT - Changes to the Walla Walla County Library District could mean facility ex- pansions and improvements at the Prescott and Vista Hermosa public libraries.

Aletha Bonebrake, the in- terim executive director for the rural library district, said for years the rural district has had a con- tract for services with the public library in the city of Walla Walla. Because recently the city library and the rural district couldn't agree on a payment amount for the city library's services, the contract will expire in December and the partnership will dissolve, Bonebrake said.

"Contract negotiations have essentially failed," Bonebrake said.

Contracts are common in the rural district, she added, and it previously held service contracts with a mail-order service and the Mid-Columbia Library System.

Now that the rural district can break out on its own, it has some big plans in the works that could mean some real, positive chang- es for its libraries. The library branches for the rural district are located in Burbank, Plaza (near Fort Walla Walla Park east of College Place), Prescott, Touchet and Vista Hermosa.

The first big change on the horizon is the construction of a new, full-service library in the Walla Walla area, but outside of city limits, expected to be com- pleted in late 2013.

Bonebrake said the ending of the contract with the city means those who lived in the Walla Walla County area, not the city, who used to use the Walla Walla city library and its services will no longer be allowed to without purchasing a new library card for that location. The rural district wants to build a new library so county residents still have a li- brary close by to check out books and use the computers.

Those who never used the city library won't be impacted by the contract dissolution, she said.

After getting the new library built, Bonebrake said the rural library district will work on de- veloping its online resources. Fi- nally, the rural district will work to expand its collection of books and other media, host literacy programs and encourage literacy. Bonebrake said the changes "will be quite wonderful" because all libraries in the district will see improvements. She said the libraries will be expanded physi- cally and add more computers and space for services.

Bonebrake said the district already has an architect and program planner working on a master plan to build and update the current libraries that is "generically defined." The district is looking at property to see how the libraries could grow.

Amy Rosenberg, the branch supervisor of the Prescott Public Library, said an expansion would be welcome. Rosenberg said kids love to come hang out at the library and use the computers after school and in the summer. She said there are about 20 to 30 people a day in the library. There is a vacant lot next to the library that may be per- fect for expanding the facility and Rosenberg can't wait to hear what the district will decide.

Ana Romero-Figueroa, who has worked for years at the Vista Hermosa Public Library, said they need a larger space as well. The library is currently one room and it is used for services for children, teens and adults. About 70 to 80 percent of the patrons are there using the computers and that can be a "big distraction" for those who are trying to read, she said.

More rooms and dedicated spaces are needed and she said there is potential for growth in their location. The library is inside of the Vista Hermosa El- ementary School, but it is its own entity, Romero-Figueroa said. The library has a contract with Snake River Housing to remain in that location.

For more information about the library changes, call the district at 509-527-3284.