You may have noticed some recent changes around our building, so
let me start with the "elephant in the library"—the meeting room. In
February, a leak was discovered coming up through the basement
floor. Thankfully, no library materials were damaged as the room is
mostly empty and ready to be used for programs. However, water
intrusion in the basement of our 113-year-old building is a concern.
Air-quality testing has been completed, and I’m happy to report that there’s no cause for concern, either in the meeting room or elsewhere in the library. While I wish I could provide a definitive timeline for when the meeting room will be available again, we are still exploring solutions. At this stage, all potential fixes will require us to keep the meeting room closed for several months. We’ll keep you updated as we move forward.
If you've seen the north side of the library (facing the Chehalem Cultural Center), you’ve probably noticed that the steps have been removed. As I write this, the ramp is being poured. We’re thrilled about this change as there has never been a safe way for people with mobility issues to exit the upstairs in case of an emergency. This was identified as a priority during our 2024 accessibility audit, and we’re excited to see it happening!
You may also have noticed on the south side of the library that we’ve removed the concrete wall, creating a much nicer open space in front of the original Carnegie doors. The concrete wall separating the library from the road has also been trimmed down to improve visibility. These changes are part of our ongoing efforts to improve safety around the library. This new design also offers a better view of our historic building, and with the restoration of the original doors and windows last year, we’ve reduced road noise inside.
As we continue to update the library and create better spaces for everyone, we’ll keep you posted. Thank you for your continued support of the Newberg Public Library!
