Manzanita celebrates its
‘library of the future’
After an extensive renovation, the North Tillamook Library will hold a Grand Reopening celebration March 12
T
he value of a public library goes
beyond shelves full of books
and banks of computers. Residents of
smaller North Coast communities rely on
libraries as hubs to gather and learn, ex-
plore, interact and imagine.
To ensure that it would continue to be
a hub for the area it serves — Manzanita, Ne-
halem and Wheeler — North Tillamook Li-
brary in Manzanita recently underwent an ex-
tensive renovation. With a Grand Re-opening
Celebration set for Saturday, March 12, North
Tillamook Library patrons are eager for their
“library of the future.”
The Manzanita branch of the Tillamook
Library System opened in 1987. Nearly 30
years later, the building had become a bit
dog-eared, not unlike many of the books lin-
ing its shelves: worn furniture, old carpet-
ing, outdated heaters, limited technology.
In addition, the entire west corner of the
building needed leveling after settling about
three inches.
North Tillamook Library Friends, an
all-volunteer organization that owns and
maintains the building, realized that a few
cosmetic ¿xes wouldn¶t suf¿ce if the library
was going to last another 30 years.
“It really kicked off in 2014 when we
participated in the Library Of The Future
Project,” says Kay Stepp, board president of
the North Tillamook Library Friends.
The project, run by Tillamook County
Library, was a study that discussed what li-
braries are becoming and how communities
are developing them.
“We realized that libraries were becom-
ing more than just a repository for books,”
Stepp says, adding that it had become ap-
parent that the digital world was coming to
libraries.
“People come to the library with their de-
vices to work, study and research,” she says.
Besides gearing up for increased demand
for technology, the library also wanted to
enhance its ability to offer a variety of edu-
cational programs.
Coastal Life
Story by DAN HAAG
4 | March 10, 2016 | coastweekend.com
Submitted photo
The renovation of the North TIllamook Library in Manzanita will
culminate in a Grand Reopening celebration at 3 p.m. Saturday,
March 12.
Submitted photo
Volunteers removed nearly 10,000 books from North Tillamook
Library in preparation for the extensive remodel.
Submitted photo
Photo by Dan Haag
Much of North Tillamook Library’s furniture, fixtures and light-
ing hadn’t been replaced since the building opened in 1987.
New furniture and lighting lend a comfortable feel to the
North Tillamook Library in Manzanita.
With these things in mind, renovating and
modernizing the building dovetailed into
one project.
The project to-do list was extensive, and,
luckily, the Library Friends had received a
$50,000 bequest from the estate of Linda
Anne Easley, a part-time Manzanita resident
and former Multnomah County librarian.
“It was a spark-plug; it told us ‘we can do
this,¶” Stepp says.
The bequest allowed the Library Friends
to attract grants from the Oregon Cultural
Trust, Ford Family Foundation, and Samuel
S. Johnson Foundation, as well as donations
from community members.
The project got underway in early Jan-
uary with volunteers removing 10,000
books. Fresh paint brightened the interior,
along with new carpeting, furniture, book-
shelves, USB ports, computer stations, and
eco-friendly lighting.
A large screen television was installed
to stream educational programming, and a
meeting room was recon¿gured to accom-
modate 50 people.
“We envision the room being a really ac-
tive place for programs,” Stepp says.
One program on the horizon is what
Stepp calls a “technology lab” where pa-
trons can bring
in their elec-
tronic
devic-
es and receive
instruction on
their use.
Even with
the unpredict-
able nature of
remodeling, the
project was on
time and within
the budget.
“So
many
wonderful peo-
ple came out
and made con-
tributions to keep the project going,” Stepp
says.
That included board member Lee Hilten-
brand, who served as general contractor for
the project.
“Lee donated his time as general con-
tractor, something that allowed us to do
more in terms of investing in the facility,”
Stepp says, calling Hiltenbrand “volunteer
supreme.”
Beginning at 3 p.m. March 12, the grand
opening celebration will be an opportuni-
ty for library friends and patrons to gather,
share refreshments, listen to guest speakers,
and admire the facility.
In a nod to Easley, who played the ¿ddle
and often invited other ¿ddlers to her Man-
zanita home, eight ¿ddlers will perform at
the celebration.
“She was a member of the Oregon Old-
Time Fiddlers, her other passion in addition
to libraries,” Stepp says of Easley.
As the project draws to a close and the
re-opening approaches, Stepp is proud of
how so many people pulled together to real-
ize a shared vision.
“We have taken a big step in making a
very technology-friendly library,” she says.
“This is going to be a place where people
can gather and learn together for now and
for the future.”
‘We have
taken a
big step
in making
a very
technology-
friendly
library.’