Expanded North Portland Library

North Portland Library will be renovated and expanded, adding 1,500 square feet of space to highlight the diversity and history of the community. 

New rendering showing future updated North Portland Library exterior along Killingsworth Street

Architects: LEVER Architecture; Noll & Tam Architects
Size and location: Adding 1,500 square feet on the existing historic site
Timeline: Closing for construction April 5, 2023; Scheduled to be complete fall 2024

While North Portland Library is closed for construction, Multnomah County libraries will be providing services in our service languages in the areas most affected by lack of access. Find your nearest library location and other service updates. 

Get involved 

What do you want your library to look like? Join in these upcoming community events and let’s build these libraries together.

Community events will be updated as they are scheduled.

New features

North Portland Library will be renovated and expanded, adding 1,500 square feet of space to highlight the diversity and history of the community. 

Based on input from community members, new features will include:

  • A Black Cultural Center for connection and a celebration of Blackness.
  • Outdoor space for community members to relax and connect.
  • Updated technology and internet.
  • New art that represents the community.

View your new interior for North Portland Library.

The palette shows royal blues with golden accents that celebrate Black excellence in the past, present and future

New rendering showing future updated North Portland Library with Black Cultural Center along Commercial Avenue

Centering the community

North Portland Library has long been the library home to the Black community in Portland. That's why insights from the Black community have guided the vision and purpose for the new Black Cultural Center. We reached out through focus groups, tabling events and one-on-one conversations. The center will be a place of community and celebration for the Black community.

We also reached out to other groups in the neighborhood. We heard from the community through public meetings, surveys, workshops and more. The design team hosted paid focus groups with diverse groups, including:

  • Spanish-speaking communities
  • Immigrants and refugees
  • Indigenous communities
  • Disability community

Two community members work on fun design ideas for North Portland Library

Teens helped shape teen spaces through a paid program called Youth Opportunity Design Approach (YODA). In sessions led by the architects and youth librarians, teens who use Albina and North Portland libraries shared what will make them feel welcome.