library branch southeast portland oregon united_states library origins date people neighborhood established reading room fire station soon deposit stations packing turned shelf hold books collection began children books housed public school station replaced sub branch library offering books adults children reference works services available regular branches collection moved larger facility branch offering additional resources services library occupied series temporary locations 1920s construction began permanent library building dedicated june following year fourth community library built mid-1990s library maintained regular maintenance capacity strained public use grew new technologies demanded additional shelf space released adopted neighborhood plan included policy improve branch services county adopted million bond measure branches upgrade technology system given multiple issues existing building including structural problems non compliance building codes determined reconstruction necessary library demolished january current square foot building completed like quality received multiple awards design addition offering county library catalog contains million books periodicals materials library houses collections chinese spanish employs chinese speaking staff early history began distributing books neighborhoods outside downtown portland reading room established neighborhood fire station building later year recognized branch deposit stations containing packing turned shelf holding books set fire stations private homes received deposit station collection children books housed public school outlying service areas deposit station replaced sub branch library supplying reading material adults children reference works library services offered regular branches collection moved larger facility west 44th september library achieved branch status offering collection services comparable branches branch threatened closure employees received month salary increase funding sources helped additional expense county libraries branch closed november november response flu 1920s library occupied series temporary locations rented library resources services heavily unemployed residents great depression world war people requested information ranging foreign victory gardens jobs 1950s responding population changes rise automobile use divided county regions single class branch offering extended operating hours services deposit stations smaller branch libraries eliminated merged house larger collections original building decided consolidate branches struggled operate rented spaces years construction permanent library building located 49th avenue began new library measuring square feet dedicated june following year fourth community library built president wrote organization annual report community response fine example adequate extension agency accelerated use principle excellent strong book collections strategically placed provide economical satisfactory extension branch service library received regular maintenance refurbishment 1970s mid-1990s including repairs following small fire capacity strained video collections demanded additional shelf space public use continued grow released adopted neighborhood plan included policy enhance branch objectives included promoting use upgrading facility services improving pedestrian access strengthening cultural educational role community voters passed million bond measure branches upgrade technology system determined building reconstruction necessary given multiple issues including electrical lighting mechanical structural problems mold growth walls underneath non compliance earthquake engineering americans disabilities act codes cost analysis revealed reconstruction effective repairing existing structure additional factors included data communications upgrades need meeting space closed january demolished soon building materials recycled salvaged reuse current building current building intersection commercial street tree lined residential street 49th links measuring square feet opened march branch county library system undergo complete reconstruction architects referred served project architect project manager construction administrator building architectural features designed engineering firm contractor services provided inc designers mind like quality library open light inviting said goal create feeling availability focus books people library collection housed single large room level outside building exposed steel roof feet high supported pairs slender steel columns lined windows column options chose columns designed shape built steel angles measuring inches columns provide distribution loads protecting structure wind earthquakes lateral need supporting walls library features person capacity meeting room hosting community events charge come served basis building houses original artwork including work entrance line poem titled open door doors exterior includes steel panels words depicting history books librarian new facility addition offering county library catalog million books periodicals materials library houses collections chinese spanish employs chinese speaking staff self stations radio frequency identification gates installed july current building received design awards awarded merit award quality structural engineering presented regional design awards program noted library rigorous poetic structure outstanding harmony smallest scale details basic design concept building received portland chapter simple elegant design presented award library quality lighting design director libraries said recognition library users love building pleased architectural community applauded library model project library branch reconstruction region libraries designed built include library community role years buildings hosted numerous activities clubs events programs according adopted neighborhood plan library enhance village center role community gathering place recent examples include appearances actors authors clown conversation circles non native english speakers crafting cultural celebrations groups mobile zoo neighborhood organization meetings storytelling library hosted town hall meetings served ballot drop site elections
Woodstock Library