The Albina Library is a branch of the Multnomah County Library, located in northeast Portland, Oregon.[1] The library's origins date back to 1906 with the establishment of a small reading room that housed 100 books. The branch has relocated four times since then, moving back to the building which used to house The Title Wave Used Bookstore from a retail plaza in northeast Portland.

Albina Library
Building exterior in 2018
Albina Library is located in Portland, Oregon
Albina Library
General information
Address216 NE Knott Street
Town or cityPortland, Oregon
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45°32′30″N 122°39′47″W / 45.5416469°N 122.6630755°W / 45.5416469; -122.6630755
OwnerMultnomah County Library
Renovating team
Architect(s)Richard Brown Architects (exterior) and Thomas Hacker and Associates (interior)
Website
Albina Library

The branch offers the Multnomah County Library catalog of two million books, periodicals and other materials.[1]

History

edit

Albina Library was established in 1906 as a small reading room which housed 100 books under the custodianship of Mrs. P.P. Leche.[2] According to Multnomah County Library, the precise location of the reading room is unknown and circulation records for 1906 do not exist. In September 1907 the library relocated to a larger space within the Emporium building on Williams Avenue. The Library Association of Portland's 1907 annual report states, "... on September 16, the branch was opened in charge of Miss Ella G. Dewart. The eagerness with which the people of Albina young and old have taken advantage of this library has been a surprise even to those who believed most thoroughly in it. It has been almost impossible to keep the shelves supplied with books."[2] In 1909 the library moved to Russell Street; by the end of the year the collection contained 3,149 volumes and circulation increased to 36,800 items.[2]

In 2009, the library closed briefly for a remodeling of the staff workroom.[3] Self-checkout stations and security gates were installed in 2010.[4][5]

Over the years the library has hosted numerous activities, including arts and crafts workshops,[6][7] book groups,[8] performances for children,[7] plays and reading sessions with therapy dogs.[9][10] The library has also served as a Loaves & Fishes meal site as well as a ballot drop-off site during elections.[11][12]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Albina Library". Multnomah County Library. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Albina Library History". Multnomah County Library. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  3. ^ "Albina Library closed July 28–30". Multnomah County Library. July 2, 2009. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "Albina Library Closed Nov. 16 for Equipment Installation". Multnomah County Library. October 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  5. ^ Buxton, Matt (November 12, 2010). "Albina Library to Close for Day While New Book Scanners and Security Are Installed". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  6. ^ "How to Hide Things in a Book". Multnomah County Library. 2012. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Celebrate the Month of the Young Child at Your Library!". Multnomah County Library. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012. Note: For arts and crafts workshops, see "The Art of Bookmaking with Recycled Materials". For performances for children, see "A Rhythmic Road Trip Around Brazil".
  8. ^ "Book Groups". Multnomah County Library. 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  9. ^ "Hep Cats & Hound Dogs". The Portland Mercury. Portland, Oregon: Index Publishing. 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  10. ^ "Read to the Dogs". Multnomah County Library. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  11. ^ "Loaves & Fishes Meal Sites" (PDF). Multnomah County Library. August 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  12. ^ Brown, Ruth (May 15, 2012). "Voted Yet? Find an Election Ballot Drop Box Site in Portland". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2012-10-30. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
edit