New Library or Remodel the Old One?
- Derrith Schmidt
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
I'm reposting a letter by Glenn Newman that was published in the LO Review on August 15, 2026 because I thought he made several interesting points worthy of sharing and discussing. And his letter provoked some ideas I've been wondering about for what we could do to innovate within budget without the need for a taxpayer-funded bond.
Glenn, an attorney in LO, wrote in his opinion piece: "We want our leaders to be bold and forward-looking. Leaders want to leave a legacy of their time in public office.
But in their desire for a legacy, some leaders confuse arrogance for boldness. And they too often equate legacy with construction projects, the bigger the better.
The pharaohs had their pyramids. Our president may soon have his ballroom. And Lake Oswego city councilors are rushing headlong to build their own monument, a new library and community center in Lake Grove (Editor’s note: the city has not agreed to plans for the future of library services nor a location for a possible new library. However one of its 2026 goals is to “develop a strategy for an expanded and modern library facility, prioritizing the West side of town and urban renewal funding options, allowing it to serve as an all-ages and all-activities community center.”).
Lake Oswego has a library. A good one. Beloved. Our library is showing its age. It needs improvements, seismic and otherwise. But nothing that can’t be fixed with some tender love and care (according to Lake Oswego’s 2024 assessment, the current building can be renovated and improved for $9.7–$10.5 million — not chump change but a fraction of the cost of building a new library). Our existing Lake Oswego Library will never be an imposing physical edifice. But it is, and can remain for years to come, a place for learning and gathering.
To justify the demolition of the library and its relocation, our city leaders contend that the library should be situated in a more central location. The City Council may need to be reminded that, thanks to their visionary efforts over decades, First Addition has become the beating heart of Lake Oswego in every way except geographically. It’s home to an ever-increasing number of restaurants, shops and multifamily housing units, plus the newly remodeled Adult Community Center and Millennium Plaza Park with its popular farmer’s market and other events. First Addition is also the site of our new City Hall and where city services are delivered. Apparently First Addition is the ideal location for everything … except a library.
The other rationale given for demolition and relocation is that the current library is too small for our town’s current and projected needs. It is true that our cherished library gets a lot of use. Compared to neighboring towns, our library might be on the smaller side on a square foot-per-resident basis. But small doesn’t mean overcrowded. Our library is cozy. All the better for getting to know our neighbors.
Leaders should lead. But elected representatives in a democracy must first listen. The citizens of Lake Oswego are not clamoring for a giant new library across town. Quite the opposite. When the city surveyed the populace in 2022 about the library’s future, the consensus was clear: renovate the existing library (and, if feasible, add a branch on the westside).
So far our representatives have chosen to ignore the voice of the people. Instead they are advancing with a heavy hand towards an oversized and costly new library. The City Council has established a “Future Library Task Force” and a “Library Site Reuse Task Force” for community input but, as made plain in their very names, both are premised on demolition and relocation. In other words, they are a sham.
In this age of grandiosity, runaway development and authoritarian wannabeism, our city councilors could instead lead with humility, small “c” conservatism, and democratic revival by acting to preserve our much-loved current library. That would be a legacy worth having.
Glenn Newman is a Lake Oswego resident."
His point that made me stop and think, "Yes, that's true" was this:
"The citizens of Lake Oswego are not clamoring for a giant new library across town. Quite the opposite. When the city surveyed the populace in 2022 about the library’s future, the consensus was clear: renovate the existing library (and, if feasible, add a branch on the westside)."
When I volunteered for the team to get the Bond passed for the new Southshore Fire Station rebuild, we heard from a lot of LO residents, "No more bonds. Our taxes and assessments are too high." The bond for the fire station passed but many people we talked to said, "That's it. No more bonds." The bond for the library last time it was on the ballot did not pass. And I doubt it would if it was on the ballot anytime soon.
At the Neighborhood Association Chairs meeting in July, Interim City Manager Lynn Peterson shared an update about the library...
Lynn shared that the City Council has decided to move the existing library to a new centrally located area hopefully within an urban renewal area. The Council has established two task forces to help with this.
One task force will focus on parameters for after the library has moved and what to do with the existing library land.
Our NA VP Jim Perris was elected by our OTNA Board to represent us on this task force.
NA members asked about preventing more “cottage clusters” without parking. Lynn explained there is no way to outlaw those type of developments but “we can create criteria within the RFP intent that whatever is built must meet characteristics of the First Addition neighborhood.”
The other task force is just being formed and will focus on creating a vision for the future library.
Lynn shared the library has $5 million - $3 million from years of not using the 15% contingency from their budget which rolls over each year and another $2 million in donations from Friends of the Library.
The new library can be funded through many sources: an estimated $10 million bond (“5 years away” Lynn thought), endowments, selling the existing land, and donations.
She said the impressive new Gresham Library was funded by a county bond for five libraries.
There was a lot of discussion among the NCC members with Lynn about why a new library was needed. Lynn explained it is 40 years old and suggested we invite Melissa, the Library Director, to come meet with us. She said Melissa has been touring libraries and gathering ideas about what's possible. Lynn said the Library team asked for a library that is approximately 20% larger and centrally located.
The City Council feels two libraries (updating the existing one in First Addition and adding a second location across town) is not feasible because it would be more expensive in staffing and other costs.
What Else I'm Wondering About...
We already have libraries throughout LO in each school. Could those be made available to neighbors?
The library has a roving van. Perhaps you've seen it up at the entrance to LORAC this summer. How is this working? Could this program be expanded to get books to people in all parts of the City at far less cost?
Our library cards allow us to go to other libraries. The West Linn library off of 43 is quite modern. You can reserve rooms and pods there as well as check out books. One of our neighbors works there. She said they do something my book club wished LO did: Book Club Bundles | Our Book Club Bundles make it easy to organize your own group!
Could the BOOKtique's two locations be considered libraries? Maybe a scholarship program for people who can't afford to buy their used/low cost books? https://www.thebooktique.org/
One location is downtown LO under City Hall
The other is across town at 4 Monroe Parkway across from the DMV
Their website is like an online store to buy books at low cost
Many neighborhoods have "little libraries", boxes that neighbors put books in for others to take for free. Could these be expanded?
Many people don't go to the library in person. They access books and magazines online through the library to read on their phones and Kindle devices. So do we really need a bigger library? What's it going to be like 20 or 30 years from now?
Could some of the new things people want in a library (places to go to work or read) be met through public places like LORAC or other public office spaces?
Many universities have buildings funded by wealthy individuals or companies that have their name on the building. Have people in this wealth category been approached about doing this for LO to build a new Library on the other side of town? Then the City could spend our tax money on remodeling the library in First Addition.
Could Children's story hours be done across town to make them more accessible for parents at schools, LORAC, other public buildings?
I think we need to "think outside of the box" for how to do more with the budget we have.
I believe "we are better together" so I want to hear from you about your thoughts and ideas. Send that here and I'll update this blog with reader comments/suggestions.
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