Reserve a library meeting room online

Looking for a space for your group to meet, and you’re tired of having to clean the house before every meeting? Then try one of the Library’s meeting rooms.

We have two meeting rooms, the Rose and Oak Rooms, in the lobby that can be reserved online. Fees apply, but vary. Local non-profit groups that serve children can have the first two hours of their reservations  during library open hours free. Reservations can be made up to three months in advance.

The Rose Room can accomodate up to 50 people, and the Oak Room can accomodate up to 120 people.

For groups smaller than 10 people, ask at the Circulation Desk about reserving a study room. These smaller rooms are available for up to 2 hours a day, and reservable up to one month in advance. A $10/hour fee applies only to profit-making groups.

Find out more on our website at www.wilsonvillelibrary.org/rooms.

Netflix, the library, or both?

To DVD or not to DVD? That is the question . . .

In the news: many former Netflix customers are returning, despite Netflix’s decision to split their DVD and online streaming services last September which resulted in their loss of 800,000 customers.

What I find fascinating is the number of people I know who are Netflix subscribers, but who don’t make use of their library for their video needs. “Videos at the library?” you say? Yes, videos at the library.

Do you want TV series on DVD? Ask a librarian – we have most of the popular series available for you to borrow (yes, even for you BBC fans who like Doc Martin, Downton Abbey, and Doctor Who).

Do you want blockbuster movies on DVD? We have those, too. We purchase the latest releases every month.

Do you want funky independent or foreign films? Documentaries? Yup, we have those, too. And you’ll have a greater chance of seeing them through the library than Netflix since we have a much smaller customer base.

Do you prefer videos you can watch on your computer? Yes, we can do that, too. Comedies, dramas, mysteries, health and fitness, travel, and more are available for free download.

All of this is available with your library card. No monthly subscription fees. And if there is a title you don’t see, just ask us and we will do our best to get it.

Want to know more? Contact the Reference Desk at 503-682-2744 or reference@wilsonvillelibrary.org.

Dewey Talks about Oregon history tonight

Old Wilsonville bar scene at the Roanoake Inn

How much do you know about Oregon history? If you’re like me, you’re lucky to know that we’re the Beaver State (even for those of us who went to the University of Oregon), and that those Lewis and Clark guys came out for a visit sometime around 1800.

Find out more tonight (Thursday, February 2) at 6:30 p.m. with Darrell Jabin. Darrell helped put together the state issued almanac and fact book The Oregon Blue Book as well as a 37-minute video showcasing 100 years of publication and the process to recreate the original Commemorative Edition 1911 Oregon Blue Book.

The video is filled with historical vignettes including women winning the right to vote, the fire that destroyed the Capitol, the 1959 Oregon Centennial celebration, and the Columbus Day Storm.

For that matter, how much do you know about Wilsonville history? (Or perhaps I should say “Boones Landing.”) Discover Wilsonville’s history with these Library resources:

• See photographs from the early days of Wilsonville and read what local citizens had to say about those early days with the Wilsonville Community Historic Views and Talk on the Library website.
• For an outstanding collection of photographs from the Wilsonville-Boones Ferry Historical Society, visit the Emery and Alice Aden Digital Image Collection, also on the Library website.
• Want something more analog? Then drop by the Library on Monday, February 13th, for “Heritage Day” as part of the Library’s 30th birthday celebration week. We will have special exhibits that day of photos and artifacts of Old Wilsonville, as well as “Beginner’s Genealogy” classes to help folks learn how to trace their family tree.
• And did I mention that we have an outstanding collection of local and regional history in our “Heritage Collection.”  This rapidly growing Collection is well on its way to becoming one of the strongest and most easily accessible public collections for genealogical research in Oregon. Besides shelving for over 2500 books, it includes a couple of large microfilm cabinets, several microfilm readers, and a computer for using CD-ROM databases and accessing genealogical material on the Internet.

For questions about all things historical and genealogical, contact Adult Services Librarian Greg Martin at 503-682-2744 or reference@wilsonvillelibrary.org.