UPDATE:

The discontinuation of BookMobile North ( Okanogan & Ferry Counties) has had a negative impact in so many of our rural communities and programs such as Job Corps & Juvenile Detention where kids need to have access to books. When the decision to discontinue the program was made the only alternative given is to use mail order which for some people is a good solution but it is not feasible for a large portion of people due to numerous challenges. According to NCW Libraries the decision was made after performing an audit for 2022 in which they stated that North BookMobile was not serving as many people as that of South BookMobile ( Douglas, Grant & Chelan Counties) which I have checked the routes for the South BookMobile and almost the entirety of their stops are 8 miles or less a public library some are less than 2 miles from a library. In 2022 South BookMobile had 14,972 checkouts and North BookMobile had a staggering 22,018 checkouts yet it is the program they chose to cut..This is not in the best interest of our communities and it should not solely be their choice as this is a publicly funded program. 

Per NCW Libraries website.. 

MISSION
Connecting the people of North Central Washington to vital resources and opportunities that foster individual growth and strengthen communities.

VISION
You Trust Us.
We are a trusted resource for every member of our diverse communities. We provide you with exceptional customer service from an unbiased perspective and always respect your right to privacy and intellectual freedom.
You Learn With Us.
When you need information, we can help you find it. Whether you’re teaching your child to read, learning a new language, developing a new skill, or updating your resume, our robust collections and compelling programs make lifelong learning fun.
You Grow With Us.
We keep you connected to our changing world and your own curiosity. We listen and respond to your wants and needs with dependable and evolving services, entertaining and thought-provoking content, culturally enriching activities, and access to new technologies.
We Build Community Together.
We celebrate the diversity of North Central Washington, bringing together people of all backgrounds and from all walks of life. Our welcoming and comfortable facilities provide a place for you to gather and exchange ideas – and we are just as likely to meet you out in the community as in one of our libraries. We work alongside you to build partnerships, facilitate connections, and contribute to your community’s sense of identity and civic vitality.

UPDATE: Over the last 5 days I have spoken with 4 different NCW Library employees the first I called the second two called me. Today I called and left a message for two of the decision makers I did not speak with anyone however I received an email from the 4th employee that I have never spoken with and was told she advised the employees that I had left messages for not to contact me as the intensity of my communications was alarming to them that I am calling and asking questions , leaving messages and using social media. I was told this was due to budget, their press release said road conditions and weather and today she said it is to do with redundancy of service and has nothing to do with budget. So concerning what is going on. The petition is raising awareness and that is why I am receiving so much correspondence at this point they have each received 280 emails each.. keep signing this petition BookMobile is worth the effort!

Today I was informed that  NCW Libraries has made the decision to immediately cut BookMobile service to our rural communities which has been a valuable resource to Okanogan & Ferry Counties for the last 5 years. For those of you that are unfamiliar with BookMobile this program is a mobile library that services rural areas that do not have ready access to a public library, there are two such BookMobiles one that services Chelan, Douglas & Grant counties which are more populated and have access to more services (they will continue with this BookMobile) than the residents of Okanogan & Ferry counties. Discontinuing BookMobile from Okanogan & Ferry counties is going to have a very negative effect on not just my community but all of the rural communities that they have served. Many of our community members will now lose access to books as they cannot make a 50 mile round trip to go to the public library in Tonasket, many people are off grid and are unable to utilize the mail order program, homeschool children that rely on the service will be greatly affected. Public libraries are funded by our tax dollars & the two board members of NCW Libraries told me they do not know where the money will be re-allocated which we have a right to know, this decision was made behind closed doors with no public notice.  Please sign this petition to save our rural BookMobile!!