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Jackson County Library District highlights circulation growth, expanded hours and programs
Summary
Library board member Marta Terrance and Library Director Carrie May told the council the district circulated 1.31 million physical items and more than 460,000 digital items in the most recent year, expanded hours systemwide and saw rising digital use in Medford.
Marta Terrance, a Jackson County Library District board member, and Carrie May, the library director, briefed the council on systemwide activity and strategic goals during the March 19 meeting.
Key metrics: May said that for June 2023–June 2024 the district circulated 1,310,000 physical items and over 460,000 digital items; branches reported 720,000 visits and programs had 46,000 attendees across 2,150 offerings. Terrance noted the district is funded by a dedicated mill levy collected at $0.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Service improvements: May said the district expanded hours in April 2023 — systemwide hours increased by nearly 40 percent — and Medford branches are now open seven days a week with evening hours until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. The district has added nontraditional collection items (a “library of things” and video games) and installed holds‑pickup lockers in Shady Cove and Ashland (YMCA) to improve access.
Community outreach and safety: May said the district has a data specialist to produce branch‑specific metrics for jurisdictions and described outreach programs including home delivery, mobile hotspots and partnerships with local daycares and K‑12 services. She also said the downtown Medford library added security staff roughly two years ago and that relations with Medford Police Department have improved.
Why it matters: the district is a major local employer and community hub; councilors and residents praised programs such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which places free books in the hands of young children.
Next steps: the library will provide branch‑level performance charts to the city and said it is pursuing visibility and outreach to municipal jurisdictions and residents.
