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Location & Hours

Telephone: 503-325-7323
450 10th Street
Astoria, OR 97103

HOURS

Monday:9-1pm

Tuesday:9-5pm

Wednesday: 9-5pm

Thursday:9-5pm

Friday: 9-5pm

Saturday:9-1pm

Sunday: Closed

 

Library Interim Director

Suzanne Harold
503-298-2451
sharold@astoria.or.us

Building Project

Proposed Astoria Library Improvement Bond 

Building Project History

For many years, the City Council has declared a goal to create a 21st-century library in Astoria, either through new construction or renovation of the existing building. The current library building opened in 1967 and has not been significantly updated since. The building is aging and requires basic improvements to the plumbing, electrical, lighting, and heating/cooling systems. Additionally, the roof, which has been patched over the years, needs to be replaced and the flooring should be renewed.

In 2013, the Council engaged the services of library consultant Ruth Metz to conduct a needs assessment study. The study, which received input from several hundred Astoria residents, identified the following priorities:

  • More space dedicated to children, providing a place to engage in activities that develop language and literacy skills
  • Dedicated zones for children and teens, plus small and large meeting room spaces
  • Updated technology
  • More natural light
  • Spaces and activities that bring people together.   

In 2016 the Council voted 3-2 against building a new library in Heritage Square as part of a mixed-use project, citing cost concerns. The Council next looked at expanding into the old Waldorf Hotel, which shares a wall with the library. Preservationists spoke against the proposal and the Council decided not to move forward with this course of action. 

In 2017, the City contracted with David Wark, principal architect with Hennebery Eddy, to create conceptual plans for renovating the existing library building, using the Metz study as a starting point. He presented his plans to the Council in July 2018. The plans shed new light on the all of the possibilities and community programming that could be accomplished through a thoughtful renovation of the existing building. Especially attractive was the possibility of opening the buildings lower level and almost doubling the library’s public space.

In January 2022, the Council voted to make a final decision on the library by the end of the year. Depending on polling, the Council either would ask voters to consider approval of a bond measure for a full renovation, or would use cash on hand to remove the mezzanine and, to the extent possible, address basic items of deferred maintenance. 

Based on positive polling results, the Council, on June 20, 2022, voted to submit to the electors of the City the question of authorizing up to $8 million of General Obligation bonds to renovate the Astoria Public Library. The bond measure will appear on the November 2022 ballot. 

The total estimated cost of the renovation is $10 million. The City has $2.1 million in hand, plus $500,000 in a 3:1 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Logan Fund, which will be released if the bond passes. This leaves a balance of $8 million, the amount the Council will put forward in a ballot measure for a General Obligation Bond issuance over a maximum 21-year term. The estimated levy rate would be $0.57 per $1,000 assessed value (AV). 

 

July 2018 Conceptual Plans pdf Document


Search The Catalog


Connect with us

Location & Hours

Telephone: 503-325-7323
450 10th Street
Astoria, OR 97103

HOURS

Monday:9-1pm

Tuesday:9-5pm

Wednesday: 9-5pm

Thursday:9-5pm

Friday: 9-5pm

Saturday:9-1pm

Sunday: Closed

 

Library Interim Director

Suzanne Harold
503-298-2451
sharold@astoria.or.us