Library Closures for Memorial Day, 5/29/17

All WCCLS member libraries will be closed
Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day.

All of our online resources and e-books are available!

Have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day.

Foster Care 101 discussion at Cedar Mill Library

About 7,500 children are in foster care in Oregon on any given day.  Join experts from different organizations, as well as a foster family, to discuss the current state of foster care in Oregon and the many different ways in which we can help kids in our community.

Whether you just want a better understanding of how foster care works or you’re ready to help, National Foster Care Month is the perfect time to learn more!

This discussion will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at 6:30 PM, in the Cedar Mill Library.

We are reorganizing our digital library to expand our collections!

On June 14, WCCLS will move out of the Oregon Digital Library Consortium (Library2Go) into our own OverDrive collection so we can better serve digital readers in Washington County. We are also moving the e-books and all audiobooks currently in Cloud Library over to our OverDrive platform, where we will continue to grow our digital library going forward.

If you use OverDrive now, starting June 14 you will need to update your bookmarks, and/or re-login to OverDrive or Libby apps, choosing WCCLS as your library rather than Library2Go. The tried and true OverDrive app has features you’ve come to expect, the new Libby app from OverDrive offers a new, easy-to-use interface. Both the Libby and OverDrive apps will provide access to the same great WCCLS digital collections.

Additionally, we will retire our Cloud Library platform on June 15. If you have holds on titles in Cloud Library that you don’t think you will read by June 13, please log into your OverDrive account and place new holds on those same titles using OverDrive. If you haven’t used OverDrive before, here is how to get started.

With these changes, you will see wait times for popular titles go down, limits for your holds and checkouts will go up, and we look forward to being able to offer expanded collection options for patrons of all ages.  If you have questions or need assistance, please send us a message or learn more here.

Grant awarded for new healthcare e-books

WCCLS extends its sincere appreciation to the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation for the generous grant of $1,000.

We chose to use the funds to boost our digital library to include titles that match the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation’s mission of supporting nursing students, and improving access to health care for rural residents.

Our digital library of downloadable e-books provide 24/7 access to information for residents of Washington County and use of e-books is increasing dramatically. They are particularly useful to residents who may not be able to access the library during open hours, due to their work or school schedules, or lack of transportation options.

Check out the 35 titles we were able to purchase in OverDrive thanks to the foundation.

Fine free children's materials beginning June 1

WCCLS wants all children to use the library, explore library collections and participate in summer reading!

In order to help families and reduce barriers to library use,  WCCLS is eliminating overdue fines on children’s materials beginning June 1.

This coincides with the kick-off of the annual Summer Reading Program.

For more information read here.

Save a stamp: drop off your ballot at a Washington County ballot box

Washington County elections officials are encouraging voters to mail or drop off their ballots as soon as possible this election season so that all ballots are processed in a timely manner.

Voters should have received their ballots by mail over the recent weekend. Information about vote-by-mail, voter eligibility and other election matters may be found at the Washington County Elections Office website or by calling 503-846-5800.

Voters will have until May 11 to send their completed ballots in appropriately signed envelopes with a postmark from the U.S. Postal Service. After this date, completed ballots should be dropped off at official collection sites in order to meet the election's 8 p.m. deadline on May 16.

Many ballot drop sites are inside or outside of WCCLS libraries. Check the list to find one near you!

Exploring Religious Differences Conversation at Tualatin Public Library

Religion is a topic traditionally not discussed in mixed company. But what do we lose when we avoid exploring our religious differences? Oregon is among the states in the US where people are most likely to identify as religiously unaffiliated. Many Oregonians have spiritual practices that both align with and transcend institutional definitions. Others filter strongly held values through religious traditions and frameworks. What are the tools we use to talk about religion without dismissing others’ beliefs or flattening the beautiful and sometimes harrowing complexities of our experiences?

This is the focus of:
“In Good Faith: Exploring Religious Difference in Oregon,”
a free conversation with Elizabeth Harlan-Ferlo.
Wednesday, May 10, 7:00 pm
Tualatin Public Library

Harlan-Ferlo has created extensive curricula on religion and intercultural competency and served for nine years as an Episcopal school lay chaplain. She is trained in facilitation for community, conflict, and collaboration with a creative arts focus. Elizabeth holds an MFA from the University of Oregon and her poetry has been published in many literary journals, including Fourteen Hills, Anglican Theological Review, and Tupelo Quarterly. She hosts the Eavesdrop podcast and curates the Artists in Conversation Series for Interfaith Muse.

This program is hosted by the Tualatin Public Library and sponsored by Oregon Humanities. Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state's future.