Statement from Walla Walla County Rural Library District (Sept 2)
On Tuesday, August 31, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin published a Letter to the Editor regarding the Walla Walla County Rural Library District (RLD) and our partnership with the Walla Walla Public Library (WWPL). Unfortunately, the letter contained several inaccuracies, and we’d like to correct them here.
- First, the RLD has a service contract with the City of Walla Walla that is in effect through the end of 2010, and we would like to continue contracting with the City going forward. In fact, we are currently in negotiations with the City to continue providing library services to County residents in 2011 and 2012.
- Second, it is true that we intend to open a storefront library in 2011. However, we view that library as an additional location for all WALNET* library cardholders to receive library services. It would not be a replacement for services offered by Walla Walla Public Library, but a complement to those services. It has been the long-standing mission of the RLD to open additional libraries throughout the County, and this particular project has been under discussion for several years.
- Third, we cannot imagine any circumstances that would require County residents to pay $135 (or any fee whatsoever) to use the WWPL. If for some reason the City of Walla Walla decides that it no longer wants to contract with the RLD, we would plan to pay for non-resident WALNET library cards for County residents who are interested in obtaining them.
- Fourth, we would like to make available to the public a letter that the RLD sent to the City of Walla Walla in May 2010 outlining our position, and providing some important background on the formation of WALNET.
We are grateful to those residents of Walla Walla County who have taken the time to contact us about this matter, to offer suggestions, and to learn more about it. We encourage others to do the same.
* WALNET is a long-term partnership between the RLD, the WWPL, and the Walla Walla Community College Library to share library resources across the County. The contract establishing the WALNET consortium is separate from the contract between the RLD and WWPL for library services to County residents.
