Oregon Public Broadcasting

Hood River County’s three libraries have closed. The county commission said it couldn’t fund the libraries any longer. And this spring residents of Hood River voted against a tax measure that would have created a separate library fund.

June Knutson is the director of the library. She says about 15.000 people in the county had library cards. And she says many people who had fallen on hard times used the library.

June Knutson: “I’ve overheard Iraqi war veterans who like to come here and use the space. Certainly if you’re going to apply for a job, and a lot of people are unemployed right now, you need access to a public computer. ”

Knutson says library supporters are hoping to get another funding measure on the ballot in November. So the closing might not be permanent.

The library will continue to send out overdue book notices and check book return boxes.