Library celebrates 10 years

The Sisters Branch Library will celebrate 10 years of service on Friday, February 11.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the all-day celebration will take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Cookies will be served.

The library building was designed by architect Neil Huston Keeton-King construction served as contractor.

Sisters librarian Peg Bermel remembers "the tremendous energy and grass root community support that made the library building possible."

Sandy McDonald remembered the "children's brigade" of elementary school children forming a chain between the old library and new; passing books from hand-to-hand until they were stacked on the new library shelves.

There have been many changes over the last decade of library operation. Casette audio tapes, VHS video tapes and Internet access have been added. A new children's librarian has added programs to the library offerings, and daily courier service makes for faster book delivery from other branches.

Many new books have been added, and there is a supply of the latest magazines -- many of them paid for by Friends of the Library.

Sisters Library is part of the Deschutes Public Library System with branches in Bend, La Pine, Redmond and Sunriver. Michael Gaston is library director, and there is a five-member elected library board.

The present holdings include nearly 200,000 books and other media. Reference librarians help in obtaining materials by inter-library loan if they are not available in the local system.

A library expansion program is scheduled for 2004 and will double the size of the present 2,600 square foot facility.

The anniversary celebration will feature old photos reliving past library events and nine historical albums prepared by Nellie Zook and others.