The Rockwood Library is a branch of the Multnomah County Library , located in Portland, Oregon . The branch offers the Multnomah County Library catalog of two million books, periodicals and other materials. The library also features a 30-person capacity meeting room for hosting community events at no charge on a first come, first served basis.
10-479: In 1961 the Library Association of Portland (LAP) examined library use compared to population demographics and recommended the construction of five additional branch buildings. Three buildings would consolidate six "inefficient" branches and one would replace an existing but outdated structure. The Rockwood Library was the only new building in the proposal that would not replace another branch. The LAP announced
20-635: A grant from the Library Services and Construction Act, which also paid for a reading center at the Central Library in downtown Portland. Rockwood was selected due to its proximity to the Mt. Hood Literacy Coalition Group, connected with Mt. Hood Community College and the Salvation Army . In 1999 the branch underwent renovation and expansion, opening on September 14 with 6,435 square feet (597.8 m) and
30-457: The 1990 opening of the new Gresham Library building (13 times the size of the building it replaced), the Midland was considered the second busiest in the county system, after Portland's Central Library . In 1993, Multnomah County voters agreed to spend $ 5.3 million for a new Midland Library building at the same site along S.E. 122nd Avenue. Thomas Hacker and Associates was the architectural firm for
40-541: The Multnomah County Library catalog of two million books, periodicals and other materials. Bookmobiles , reading rooms, and small branch libraries provided much of the public library service to Portland neighborhoods in the first half of the 20th century. A library study in 1955 recommended switching to a system of larger branches supported by sub-branches and bookmobiles. The large Midland branch opened at S.E. 122nd Avenue and S.E. Morrison Street in 1958 and
50-498: The Multnomah County system to implement a new RFID -based self-checkout system designed to reduce costs and theft of library materials. Over the years the library has hosted numerous activities, including computer classes, ESL classes, finance education classes, knitting groups, language exchange programs, and Spanish-speaking book clubs. The library has also been called a "safe and dry to hang out" space for teens. A majority of
60-454: The capacity to hold 30,000 volumes. Renovations were designed by Thomas Hacker and Associates; contract work was provided by Andersen Construction Co., Inc. In 2008, the library was reported to have about a dozen volunteers, many fluent in Spanish and Russian, available to assist library patrons. As of 2010, the library had about 10 tables and 15 computers. That year, Rockwood was the 12th library in
70-399: The contractor. The Rockwood Library was dedicated on April 10, 1963. The 5,724-square-foot (531.8 m) building housed a new collection of 12,000 books with the capacity to hold 20,000 volumes. Helen Gorder became the branch's first librarian. A reading center was established at the library in the late 1980s, to serve the needs of illiterate adults learning to read. The center was funded by
80-549: The purchase of a building site in April 1962. According to the LAP's 1962–63 annual report, "The Rockwood Branch, located about halfway between the Midland and Gresham branches, will serve a growing area with a population of over 20,000, a high percentage of which are children." The building was designed by Stewart, Richardson, Allen and McMath; Neilson Construction and Investment Company served as
90-550: The staff members are bilingual. Rockwood Library features Spanish and Russian literature. In 2011, The Oregonian reported that nearly 800 items are circulated by 600 people visiting the library daily. The newspaper also reported the library had a budget of $ 804,477. Midland Library The Midland Library is a branch of the Multnomah County Library , in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon . The branch offers
100-459: Was the second branch in the county system to serve suburban residents. Oregon authors present at its dedication included Stewart Holbrook , Dorothy Johansen , and others. The 5,600-square-foot (520 m ) building cost $ 90,000; it initially housed 12,000 volumes, with plans to extend the collection to 20,000. The building offered bicycle racks. By the early 1960s, the library floor area had been expanded to 6,580 square feet (611 m ). Until
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