Multnomah County library officials are not funding interim library services for the recently closed St. Johns Library branch, while spending $366,000 for interim services at the Belmont Library branch in SE Portland. Both libraries are closed for renovation. The St. Johns Library will be closed at least until spring 2026.
“The decision to [offer] temporary service during Belmont’s construction was driven by the fact that Belmont processed 340,000 check outs” last year (while St. Johns had 115,000),” explained Shawn Cunningham, Library communication manager. The alternate Belmont facility covers services such as hold pick-ups, 24/7 book returns, and free printing. Also the library’s collection of new and popular Lucky Day books are available with no holds and no wait.
In contrast, County Library Director, Annie Lewis, has offered no nearby alternative for St. Johns Library patrons. Instead, she has suggested that they travel four miles to the Kenton Library or six miles to NW Portland library to return or pick-up books.
Advocates point out that the St. Johns Library serves the largest geographic area of any library in the city. It includes Sauvie Island, Linnton, and a large portion of North Portland. Traveling such distances to other libraries will create extra hardships for library users who lack transportation. Another concern is that while the County is spending nearly $9,000 per month to rent an alternative library space for Belmont patrons, it appears to be unwilling to spend far less, $2,000 to $2,500, on plentiful empty commercial space that could house an alternative library for North Portlanders.
The North Peninsula Review has asked the two candidates for the Multnomah County Commission District 2 seat representing North/NE Portland for their opinions on the discrepancy.
“If elected to the County Commission,” said Sam Adams, “I will propose a resolution directing the library leadership to explain, at a public board meeting with public testimony, why they have not provided an interim facility for St. Johns, as they have for other neighborhoods. If their reasoning is unsatisfactory,” he added,” I will introduce an ordinance requiring the library administration to fund an interim St. Johns library facility.
Singleton said, “We must see better transparency from the County Commission…and it is vitally important that county funding is distributed equitably across the community. I would like to examine the details further.”
When asked for comment, incumbent District 2 Commissioner Jesse Beason and County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson did not respond before the deadline.