discover life's possibilities | July

The Levy Lid Lift and the New Building Project on Spring Street - How do they relate to one another?
We often hear this question at the library, and the most straightforward answer is that they are completely separate.  
 
Levy funds are used for the operations and maintenance of our current library.
 
A voter-approved capital bond is needed for designing and building a new library.  Without an approved bond, insurance proceeds and donations to support the early costs of the building project are the sole sources of Project funding. These funds are used to make bond payments and for property maintenance. The insurance proceeds were not sufficient to pay off the bond.  If further insurance proceeds are received, the library hopes it may be possible to pay it off.
 
Some have asked if the library’s levy adjustment on this year’s August 6th ballot is a backdoor attempt to fund a new library building.  Emphatically not. The additional funds raised from the levy will be used for operations and maintenance of the current library for the next 10 years or longer. The Library successfully stretched the proceeds from the last lid lift from 6 years to 12 years by frugal, conservative budgeting and cost-cutting.
 
A planning document with projections for the next 10 years show how additional funds would most likely be spent on operations if the levy passes. It allows for a 10% catchup the first year and an average 5% increase each year after as needed for inflation and very modest growth. This document is available at sjlib.org/levylidlift, along with additional answers to questions about the levy adjustment for anyone looking for up-to-date, in-depth information. 
 
The planning document also has budget projections for the next 3 years showing how the library budget would be affected if the new levy adjustment doesn’t pass.  The first two years show cuts to the budget as the final 2012 reserve funds are exhausted.  The third year reflects at least an 8% budget decrease from the previous year with reserves empty. Decreases like these would continue year after year until a new levy adjustment is passed.  Losses would be reflected in staffing, hours of operation, collections, programs, decreased access to resources, and further delayed building maintenance and replacement of out-of-date equipment and furnishings.
 
The choice is up to voters.  Please remember to vote by August 6th.
-Laurie
 
Laurie Orton
-Library Director
Currently Reading
 
Having received several questions about Library finances, we've created a few graphics to help illustrate our 2023 Operating Budget, and to explain how a levy reserve works.  
These answers and many more are available on our FAQ page.
 
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
ADULT
San Juan Historical
Museum Passes
Thanks to a generous partnership with the San Juan Historical Museum, two passes to the Historical Museum will soon be available for checkout. Be the first to put them on hold and explore our Island's history!
 
TEENS
Game Night
 Unplug and hang out at Teen Game Night! Board games, card games, party games - we'll have a wide variety to choose from, and attendees are welcome to bring any that they would like to share. No registration required! 
YOUTH
Wednesday Afternoon Performances
Throughout July, come see our Wednesday Afternoon Performances outdoors at FHES at 1:30pm for our Summer Reading Program! Next up is World Champion Hacky Sack Playing Comedy with Peter Irish!
SUMMER READING ONLINE
THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN UP!
 
More than 200 children have already signed up for the Summer Reading Program! We have fun planned for families, children, tweens, teens and adults. Stop by the San Juan Island Library to pick up a Summer Reading Program Starter Kit or participate online with the Beanstack app. Also happening this summer are special events for a variety of ages and our popular Wednesday Afternoon Performance series featuring professional family-fun entertainment. Click on the image above for more information!
 
DISCOVER SAN JUAN ISLAND
All Ages Outdoor Adventure Challenge
 
In partnership with the Land Bank, we’re excited to present the Outdoor Adventure Challenge! Print out a packet or pick one up at the library, grab a water bottle and a good sun hat, and get ready to explore San Juan Island!
 
UPCOMING EVENTS OF NOTE

Tai Chi in the Library
 
"The body needs movement, and the mind needs rest." - TY Pang. In class, we will settle down, find our center of gravity, engage our legs, and hold our body upright while we gently and slowly move through the long form of Classical Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Tai chi is suitable for practitioners of all levels and ages and can be adapted to your comfort level. Through practice, you can improve balance & leg strength while releasing excess tension, soothing the mind, and nurturing vitality. Register for class using the link below!
  
Tile Coaster Decorating
 
For kids, tweens, and teens, get crafty with us and decorate a tile to take home! Use it as a coaster or a decoration for your favorite space. To fit our Summer Reading theme: Adventure Begins at Your Library, some ideas include commemorating a trip you've taken, using imagery from a trip you want to take, capturing the vibe of a favorite book, or just going with the flow and adventuring through your crafting!
 
Outdoor Preschool Story Play
 
Join Miss Lauren and friends outdoors on the lawn of the Fairgrounds for stories, songs, activities, and play time!
 
Designed for preschool-aged kiddos (3-5) and their caregivers. Younger and older siblings are always welcome! No registration required. Simply drop in for the fun!
 
 
San Juan County Fair
 
Join the Library at the San Juan County Fair! This year's fair theme is "A Century of Growing: 100 Years at Home". The Fair and the Library have been growing together on San Juan Island for more than a century. Here's to the next century! 
 
 
STAFF PICKS
Check out our current faves!
 
Bea Wolf
by Zach Weinersmith
 
When their evil neighbor, aka the guardian of gloom, lays siege to Treeheart, a kid-forged sanctuary, turning them into pimply teenagers and sullen adults, the survivors of the onslaught call out for Bea Wolf—an unbreakable warrior with a penchant for mischief.
The Vaster Wilds
by Lauren Groff
 
Escaping from a colonial settlement in the wilderness, a servant girl, with nothing but her wits, a few possessions and some faith, is tested beyond the limits of her imagination, forcing her to question her belief of everything her own civilization taught her.
 
The Morningside
By Tâea Obreht 
 
Settling at The Morningside, a crumbling luxury tower in Island City, Silvia, struggling with her new reality, becomes obsessed with the mysterious older woman who lives in the penthouse and is determined to unravel the truth about this woman's life, and her own haunted past. 
 
Discover Life's Possibilities
1010 Guard St
Friday Harbor, Washington 98250
(360) 378-2798
www.sjlib.org