The Oregon City Library Foundation stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to literary advancement and educational resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has worked tirelessly to enhance library services, ensuring that knowledge and information remain accessible to all residents across the expansive 110 square mile service area. Through dedicated fundraising efforts and community partnerships, the Foundation continues to bridge gaps between resources and readers, fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
The Foundation’s work extends beyond the traditional walls of the library, embracing innovative approaches to reach underserved areas of the community. With initiatives like the “Beyond the Walls” campaign, the Oregon City Library Foundation demonstrates its understanding that a modern library must evolve to meet changing community needs.
By supporting outreach vehicles, book bikes, and other mobile resources, the Foundation ensures that geographic boundaries do not limit access to literary and educational opportunities that enrich lives and strengthen community bonds.
The Core of Oregon City: Introducing the Library Foundation
The Oregon City Library Foundation serves as the driving force behind many of the innovative services and programs offered by the Oregon City Public Library. Working in close partnership with the Friends of the Oregon City Public Library and city officials, the Foundation has established itself as a critical support system for ensuring the library’s continued growth and relevance.
Through strategic fundraising campaigns and community advocacy, the Foundation provides resources that extend beyond what public funding alone can accomplish, filling crucial gaps that allow the library to thrive as a central part of community life.
On April 3rd, the Foundation celebrated a significant milestone with the unveiling of the new Book Bike. This mobile library service represents just one aspect of the Foundation’s commitment to meeting readers where they are. This celebration marked the introduction of a new outreach tool and the kickoff of an ambitious $100,000 fundraising campaign to further expand the library’s reach throughout Oregon City.
The Foundation’s dedication to supporting these initiatives reflects its deep understanding of the changing role libraries play in modern communities—not just as repositories of books, but as centers of learning, connection, and community engagement.
Expanding Library Access
The “Beyond the Walls” initiative represents the Oregon City Library Foundation‘s forward-thinking approach to library services. This ambitious fundraising effort aims to secure resources for a customized outreach vehicle that will transform how library services reach the community.
The van will serve as a mobile extension of the library, traveling throughout the 110-square-mile service area, including unincorporated regions that might otherwise have limited access to library resources. This innovative approach recognizes that in today’s world, libraries must extend beyond physical buildings to serve all community members truly.
With partial funding already secured through commitments from the City of Oregon, the Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Library, the campaign now turns to community investment to bring this vision to full fruition. The mobile library will offer books, digital resources, programming, and technology assistance directly to neighborhoods, schools, community centers, and areas with transportation challenges.
By literally meeting people where they are, the “Beyond the Walls” initiative embodies the Foundation’s commitment to removing barriers to information access and creating more equitable library services for all Oregon City residents.
A Vision for Community Connection
The Oregon City Library Foundation envisions a library that serves as more than just a repository of books—it aims to create a space where curiosity flourishes and diverse ideas converge. The Foundation’s vision statement captures this aspiration: dedicated to “opening the doors to all who are curious, creating a space for people and ideas to connect, and responding to information needs that are not yet envisioned.”
This perspective acknowledges both the library’s historical significance and its evolving role in a rapidly changing information landscape, making it “a place where the past and the future meet.”
To achieve this vision, the Foundation has established a clear mission focused on three key pillars: fundraising, advocacy, and community support. These interconnected efforts ensure that the Oregon City Public Library has not only the financial resources it needs to innovate and expand but also a strong voice advocating for its value in the community and a network of engaged citizens who recognize the library’s central role in community life.
By balancing these elements, the Foundation works to create a sustainable framework for library excellence that will benefit Oregon City residents for generations to come.
From Carnegie to Modern Day: The Library’s Evolution
The history of the Oregon City Public Library reflects a century-long commitment to serving the community’s evolving needs. Beginning with the grand opening of the Carnegie Building in June 1913, the library has undergone several transformations to accommodate its growing patronage and expanding services.
After serving as the city’s literary center for 82 years, the Carnegie Building could no longer accommodate the community’s needs, leading to a temporary relocation to Danielson’s Hilltop Mall in 1995. This 13,000 square foot leased facility represented a significant expansion, but would not serve as the library’s permanent home.
The library’s journey continued with a brief return to the historic Carnegie building in 2010 before entering into its most ambitious evolution yet. Following voter approval of the Clackamas County Library District in 2008, which provided stable funding and capital improvement opportunities, the city made the visionary decision to expand the original Carnegie Library.
Construction completed in October 2016 added 14,000 square feet to the historic structure, blending heritage architecture with modern functionality. Today, this reimagined space welcomes over 37,000 visitors monthly for storytimes, programs, research, and reading—a testament to the community’s enduring commitment to its library and the Foundation’s role in supporting this vital institution.
Supporting the Future of Oregon City’s Literary Legacy
The Oregon City Library Foundation continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring the library’s ability to serve future generations. As technology advances and community needs evolve, the Foundation’s fundraising efforts provide the flexibility and resources necessary for the library to adapt and innovate.
Current initiatives like the “Beyond the Walls” campaign demonstrate how community support through the Foundation translates directly into expanded services and greater accessibility for all residents. By contributing to these efforts, community members become active participants in shaping the future of Oregon City’s literary landscape.
For those inspired to support the Oregon City Library Foundation‘s mission, numerous opportunities exist to make a meaningful difference. Financial contributions to specific campaigns like “Beyond the Walls” help bring targeted initiatives to life, while general donations provide ongoing support for library enhancements beyond the scope of public funding.
Beyond financial support, community members can advocate for library services, volunteer their time and expertise, or engage with library programs and share their experiences with others. Through these collective efforts, Oregon City residents ensure that their library remains a responsive institution capable of meeting both current needs and future challenges, preserving and expanding the community’s literary legacy for generations to come.
