From the Library Director Melissa Kelly: long-term planning for our building

We are at an important moment for the Library as we work with City Council and the community on long-term facility planning to ensure our spaces and services continue to meet community needs. Thank you to the Friends for your continued partnership and for the important role you play in supporting the Library’s mission.

Through your generous support, we can offer enriching educational programs for all ages, along with initiatives that support learning and connection across our community. Your contributions allow us to offer over 100 special programs annually beyond the budget, including a free book for every child who signs up for the Summer Library Challenge. Summer reading supports literacy when children are out of school, but we also have numerous engaging summer activities for adults. Registration to participate begins June 1st! 

As we look ahead, we are considering several important realities as part of long-term facility planning. The current building is at the end of its useful life, ongoing repair is not a sustainable long-term fiscal approach, and community demand for library services increasingly exceeds what the existing site and facility can support. These factors are guiding a collaborative planning process that will include community input into future site selection and the reuse of the existing site after the library is relocated, and the Friends play a key role in helping to keep the community informed and engaged as this work continues. We appreciate your ongoing support as we plan for the future of the Library. 

We are grateful to serve a community of engaged supporters who value the role a strong public library plays in Lake Oswego. Thank you for your generosity, your advocacy, and your continued commitment to lifelong learning.

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Applications are now open to join the Existing Site Reuse Task Force. This group will assist the Lake Oswego City Council to develop and analyze reuse scenarios for the existing Library site after its relocation, ultimately delivering a final reuse recommendation.  Click here for more information and to apply on the Library website. Applications will close July 3rd. 

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