Though not officially named “Hillsdale” until the 1980s, the Southwest Portland neighborhood library had been serving residents in the area for decades prior. The current building holds LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, with some of the materials coming from local manufacturers. The building was designed by Thomas Hacker and Associates Architects, Inc.
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Milestones
2024 Hillsdale Library closed to the public on March 3, to undergo refresh renovations, including updated carpeting, technology, paint, lower shelving, and more. The library reopened to the public in August 2024.
2020 In November 2020, Multnomah County voters approved a $387 million capital bond to build and transform library buildings across the county. Hillsdale Library was scheduled to be refreshed, not undergoing major renovations.
2004 The newly built Hillsdale Library opened on March 8, 2004.
2002 The old Hillsdale Library building closed on December 2, reopening in a small temporary facility on December 19. Construction on the new building began early in 2002 and continued through 2003.
2000 After hearing considerable public testimony, the Board of Multnomah County Commissioners voted on November 9, 2000, to build the new library on the site of the existing building.
1998 An extensive public process began to find a site for a new library in Hillsdale. After hearing considerable public testimony, the Board of Multnomah County Commissioners voted on November 9, 2000, to build the new library on the site of the existing building.
1986 Community residents circulated petitions, asking that the branch be renamed "Hillsdale." The library board agreed with the request. An open house was held on October 25, to celebrate the new name. Community residents purchased the new sign for the building.
1967 Southwest Hills Library circulated more books per library user visit than any other neighborhood library.
1957 Southwest Hills Library opened on May 22 at 1515 SW Sunset Boulevard.
1956 The Library Association of Portland bought land for the Southwest Hills location at SW Sunset Boulevard and Dewitt Street. The board awarded the contract for construction of the Southwest Hills library to Norman Builders.
1915 The Library Association of Portland determined that the South Portland location needed a new building. The annual report at that time stated, “now all tables are full, every chair occupied and many bookshelves empty. The most pressing need in the Branch department is a new building at this point. The present structure is not only too small, but built for temporary use in the first place, is rapidly falling to pieces.”
1913 The neighborhood library service in Southwest Portland began with a small book "deposit station.” Deposit stations had a small collection of 30 to 50 books. In December, this effort moved to a larger space called the South Portland “sub-branch.”