About Us
The Juneau Public Libraries are a department of the City and Borough of Juneau. The Juneau Public Libraries have three branches: the downtown Juneau Public Library (located atop the Marine Parking Garage on the waterfront), the Mendenhall Valley Public Library (located in Dimond Park) and the Douglas Public Library (located in the Douglas Community Building, a shared facility with the Fire Department). Library staff offices are located at the downtown branch.
The Juneau Public Libraries are members of the Alaska Library Catalog, a consortium of 87 public, academic, special, and school libraries which serves 92% of the population of Alaska and shares 3.2 million library materials. A card obtained at any of these facilities will allow you to check out materials at all facilities. Several, such as the Sealaska Heritage Institute and Alaska State Historical Collections, are non-circulating research libraries.
Mission Statement
The Juneau Public Libraries are the open door to exploration and lifelong learning, providing free access to shared resources and programs that entertain, enlighten and educate.
| PHONE: 907-586-5249 | |
| Catherine Melville | Library Director |
| Erica Roguska | Administrative Assistant |
| Patrick McGonegal | CBJ Website Administrator |
| Dan Coleman | Systems Analyst |
| Margaret Ludke | Technical Service Manager |
| MJ Grande | Youth Services Librarian |
| Melinda Sandkam | Community Outreach Librarian |
| Jenna Guenther | Information Services Librarian |
| Shari Kitchin | Circulation Supervisor & Mendenhall Library Supervisor |
| Jen Gardner | Grants & Marketing Coordinator |
| Melissa Morgan | Alaska Library Extension Coordinator |
| Amelia Jenkins | Julie Coghill |
| Ani Torgerson | Kathy Ward |
| Christine Doiron | Lacey Davis |
| Debbie Perkins | Mary Miller |
| Hanna Schempf | Sheri Somerville |
The Library is grateful for gifts and donations. In accepting used items, the library reserves the right to decide whether they should be added to its collection, given to another library, or sold in the Friends of the Library book sales.
The library will issue a receipt for the number of books donated, but it will not place a value on those books.
The library appreciates any monetary donations for purchasing library materials. To arrange for a donation in someone’s memory or to discuss other gifts, please call 586-0439 or email: [email protected].
The Endowment Fund of the Juneau Public Library was established in 1992 as the direct result of a generous bequest from the estate of Verna Hurley Carrigan. The Endowment Fund is a non-profit organization that works to promote and enhance public library services in Juneau.
The Endowment Fund supports supplemental library programs and projects which the library would otherwise be unable to fund. It serves as a vehicle for donations to the library. All gifts to the fund are used to build the fund’s principal. Only a portion of the interest from the fund is spent on projects. Thus, a gift to the fund will continue to serve the Juneau Public Libraries for many years in the future.
The Endowment Fund Maintains Four Subfunds:
- The Verna Carrigan Estate–Verna Hurley Carrigan, a long-time Juneau resident, died July 24, 1992. The public library received a bequest from her trust to be used exclusively for the purchase of books, equipment, and related furniture for the library (no particular branch specified).
- Douglas Public Library Subfund–The Douglas Library board, when it disbanded in 1992, transferred remaining monetary assets to the Library endowment fund, to be used exlusively for the upgrading of the Douglas Public Library.
- Friends of the Juneau Public Library Subfund–The Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries provided a third subfund in 1993 with the intent of encouraging others to donate as they did, with no restrictions on use.
- Gomar Children’s Fund–Subfund in memory of Miguel and Maria Vides Gomar purchases books and other library materials to augment the children’s collections in all branches of the Juneau Public Libraries.
The Library and the Library Endowment Fund welcome gifts in any amount.
- Gifts of $2000 or more go directly to the Endowment Fund.
- Gifts of less than $2000 may also go to the Endowment Fund if they are designated for an existing subfund or if they are undesignated for any specific program or enhancement.
- The Library is grateful for all gifts and donations. In accepting used items, the library reserves the right to decide whether they should be added to its collection, given to another library, or sold in the Friends of the Library book sales. Money raised through the Friends of the Library book sales go to fund library materials, programs, and equipment.
- Monetary gifts may be made for designated purposes, such as the purchase of books or magazine subscriptions. The library will select the specific items purchased in accordance with its collection development policy.
- To arrange for a donation in someone’s memory or to discuss other gifts, please call 586-0443.
Tax Deduction for Gifts to the Library or the Endowment Fund
The library and the Endowment Fund are part of the City and Borough of Juneau, and are not non-profits in the strict sense. However, gifts given for “community benefit” are normally tax-deductible.
The library will give a signed and dated receipt for gifts upon request. Non-cash gifts, including book donations, for less than $5000 must be valued by the donor.
The Board of the Endowment Fund
The board of the Endowment Fund is appointed by the Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau and includes two public members and the Director of the Juneau Public Libraries. The current board members are:
- Donna Pierce, Public Member
- Barbara Berg, Friends of the Library Member
- Catherine Melville, Library Director
- Juneau Public Libraries Endowment Board Agenda – Jan 27 2022
Questions?
Call a librarian
907.586.5249 (Downtown Library)
907.789.0125 (Valley Library)
Call to get answers on the phone.
E-mail a librarian
[email protected]
Email your question and we’ll get back to you within about 24 hours.
Test Proctoring
The Juneau Public Libraries proctor examinations as a courtesy for students of distance education programs. More Info Here
Ebook & Online Resources Help
907.586.0444 / [email protected]
If you’re having trouble downloading ebooks or audiobooks or accessing a library resource online.
Live Homework Help
Chat with an online tutor, daily from noon to 2am Alaska time. For more help, check out the Homework Center.