[October 11, 2024]
A “refreshed” Hillsdale Library quietly reopened on August 20 after a months-long closure. The 20th was a soft opening not widely announced, but a few eager patrons were there nevertheless to experience the new space before the official reopening a few days later.
Scarlett Guggenheim and her father, Adam, learned of the opening while visiting another branch, making an excited pilgrimage on August 20th to Hillsdale’s newly reopened location. A sixth-grader at Robert Gray, Scarlett said she looked forward to making an after-school visit to the library a part of her new school-day routine. Daughter and father are both very happy with the new configuration, describing it as very light and open. “Seems like a great spot for the community,” they agreed.
After the long closure, Hillsdale resident Elana Emlen is relieved to have the local branch back in operation. "I didn't realize how much I would miss it! It turns out that the Hillsdale branch library is a big part of my regular routine." The new interior book return adds an element of unexpected fun: "I like how it sucks the book right out of my hand!" she said.
The most obvious changes patrons will notice are the wide-open spaces with more seating areas and new comfortable furniture that can be easily moved. Stacks have been removed or lowered to create the more expansive feeling, making more space for the children’s area, a larger teen area, and multiple general-purpose seating areas.
Branch manager Amy Miller is particularly pleased to see more room for the teen space, which, she said, is always in heavy use outside of school hours. Behind the scenes, a new sorting machine sorts returns and incoming holds by shelving location in the library, making reshelving more efficient for staff.
Space for Lucky Day titles, new and popular books available with no holds and no wait, has been expanded, increasing your luck in the hunt for fresh reading material.
EV-chargers in the parking lot are up and running, one in an ADA stall three more in standard stalls. Charging is paid for and accessed through Plugshare.com.
Coincidentally, along with the refresh comes a new youth librarian, Laura Cook, who is in charge of teen and kids’ books and activities at Hillsdale. Also new to the branch is Jess Reeves, who joins the staff as Black Cultural Library Advocate overseeing a Black Resources Collection highlighting black authors and the lived experience of the African Diaspora.
Fewer stacks means fewer books–about 20% fewer books than before. While it might seem odd to remove books from a library, Liz Sauer, communications manager for the library system, says 39% of physical library materials are checked out using the online hold system, which allows patrons to check out books that are held anywhere in the system, not just at their local branch. And many more library resources are purely digital with the rising popularity of electronic and audiobooks.
The Hillsdale Story Steps previously found in the children’s area, have been transformed into a wall art piece behind the circulation desk. Created by artists Anne Storrs and Michael McCallister, the Steps were a gift to the library from Jon Hanifin in honor of his wife Ginny. Furniture at the tech bar (and at staff stations at circulation desk) is height adjustable.
If you haven’t been to a library in a while you might not have noticed, but services offered at today’s libraries extend way beyond books. Programs support basic skills education for adults, job search, and English language learning, among others. A “tech bar” in Hillsdale provides computers, scanners, copiers and free laser printing. Community Rooms, previously known as “study rooms,” are small quiet spaces with doors that close for small groups to meet or work together.
The refresh was funded by the 2020 Multnomah County Library capital bond. In all, when completed in 2026 the project will cover three new library buildings, renovations and expansions of five existing buildings, “refresh” projects at 10 additional libraries including Hillsdale, gigabit internet speed at all locations, and the construction of a brand new materials-handling facility where materials and are stored and circulated to branches as requested.
Multnomah County Library is conducting an online patron survey until October 18.
Good to know
Hillsdale Branch hours:
Monday 10am-6pm
Tuesday 10am-8pm
Wednesday, Thursday 12pm-8pm
Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
Community Rooms can be reserved up to a week in advance on a paper sign-up sheet outside the rooms.
Learn about events at the Hillsdale library here, where you can filter by location to find just Hillsdale events. On the calendar now are toddler storytimes, Lego Club, Halloween-themed events and story times, local author talks, and art activities for November’s Native American Heritage Month.
Get a library card online at and then check out My Discovery Pass, a partnership between Multnomah County Library and other local organizations offering free educational and cultural experiences to Multnomah County Library cardholders.
—Valeurie Friedman
How do you use the library? Let us know.