Aloha Community Library receives $15,000 for preliminary design of new, larger building

Aloha Community Library summer reading program

Library patrons enjoy cotton candy at the Aloha Community Library's summer reading program kickoff party in June.

(Anna Marum/Beaverton Leader)

Three years ago, Aloha didn't have a library. But after tireless efforts from volunteers and community members, the Aloha Community Library opened its doors in September 2012 and has been growing ever since.

And now, Washington County has approved $15,000 in funding for a preliminary architectural design for a new library location.

According to a May request for the funding by the library’s budget committee, in less than a year of operation, the library has issued more than 1,100 library cards and increased circulation to more than 1,500 items per month. The library has more than 9,000 items in its collection, the request stated.

The library also hosts weekly events, like children's storytime in English and Spanish. These events often bring a couple dozen children and their parents – the library was nearly overflowing at a May 15 storytime.

Currently located at a 1,400 square-foot space in the strip mall at 17683 S.W. Farmington Rd., the library is clearly outgrowing its small confines.

The library association has identified a larger space nearby – its 6,500 square feet will increase the library’s collection size capacity to 30,000, according to the grant request. The request also states the new library will house 15 computers, more than twice the number available at the current location.

Doug Hoy, president of the library association’s board of directors, said he didn’t want to name the new location until the lease agreement is finalized.

But even when a lease agreement is reached, the work will just be starting – major renovations to the new building will be needed, and the library association expects it will need $515,000 for design, construction and furnishings by the end of 2014, according to the grant request.

Washington County Commissioners Dick Schouten and Andy Duyck have each allocated $7,500 to the library for preliminary design. The money, which totals $15,000, comes from Strategic Investment Program funding that had been earmarked for "public or private non-profit groups fulfilling a public purpose" in the county, wrote county spokeswoman Julie McCloud in an email.

Though $15,000 isn’t enough for a full design of the new building, Hoy said the library association will use the grant money to hire architects to create a preliminary draft of the design. The association will then present this architectural rendering, along with other marketing materials, to potential donors as members begin raising money for the design and construction costs, he said.

Hoy said the grant from the county is “fantastic,” and he and other association members hope to begin the process of designing and renovating the new building as soon as possible.

“My dream is that we’d be able to move in to that by late 2015,” he said.

-- Anna Marum

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