The nonprofit organization that has provided financial support to 27 regional libraries for 18 years is dissolving, but bibliophiles likely won’t notices any differences.
The Timberland Regional Library Foundation announced it will dissolve effective Dec. 31 due to a lack of space, consistent staffing and a solid presence in all counties with Timberland libraries.
“It won’t affect the operations at all of the branches,” R.J. Burt, public relations specialist for Timberland said of the dissolution.
The foundation has contributed raised and donated funds to library programs including: Timberland Reads Together, the Family Read & Sing Aloud, Mother Goose Parent Education Workshops and Get the Card.
Chris Chrzan, interim library manager at Timberland’s Centralia branch said the library appreciates the foundation’s work and contributions.
Burt said she doesn’t think library patrons will notice any effects from the foundation’s dissolution.
“Nothing’s going away; storytime shall continue,” Burt said.
The foundation’s funds will be moved to the Timberland Regional Library Gift Fund in September. All donations will used as specified by donors’ when they contributed. Donations following the foundation’s end may be given to the Timberland Regional Library district or to a specific branch.
The donations will be handled by Timberland’s administration in the future, Burt said.
She said additional positions won’t be required to handle the foundation’s work.
“It will just be some minor shifts,” she said.
Timberland has branches in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties. Area libraries include: Oakville, Tenino, Centralia, Chehalis, Salkum, Winlock, Packwood and Mountain View. Timberland has area kiosks in Rochester, Toledo and Morton.
All of the branches have Friends of the Library groups that raise money to support local libraries.
Chrzan said the group is always looking for members and people interested in contributing.
“Patrons and anyone who is interested in supporting the library or contributing to the library can still join the local Friends of the Library group, which remains unaffected by the foundation’s dissolution,” Chrzan said.
