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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 2021)
Page 8 Back to School special edition September 8, 2021 Back to its Roots Continued from Page 3 utilizing two adjacent properties the library system already owns, and just what will be included will be up to the public, Arizaga said, and plans are still being formulat- ed. “I don’t know the format for community engagement and we’re exploring virtual or outdoor gatherings,” he said. “We know li- braries but the community knows what they need and what they want. That will guide our team of architects and are currently work- ing with an architecture firm that is working it out, but COVID is making it harder.” The history of the Albina Li- brary began in 1906 according to the county’s library website at multolib.org, with Mrs. P.P. Leche serving as its first librarian in a small reading room, location un- known, with about 100 books. In September of 1907, the li- brary moved to a larger space on Williams Avenue, which was a big success: “The eagerness with which the people of Albina, young and old, have taken advantage of this library has been a surprise even to those who believed most thor- oughly in it,” the website states. “It has been almost impossible to keep the shelves supplied with books.” The use of the library contin- ued to grow and in 1909 moved to larger quarters on Russell Street. By the end of the year there were 2,149 volumes in its collection and circulation had increased to 26,800 items. But usage declined, according to a June 2020 article in the Or- egonian, and in 1960 the library was closed down. In 1967 a new Albina Library was opened at the corner of Van- couver Avenue and Beech Street. But usage continued to decline, and in 1977 the Library Associ- Dementia Continued from Page 5 learn about the disease, get sup- port from friends and family, and take frequent breaks when pos- sible. Exercising, eating healthy foods, and spending time with friends can help caregivers stay healthy. Support is available from the Multnomah County Caregiv- er Support Program (503-988- 3646), the Alzheimer’s Asso- ciation (1-800-272-3900) and Oregon Care Partners (oregon- carepartners.com) which offers free online classes. At the Layton Aging and Alz- heimer’s Disease Center, we en- courage Black families to engage ation of Portland Board voted to move the library to its sixth home at 15th and Fremont. Some say that all that moving around was a disservice to the predominantly African American community of Northeast Portland. Now by moving the library from the Sabin neighborhood to the Eliot neighborhood it will tie into the library system’s goal of focusing on equity for marginalize communities. The Eliot neighborhood is re- ported to have a higher propor- tion of people in poverty, people of color, people who speak a lan- guage other than English at home, households relying on food bene- fits, households with limited/no internet, higher unemployment and lower median income. Connection to the community is vital, Arizaga said, because a library is so much more than just books. “The library serves another space — not home, work or school — that is a functional part of their lives,” he said. “So we are looking at flexibility, modularity, shifting areas and means so we can contin- ue to adapt to the community.” An after hours gathering space and constantly evolving technolo- gy are two areas being considered, he said. “We are trying to think of ways to bring in programs and what they need,” he said. “That means more technology and preparing for the next wave of technology and workforce technology train- ing. There’s also a lot of knowl- edge out in the community, and we could be bringing those ex- perts to the library.” Libraries everywhere have gone through big changes in the last 10 or 15 years, Arizaga said, becoming “extremely creative” with ideas such as teen spaces and maker spaces. But above all, he said, one thing is true, that “Libraries are for peo- ple.” in our research programs, such as the African American Dementia and Aging Project (AADAPt) and our caregiver studies. For more information about these offerings, please call 503- 494-7647. Caring for a family member with dementia is chal- lenging but important work. Caregivers deserve the support of families, communities and the state and the nation. If you care for someone with dementia, thank you for all you do. Allison Lindauer, PhD, APRN, Associate Professor and Out- reach, Recruitment and Educa- tion Leader for the Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Oregon Health and Science University, provided this import- ant information.
