Library seeks tax district for funding.

Byline: CITY BEAT/SPRINGFIELD By Serena Markstrom The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Members of a team charged with long-term planning for the Springfield Public Library will once again put the idea of a special tax district before the City Council.

The library staff's proposal, which Director Bob Russell will present at the 5:30 p.m. work session Monday at City Hall, calls for a library district that would give the library enough money for it to be open 50 hours per week and increase its book buying budget.

The group originally suggested a levy in 1999 when limited public access to the library because of lack of funding was its primary concern. Voters defeated the levy in 2000.

Since 1999, when the library staff stated its goals were unreachable at current funding levels, the library has lost 1.6 full-time equivalent employees and approximately 40 percent of its book budget.

Russell will discuss the financial impact of various tax plans. For example, a levy of $.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation on property would raise approximately $380,000 per year and bring the library's budget within 15 percent of the state average, according to documents submitted by Russell.

The library currently receives $.465 per $1,000 from the city's general fund.

Adjusting the city's metro plan and setting up a tax rate between $.65 and $.70 per thousand would ensure an adequate level of funding, according to Russell.

Librarian captures

Butte to Butte age group

In brighter library news, youth services manager Judy Harold won her age group in Monday's Butte to Butte road race in Eugene.

Harold, 63, won the 60-to-64 age division of the 10K race in a time of 54:07 - or a pace of 8:44 per mile.

She said it wouldn't have occurred to her to run competitively but her son Ben Harold, who finished in a time of 43:54, suggested she give it a try.

Judy Harold had been an avid runner from age 32 to 50, when she decided to walk for exercise instead.

But the Springfield resident picked up running again in time for last year's annual Fourth of July race.

"I love to run for exercise and be outside," she said while sitting at her desk at the library folding cards for a summer youth reading program.

"I didn't take it really seriously."

In fact, the 24-year library veteran didn't even know she had won her division until her son checked the race's Web site.

"I think we were watching fireworks and he came in an shook my hand," she said.

For training she said she ran about 12 miles per week.

She was sore two days after the race but back to running Thursday.

At the library she oversees youth programs and is in full summer reading club mode - that's where kids keep track of how many books they read and get prizes each time they fill a reading record with titles read.

Draft city manager profile ready for review

A recruitment tool designed to woo potential applicants to succeed retiring City Manager Mike Kelly is ready for the City Council to review Monday.

Executive search specialist Bob Murray had each councilor's input before writing the city manger profile.

The draft brochure also includes information about the community, the city government's organizational structure and information about the compensation and benefits package.

The council will review the document during a work session at City Hall and vote whether to finalize it during the regular council meeting.

Serena Markstrom can be reached at 338-2371 or [e-mail].