Michael Pritiken
Rural Library Project
Rural Library Project
Each year, PNBA puts on a tradeshow that includes more than 100 exhibits showing off the newest books (and other products) for bookstores to order. There are literally thousands of titles displayed on the show floor each year, and it can be expensive for publishers to pack up and ship all of that inventory off to the next place. The Rural Library Project was born in the early 1990s when PNBA's intrepid show staff came up with a solution: what if publishers donated some of that stock to a deserving library in the region?
The Rural Library Project puts books into small, rural libraries, in our region, that have very limited funds for acquisitions. Recipient libraries are recommended and chosen each year by our member bookstores. At our annual Fall Show, vendors are asked to donate some or all of the sample books from their show displays. Our volunteers collect these books and give them to the chosen library. Since the program's inception our generous publishers and reps have donated over $600,000 worth of books to small libraries in the region.
Read on to learn more about some of the specific libraries that have been the beneficiaries of this program.
2025 - Sprague Public Library, and Davenport Public Library, both in Lincoln County, Washington, and part of the Wheatland Libraries system.
At the conclusion of exhibit day in Spokane, PNBA staff and volunteers once again collected donations from our very generous exhibitors to benefit two public libraries in need. This year's donations benefit the Sprague Public Library and the Davenport Public Library. Both locations are part of the Wheatland Libraries system, a consortium of public libraries in rural Eastern Washington working together to share library materials and services.
The Sprague Public Library serves a town with a population of 420, expanding out to 540 for the whole zip code. With a yearly budget for new books of just $200, this donation will breathe new life into their shelves and transform their collection. Library staff told us that regular patrons have read and reread the books they have, and that the library kids have been asking for more.
At the conclusion of exhibit day in Spokane, PNBA staff and volunteers once again collected donations from our very generous exhibitors to benefit two public libraries in need. This year's donations benefit the Sprague Public Library and the Davenport Public Library. Both locations are part of the Wheatland Libraries system, a consortium of public libraries in rural Eastern Washington working together to share library materials and services.
The Sprague Public Library serves a town with a population of 420, expanding out to 540 for the whole zip code. With a yearly budget for new books of just $200, this donation will breathe new life into their shelves and transform their collection. Library staff told us that regular patrons have read and reread the books they have, and that the library kids have been asking for more.
The Davenport Public Library serves a community of 1800 with an annual acquisitions budget of just $1000 a year. Receiving this load of beautiful new books worth thousands of dollars will greatly expand and transform the library's offerings to this rural community.
Representatives from both libraries were onsite at the end of the day on Monday, September 29, to help collect book donations and get them back to their respective libraries. The donations were split about evenly between the two libraries.
Representatives from both libraries were onsite at the end of the day on Monday, September 29, to help collect book donations and get them back to their respective libraries. The donations were split about evenly between the two libraries.
Total donation was 58 boxes of books, worth about $25,000.
2024 - Umatilla County Special Library District, in Umatilla County, Oregon, and the Wind River Middle School in Stevenson, Washington
Umatilla County Special Library District, Umatilla County, OR is a county-wide, tax-supported public library district. They partner with 12 public libraries in Umatilla County to provide library services. This office is the administrative headquarters for the District and the headquarters of TakeOff!, an early childhood literacy outreach program. Eight of the county's 12 libraries are very small, with limited budgets for new books ranging from just $1,000 - $5,000 for the entire year.
Wind River Middle School, Stevenson, WA, is part of the Stevenson-Carson School District, which is currently facing signification financial challenges, having been forced to cut nearly 10% of their budget for the '24/'25' school year—approximately $1.65 million. While Carson Elementary and Stevenson High School have libraries, Wind River Middle School is not as lucky. Despite the best efforts of the dedicated PTA, who have been tirelessly raising funds and recently placed an order with Scholastic using earned book dollars, in 2024 they still had a long way to go to establish a functional library for the middle-school students.
Umatilla County Special Library District, Umatilla County, OR is a county-wide, tax-supported public library district. They partner with 12 public libraries in Umatilla County to provide library services. This office is the administrative headquarters for the District and the headquarters of TakeOff!, an early childhood literacy outreach program. Eight of the county's 12 libraries are very small, with limited budgets for new books ranging from just $1,000 - $5,000 for the entire year.
Wind River Middle School, Stevenson, WA, is part of the Stevenson-Carson School District, which is currently facing signification financial challenges, having been forced to cut nearly 10% of their budget for the '24/'25' school year—approximately $1.65 million. While Carson Elementary and Stevenson High School have libraries, Wind River Middle School is not as lucky. Despite the best efforts of the dedicated PTA, who have been tirelessly raising funds and recently placed an order with Scholastic using earned book dollars, in 2024 they still had a long way to go to establish a functional library for the middle-school students.
Total donation was 40 boxes of books, worth over $17,000.
2023 - Winston Library - Winston, OR
The lucky library to receive publisher donations following the 2023 show was the Winston Library, of Winston, OR. Douglas County residents voted to disband the southwestern Oregon county's library system several years ago, but community leaders persevered to preserve public access to literature!
Big thanks go to Caitlin McMahan, Teen Librarian at the Eugene Public Library and PNBA's Rural Library Project coordinator, for putting together this effort in conjunction with the board and volunteers at the Winston Library. And thanks to all of our publishers and reps who support the program show after show.
Big thanks go to Caitlin McMahan, Teen Librarian at the Eugene Public Library and PNBA's Rural Library Project coordinator, for putting together this effort in conjunction with the board and volunteers at the Winston Library. And thanks to all of our publishers and reps who support the program show after show.
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Total donation was 42 boxes of books (around 1,410 books), worth about $22,170.
2022 - Castle Rock Public Library - Castle Rock, WA
Castle Rock is a town with a population of 2,100. Their library was founded over 100 years ago and has grown to two rooms in a converted storefront in the main business district. Levy failures in recent years have meant a struggle to keep the library open and have current books available. Sponsoring store was Vault Books and Brew, Castle Rock, WA
Castle Rock is a town with a population of 2,100. Their library was founded over 100 years ago and has grown to two rooms in a converted storefront in the main business district. Levy failures in recent years have meant a struggle to keep the library open and have current books available. Sponsoring store was Vault Books and Brew, Castle Rock, WA
2021 - Blue River Library - Blue River, OR
In September of 2020 the Holiday Farm Fire destroyed several small communities in the McKenzie River Valley, located to the east of Eugene, OR. One of the many tragedies that these communities faced in the aftermath of the fire was the loss of the O’Brien Memorial Library in Blue River. The O’Brien Memorial Library was an important community hub for Blue River and the surrounding communities. Started in 1928 by schoolteacher Frances O’Brien, the library was created to ensure that the local school children had access to quality reading materials. Although devastated by fire, the citizens of the McKenzie River Valley banded together to help rebuild this cornerstone of their community. In July, 2021 the O’Brien Memorial Library reopened to the public in a temporary location at the Upper McKenzie Community Center. The library reopened in its new permanent home in November of 2024, complete with a plaque thanking those who helped rebuild the library and the collection, including PNBA. (See photo below on the right).
In September of 2020 the Holiday Farm Fire destroyed several small communities in the McKenzie River Valley, located to the east of Eugene, OR. One of the many tragedies that these communities faced in the aftermath of the fire was the loss of the O’Brien Memorial Library in Blue River. The O’Brien Memorial Library was an important community hub for Blue River and the surrounding communities. Started in 1928 by schoolteacher Frances O’Brien, the library was created to ensure that the local school children had access to quality reading materials. Although devastated by fire, the citizens of the McKenzie River Valley banded together to help rebuild this cornerstone of their community. In July, 2021 the O’Brien Memorial Library reopened to the public in a temporary location at the Upper McKenzie Community Center. The library reopened in its new permanent home in November of 2024, complete with a plaque thanking those who helped rebuild the library and the collection, including PNBA. (See photo below on the right).
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Total donation was over 1,700 books worth about $34,200.
The Rural Library Project Prior to Covid
In 2020 there was no Fall Show due to the COVID19 pandemic. Prior to 2007, PNBA also held a much smaller Spring Show, where we also accepted donations from publishers and donated them to rural libraries. Below is an incomplete listing of recipient libraries and the donations they received, going back to the inaugural year of 1992.
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2019 - Mildred Whipple Library - Drain, OR
2018 - Scappoose Public Library - Scappoose, OR 2017 - Kalapuya High School - Eugene, OR Chemawa Indian School - Salem, OR Children's Book Bank - Portland, OR Booked! - Portland, OR 2016 - Stanley Community Library - Stanley, ID 2015 - Amity Public Library - Amity, OR 2014 - Chinook Pass Lending Library - Naches, WA 2013 - Wallace Public Library - Wallace, ID 2012 - Craig Public Library - Craig, AK 2011 - Warm Springs Community Library - Warm Springs, OR 2010 - Rainier Volunteer Library - Ranier, WA 2009 - Clearwater Memorial Public Library - Clearwater,ID 2008 - Darby Community Library - Darby, MT Fall 2007 - Fossil Public Library - Fossil, OR Spring 2007 - Roslyn Library, Roslyn, WA Fall 2006 - Hooper Bay & White Mountain Libraries, AK Spring 2006 - Scammon Bay Public Library, AK Fall 2005 - Kamiah Public Library, ID Spring 2005 - Lewistown Public Library, MT Fall 2004 - Sherman County Public Library, OR Spring 2004 - Kalama Public Library, WA Fall 2003 - Willamina Public Library, OR Spring 2003 - Soap Lake Public Library, WA Fall 2002 - Sequim High School Library, WA Spring 2002 - Lake Chelan School District, WA Fall 2001 - Columbia City, OR Spring 2001 - Neil Public Library, Pullman, WA Fall 1999 - Kettle Falls Public Library, WA Fall 1998 - Gustavus Public Library, AK Spring 1998 - Bellevue Head Start Family Literacy, WA Spring 1997 - Enterprise, OR Fall 1996 - Jefferson Co. Rural Library, OR/Pt Townsend Public Library, WA Fall 1995 - Tamarack Library Federation, MT Spring 1995 - Mullen Public Library, ID Fall 1994 - North Central WA Library Consortium Spring 1994 - Plummer Public Library, ID Fall 1993 - Waldport & Siletz Public Libraries, OR Fall 1992 - Lakeview Public Library, OR |
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N/A N/A 37 boxes of books worth $13,000 25 boxes of books worth $12,000 30 boxes of books worth $12,500 31 boxes of books worth $14,000 30 boxes of books worth $15,000 37 boxes of books worth $13,900 40 boxes of books worth $16,000 38 boxes of books worth $19,300 70 boxes of books worth $25,000 52 boxes of books worth $19,500 18 boxes of books worth $10,900 58 boxes of books worth $24,200 27 boxes of books worth $14,500 65 boxes of books worth $35,400 36 boxes of books worth $16,500 62 boxes of books worth $26,800 34 boxes of books worth $11,600 66 boxes of books worth $23,900 33 boxes of books worth $ 7,000 60 boxes of books worth $16,000 19 boxes of books worth $ 4,800 53 boxes of books worth $23,300 >500 titles worth $9,000 33 boxes of books worth $ 8,300 ~1,400 books worth $19,600 (?? boxes) worth $12,000 N/A N/A 65 boxes of books worth $20,000 24 boxes of books worth $ 6,100 (?? boxes) worth $18,000 14 boxes of books worth $ 4,000 27 boxes of books worth $17,000 25 boxes of books worth $15,000 |
This incomplete tally shows a total of over 1,100 boxes of books worth more than $504,100 from 1992 through 2019.