Pearl operates from Brothers to Sisters

Mary Beth Pearl.

Her territory runs from Brothers to Sisters and keeps Mary Beth Pearl quite busy serving on the Deschutes Public Library Board as one of five publicly elected members.

Pearl retired last June from High Desert Middle School in Bend where she had been librarian. She has spent 25 years in education as teacher, librarian, network administrator and network supervisor.

She was a member of the Sisters Library Advisory Council from October 1995 to July 1999, and first Board President when voters approved the new (1999) Deschutes Public Library System (DPLS) in the November 1998 election.

Pearl was born in Florida and raised in southern Illinois. Her mother was a schoolteacher and inspired Mary Beth to follow suit. She has been involved with teaching for more than 26 years.

Mary Beth moved to Central Oregon 20 years ago with her husband and two children. She resides on some acreage outside of Sisters and appreciates the beautiful landscapes of Central Oregon. She is an avid reader and enjoys quilting and traveling.

"My background has been in teaching and library work and I want to continue in these endeavors," Pearl said.

DPLS now has stable funding and can project ahead for future needs.

"Library Director Michael Gaston brought the experience and foresight to the library system for present and future needs," said Mary Beth. "Year-to-year and long term planning is commonplace with the board and administrative staff."

The district plans to expand library services in Sisters, according to Pearl. The present Sisters Library has about 2,600 square feet of floor space. A library of about 7,500 square feet is planned later in this decade.

"The board is committed to providing an adequate size library for Sisters area residents," she said. "The La Pine library was recently built with District funds and public donations. We hope to do the same in Sisters."

A site selection committee will begin looking for land this fall on which to build the new Sisters Library. The present library site is not suitable for a new building's size and parking requirements.

There has been some contention between the library district and the City of Sisters over rent and the status of the current building. Library officials have stated that the district's claimed equity in the current library should be used to help fund a new library.

"I remain optimistic and we are moving forward as quickly as possible to reach the goal of a new library for Sisters," Pearl said.

Presently, Sisters Library offers books, magazines, music CDs, books on tape, VHS and DVD movies. There are four Internet stations available in the library for patron use.

Library terminals in Sisters are available to search the holdings of the entire system (five branches: Bend, La Pine, Redmond, Sisters and Sunriver).

Patrons may request materials from any of the branches.

Special children's and adult programs are offered throughout the year. The Friends of the Library (Sisters) offer outstanding evening speakers during the winter months.