Tina McCann, the new children's coordinator for the Union County Library District Project, reads a book about differences to an eager audience at a Lollapalooza event at Union's Carnegie Library. Lollapalooza is a monthly, literature-based demonstration project offered at all five of the county's public libraries this year. (The Observer/ETHAN SCHOWALTER-HAY).

– Ethan Schowalter-Hay

The Observer

UNION Tina McCann cracked the eggs of different color, exposing identical yolks within. A girl in the small, attentive crowd raised her hand and offered, "It’s just like people. We may look different on the outside, but we’re all the same inside."

Such insights came easy during a recent iteration of Library Lollapalooza at Union’s historic Carnegie Library.

The program began in 2005 after public surveys revealed a demand for childhood learning enrichment activities in Union County. Lollapalooza, described as a monthly, literature-based demonstration project, rotates between the libraries of Cove, Elgin, North Powder, Union and La Grande on a monthly basis for the duration of the school year.

Each month’s program has a theme around which activities and readings are structured. Five children’s books per run-through are selected that tie into the particular topic. This year, the Wildhorse Foundation has donated $5,000 for the acquisition of the relevant books as permanent components of each library’s collection.

The Lollapalooza curriculum is implemented this year by McCann, the Union County Library District Project’s children’s coordinator. The district project, in the third year of a three-year federal Library Services and Technology Act grant, aims to "implement an equitably supported and effective structure for the provision of excellent library services in Union County," according to Aletha Bonebrake, the project director.

The Union County Library District Project Steering Committee has recommended that a county library district would most effectively improve library facilities and programming and perpetuate activities like Lollapalooza.

"There’s no cohesive, cooperative county service that would support these kinds of programs that a larger district would have," Bonebrake said.

The grant funds have allowed the committee to demonstrate, for these three years, some of those services that a district might offer. The Friendly Visitor Program, for example, brings books and reading programs to seniors and other residents unable to physically reach the public libraries.

According to a fact sheet distributed by the district project, the Union, Elgin, North Powder and La Grande libraries are supported through the property taxes of their respective residents. In other communities, and in unincorporated parts of Union County, residents pay nothing for library upkeep, although many use the city libraries. Under the district plan, all county residents would help pay for library services.

Bonebrake said she expects a library district measure on the May 2008 ballot.

McCann, a 2002 graduate of the education program at Eastern Oregon University, became the children’s coordinator in August. Judging from the Carnegie Library Lollapalooza, she’s tackling the role with enthusiasm.

The afternoon’s theme in the library basement was "Differences." After reading a book about humanity’s variety of skin color, McCann posed a series of questions and asked the children to sort themselves throughout the room based on their responses.

The characteristics by which the group was segregated included clothing, their perception of soccer and their preference for books and crafts. Some of the questions had kids in three or four categories; for others, everyone bunched together in shared answer.

"We were in different groups sometimes," McCann told the children afterward, "but we all have something in common."

This particular clutch of kids reacted to the reading and activity sessions with eager and consistently thoughtful observations.

"I’m really very pleased with the turnout," McCann said following the program.

Nothing if not active, McCann has previously substituted in the La Grande School District, volunteered at the Think Link Discovery Center and spearheaded fundraising for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. In addition, she serves on the sheriff advisory board and helps out at the Cove Preschool.

She said she’s enjoying her new position, which she’ll hold for the remainder of the grant period.

"It’s wonderful. I’m thankful to be back working with kids and the community," she said.

In addition to the Library Services and Technology Act and Wildhorse Foundation grants, funding for the Union County Library District Project comes from the Meyer Memorial Trust, the Collins Foundation and the Soroptimists.

More information about Lollapalooza and the district project can be accessed at http://www.unioncounty.plinkit.org.