The wait is over: Albina Library reopens on July 19! Join us for a fun weekend of opening events as we celebrate this transformed, modern and welcoming library.
“We’re so excited to welcome patrons back to Albina Library,” says Director of Libraries Annie Lewis. “With much more space and many new features to enjoy, Albina Library has expanded not only in size but also in the ways that we can serve our community.”
The updated library is nearly four times larger, with over 22,000 square feet added for a total of 30,000 square feet on the existing site. It’s the largest new library to open in Portland since Central Library opened in 1913. Albina Library is now the second largest public library in the county. This transformation was made possible by the voter-approved 2020 Multnomah County Library Capital Bond.
“Albina Library stands as a symbol of restoration and community pride, honoring the neighborhood's legacy while offering a vibrant, inclusive space for all to gather, learn and grow,” says Albina Library Administrator Stephanie Hope-Cochran. “We hope everyone will come to see it for themselves.”
Enjoy new features like:
- An enclosed courtyard for community members to relax and connect.
- A large early learning and play space for children and their families.
- A teen room with space for technology, homework and expression.
- The library’s second-ever sensory room.
- Art from local artists inside and outside the library.
- New technology to get materials to patrons faster.
- Seismic upgrades and solar panels.
- Updated internet and technology, including more devices for patrons to use.
- And so much more!
Centering the local community
All of the updates were shaped by extensive community and staff feedback. We engaged with over 3,500 local community members during the design process. This included different methods of outreach like:
- Paid focus groups with members of the Black community, the Spanish-speaking community, the immigrant and refugee community and the Indigenous community.
- Tabling at events.
- One-on-one conversations with local elders.
- Public meetings.
- Surveys.
- Workshops.
- And more!
“It was very exciting to be invited to be a part of [the feedback process],” says Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, a local resident. “Being invited to be part of the re-envisioning, revamping and revitalization of a space I’ve known since childhood was a full circle moment of excitement and fulfillment. It made me very happy to be able to represent my family. My dad’s side grew up blocks away from Albina Library and my aunt still lives in our family home up there, so that’s the library we went to as kids, my cousins and I. Being able to represent not just myself but my family and the Black community that used to live in the lower Albina neighborhood — I felt very honored.”
“The level of engagement was done very well. It wasn’t just a one-time thing,” adds Stoudamire-Phillips. “Even throughout the building and construction process, we were invited to do multiple walkthroughs and to give our feedback on what had been constructed at that point. To actually see our vision and see our ideas come to life along the way felt very involved and very authentically engaged.”
Another way we gathered community feedback was through a partnership with Matt Dishman Community Center. We hosted a community open house at the center and members of the public were able to vote on their favorite of three design options. “Our community is very passionate about being involved and elevating each other’s voices,” says Recreation Supervisor Evan Lilly. “This opportunity to be involved with the process so early on showed that the library values community feedback and perspectives. Historically, the Albina community has been disregarded and ignored, so to specifically seek out and request involvement on a project like this only strengthens and builds community.”
We hope we’ll see you at Albina Library on July 19 and 20 for an exciting opening weekend! Want a sneak peek of how this building has transformed? Check out our timelapse of the renovation.