Frequently Asked Questions about the Camas Public Library Winter 2011 Closure
1. My books and DVDs are due! Will they be overdue?
Only if you don’t return them! During the closure a library page will be coming in to empty the EVERETT STREET BOOKDROP every day. These items will be removed from borrowers’ records.
As a reminder, police are ticketing ($125!) drivers who cross over the street and approach the bookdrop from the driver’s side. Follow the arrow.
You may also return items to any Fort Vancouver branch library and they will find their way home.
2. I have a book on hold. What if it comes in while the library is closed?
Two answers here. The days the library is closed will not take away from your 10 days that you have to pick up items on hold. If the item comes in, you will receive a notice that it is on hold for you.
If you think the item will be coming in and you need it before January 3, you can go into your library account online and change the pickup location to one of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District branches (see the list of locations below).
3. How do I get to my library account?
Go to the library online catalog and in the upper right corner, click on My Account. You will be asked for your library card number (14 digits starting with 23277 or 23264—no spaces!) and your PIN. Then click Login.
Once logged in you can see what you have checked out and when they are due. You can also manage your holds – postpone them if you’re going on vacation or stop one if you haven’t finished the next one in the series, change the pickup location or even cancel the hold.
4. I need to get to the Internet!
Your Camas Library card will allow you to log on to the Internet at any public computer at any of the Fort Vancouver libraries.
The same rules apply. You will still only have one hour per day, and you must log on with your library card number (14 digits starting with 23277 or 23264) and your PIN.
The Camas Public Library’s WiFi will be on during the closure. So if you have a laptop or get one for a gift, you might be able to pick up the signal from the Fourth Avenue side of the building during the library’s normal wi-fi hours (9 to 9).
5. I have items that are overdue! What do I do?
You can return the items in the library bookdrop and they will be removed from your record within a day or so.
You will not be charged fines because the library doesn’t have fines!
However, if the items were “lost” and you were billed, your borrowing record will need to be clean before you can check out items or use the computers at Fort Vancouver branches (see the list below).
6. Why is the library closed?
As part of the 2011 budget reduction, the Camas Public Library staff was asked to take four days of furlough – time off without pay – so the library could shut down during a time when it is lightly used, the last week of the year.
The lights will be off and heat turned down for additional savings.
The savings from this closure, $9,000, are 16 percent of the $60,000 trimmed from the 2011annual budget.
The number of people that come into the library during the holiday period is always much lower than average according to David Zavortink, Library Director.
With Christmas and New Year’s falling on Sundays this year, Monday is a holiday for many workers. Three-day weekends always translate into reduced traffic at the library. This makes this week the best week to close.
7. Will this happen next year?
At this time, no closures are anticipated for the 2012 year.
8. I have a bill to pay. I can’t use the Internet until it’s taken care of. How do I do that?
Your borrowers record will need to be free of charges before you can use the Internet at a Fort Vancouver branch.
If the items you are being billed for are Fort Vancouver items (starting with 33264) you may pay for them at any Fort Vancouver branch. See the list below.
If the items are Camas items (starting with 33277), you will not be able to pay for them at Fort Vancouver. You will have to wait until January 3 to clear your record.
9. Where are the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Branches?
The closest to Camas are below. Note their holiday hours. The links are live.
Holiday Closures |
For a complete list, click here.
10. Why did library staff have to reduce their hours?
In 2010 there was a serious drop in the assessed value of properties in Camas and Clark County. This affected the amount of tax revenue coming to the city, which meant fewer dollars to spend on city services.
The annual budget is set by the City Council. All city departments made reductions in their services. For instance, the city pool was open fewer hours, open positions in city departments were not filled, and purchasing was cut back everywhere.
In the library, after several years of a static or reduced budget, the library trustees and administration were faced with a difficult situation and few choices.
The library’s book budget in 2011 was slashed by $50,000 to a level that is dismal for a library like ours. The bare-bones operating funds were trimmed (janitorial service was reduced and repairs curtailed), fewer computers were upgraded, windows were not cleaned (again), Saturday service in the summer was cut to save utilities, and more.
With all those cuts, there was still a need for more. Which meant cutting personnel.
The library eliminated the “summer reading aide” positions which hired folks to help with the summer reading program. The number of substitute hours (substitutes are folks that fill in when we have a shortage of staff due to illness, etc.) and still more was needed to balance the budget.
Rather than lay off staff, everyone, including administration, was asked to take four days off without pay.
This leave without pay saved the city over $9,000. This, along with a retirement, meant the library did not have to cut additional personnel, which is good for the long term.
11. Are all public libraries doing this?
No. Camas Public is the only public library in the area to be doing this.
However, other libraries in the U.S. are closing the same days Camas is closing. Several examples are North Las Vegas in Nevada, Oakland City, Anaheim and San Joaquin County are just some of many in California, Carnegie Public in East Liverpool, Ohio, and Dearborn Heights in Michigan. Times are difficult everywhere for libraries.
12.I’ve got a reference question. What do I do?
You have a number of options if you have a question.
First, you can use some of the many online databases that are available 24 hours a day through the library. Databases include: Automotive Repair and Consumer Reports, biographical sites, periodical indexes that also include over 1,500 titles in full text, and A to Z maps. Library staff uses these tools every day to help answer questions.
From the Camas Library’s website (or www.camaslibrary.org) you can click on the green Washington Ask WA button and chat online with a librarian. This service will likely be available every day, all day, during this period.
The Fort Vancouver Library District offers telephone information and will be available to help answer questions. You can call them at 360-695-1566 Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 8 pm and on Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. They too will be closed on the 25th and 26th and the 1st and 2nd.
13. What am I going to do?!?! The Library isn’t open!
You can get into the library by 6 p.m on Friday, the 23rd and stock up on reading material and DVDs. Library has regular hours through Friday.
If you don’t make it, your Camas Library card works at any Fort Vancouver branch. Or, with ID, you can go to Multnomah County libraries and get a free card there. Beware, Multnomah County has hefty fines for overdue materials.
You can explore some of the electronic resources we have available at the website. A couple you may want to try are Powerspeak Languages if you’d like to learn a new language or brush up on one and Global Warrior, a travel site that has much, much more than just travel info.
You will need your library card number 23277… and pin to log on from home.
Try your hand at downloading an audiobook or ebook from the services that the library offers. From the list of resources click on OneClickDigital or on the link to Overdrive to connect to the new world of e-content for you PC or electronic book reader.
The library also has a handout on where you can find other free e-content. You will find it here.
You can also bake some cookies, go for a walk on a dry (!) December day, take in a holiday movie at the Liberty, or play a rousing game of Hearts.
