Interim Bookmobile to House Alta Branch Library

Jackson, WY- The Teton County Library Board voted during its regular
meeting on Thursday, April 24 to purchase and temporarily house the Alta
Branch Library in a bookmobile until the construction of a new branch
library is complete.

The library board and staff considered several interim options, including
leasing space at another site, before voting on the bookmobile. The library
also received suggestions from the Alta community for temporary locations
for the branch library. Library staff researched many of these suggestions,
however, they did not find an available, viable lease option that also met
public building code requirements.

"I really think a bookmobile makes the most sense in terms of being a
cost-effective means to keeping library services alive, even as we stay
focused on the long-term picture of getting a new branch library built,"
says Library Director Deb Adams.

Adams is now engaged in requesting permission from the Teton County School
District to locate and operate the bookmobile on school property. Branch
Manager, Gretchen Notzold, is looking at possible sites for continued
library programming. Facilities Manager, Dail Barbour, and IT Manager, Mark
Abetz, are investigating the logistics of electrical power, phone and
Internet service, as well as moving. No official date has been set for
having the bookmobile functional, although the goal is to interrupt service
as little as possible.

Adams worked at the Alta Library Branch about 10 years ago, when it was
previously, temporarily housed in a bookmobile. She says that library
patrons can still expect to browse books on the shelves, which should still
be able to hold the vast majority of the branch's collection. The current
courier service that delivers books from the library's main branch will
continue, as will the inter-library loan service, which connects patrons to
state-wide library collections.

The Alta Branch Library must move from its current location inside the Alta
Elementary School by August 2008. Teton County (Wyo.) is currently in the
process of closing on a parcel of land to be purchased from St. Francis of
the Tetons Episcopal Church for a new branch library. The church has granted
a two-month extension, from the original April 15, 2008 deadline, to
complete the closing.

To learn more about the Alta Branch Library, you can read ongoing updates
from library director Deb Adams online at www.TCLib.org/director/, visit the
Alta Branch online at www.TCLib.org/alta, or subscribe to Teton County Board
meeting schedules and agendas at www.TCL.org/administration/board.php.

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