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271:. The entire roof of the building was removed and completely rebuilt, while the interior was remodeled and restored. During the renovation, the library collection was moved to the nearby Fifth Avenue Building (the former State Office Building). Library patrons still had access to the collection during the reconstruction. The Central Library was closed in March 2023 to undergo a refresh, which maintained the core characteristics while providing more functional spaces. It was reopened in February 2024.
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296:. The main staircase at the library has a total of 92 steps. Artwork at the location includes the "Tree of Knowledge" by Dana Louis. The exterior walls are covered with Wilkinson Sandstone. Interior details include extensive use of marble and wood. The branch contains 125,000 square feet (11,600 m) of space spread over the five floors and two basements, three floors of which are open to the public.
307:
Art and Music
Library. Other features include the Sterling Room for Writers, the Collins Gallery on the third floor, and the John Wilson Room. The first floor houses two conference rooms available for public use. The library's collections weigh more than 875 tons and take up 17 miles (27 km) of
266:
as the
Central Building, Public Library on June 11, 1979. On July 1, 1990, the private Library Association of Portland officially transferred ownership of the library to Multnomah County. From 1902 until that date, the association owned the collections and buildings, but the operations were paid for
246:
The
Library Association of Portland was formed in 1864. After going through several locations during the first half-century of existence, the library board decided on a new large main branch for downtown Portland in 1911. The building was designed by architect
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Gunselman, Cheryl. Pioneering Free
Library Service for the City, 1864–1902: The Library Association of Portland and the Portland Public Library.
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design of the interior. Construction on the building lasted for two years and cost $ 480,000 to complete. Librarian
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Insiders' Guide to
Portland, Oregon: Including the Metro Area and Vancouver, Washington. Insiders' Guide Series.
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The
Library Association of Portland's 1893 library, on Stark and Broadway. Designed by Chamberlain and Whidden.
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251:, and opened on September 6, 1913. It was one of the first libraries in the United States to feature an
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by the local governments. From 1994 to 1997, the
Central Library underwent an extensive renovation and
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Portland's
Architectural Heritage: National Register Properties of the Portland Metropolitan Area
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547:"Downtown Portland's Central Library reopens with decor, tech and restroom upgrades"
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shelf space. A total of 130 computer terminals are available to the public.
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Haight, Abby. Explorer chronicles city's thigh-busting public stairways.
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Libraries on the
National Register of Historic Places in Oregon
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402:, September 22, 2002. Pg. 320 Vol. 103 No. 3 ISSN 0030-4727
77:
1415:
National
Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon
472:. Portland, Or: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 124.
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Buildings and structures in Southwest Portland, Oregon
689:
Multnomah County Library. Retrieved on March 13, 2008.
435:
Multnomah County Library. Retrieved on March 13, 2008.
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348:
Portland Historic Landmarks Commission (July 2010),
1318:
History of the National Register of Historic Places
292:Architecturally, the building was designed in the
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559:Gragg, Randy. The Dance of the White Elephant.
206:is a three-story public library branch in the
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389:. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 147–148.
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728:"Central Library (Multnomah County Library)"
490:Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department
413:"Central Library (Multnomah County Library)"
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994:
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516:Nokes, R. Gregory. Seeing past the slump.
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16:Library building in Portland, Oregon, U.S.
1017:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
613:Guilford, Conn: Insiders' Guide. p. 141.
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704:Central Library: Portland's Crown Jewel
589:Graff, Randy. Collecting on the cheap.
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661:"Locations | Multnomah County Library"
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351:Historic Landmarks -- Portland, Oregon
325:"National Register Information System"
262:The Central Library was listed on the
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632:"Framework for Future Library Spaces"
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533:"Building Belonging: Central Library"
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1372:National Register of Historic Places
755:Central Library: 100 years in photos
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447:Gragg, Randy. Recycling the Armory.
330:National Register of Historic Places
264:National Register of Historic Places
224:National Register of Historic Places
1400:Library buildings completed in 1913
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30:Central Building, Public Library
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492:. July 16, 2007. Archived from
483:"Oregon National Register List"
621:. Retrieved on March 13, 2008.
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259:provided input on the design.
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1430:Libraries established in 1913
1420:1913 establishments in Oregon
1405:Libraries in Portland, Oregon
741:from Multnomah County Library
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387:Dictionary of Oregon History
19:United States historic place
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1445:Portland Historic Landmarks
1285:National Historic Landmarks
433:About the library: History.
400:Oregon Historical Quarterly
303:Children's Library and the
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609:Dresbeck, Rachel. (2007).
385:Corning, Howard M. (1989)
299:The branch is home to the
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222:building was added to the
46:Portland Historic Landmark
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1410:Multnomah County Library
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216:Multnomah County Library
170:Architectural style
128:45.519140°N 122.683202°W
1295:National Historic Sites
974:Portland Public Library
739:Central Library History
733:The Oregon Encyclopedia
1313:Keeper of the Register
946:Montavilla (1935–1981)
706:. Library Foundation.
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283:sculpture in the lobby
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133:45.519140; -122.683202
1425:A. E. Doyle buildings
1333:Contributing property
565:, September 15, 2002.
453:, September 24, 2006.
335:National Park Service
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218:system. In 1979, the
147:1 acre (0.40 ha)
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269:seismic retrofitting
1290:Bridges and Tunnels
1269:South and Southwest
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95:801 SW 10th Avenue
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1328:Historic district
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832:Fairview-Columbia
337:. March 13, 2009.
257:Mary Frances Isom
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745:Official site
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665:multcolib.org
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592:The Oregonian
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577:The Oregonian
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562:The Oregonian
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519:The Oregonian
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499:on 2011-06-09
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196:June 11, 1979
195:
193:Added to NRHP
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1360:Architecture
917:Albina (old)
826:
822:Capitol Hill
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668:. Retrieved
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643:. Retrieved
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494:the original
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1278:Other lists
976:(1891–1902)
955:(1943–1948)
940:(1913–1990)
934:(1911–1967)
928:(1912–1971)
360:October 31,
249:A. E. Doyle
164:A. E. Doyle
131: /
119:122°41′00″W
107:Coordinates
1394:Categories
1204:Washington
1104:Hood River
670:2024-07-24
503:2008-03-10
312:References
116:45°31′09″N
1264:Southeast
1259:Northwest
1254:Northeast
1179:Tillamook
1164:Multnomah
1119:Josephine
1114:Jefferson
1079:Deschutes
1049:Clackamas
1031:by county
902:Woodstock
897:Troutdale
892:St. Johns
877:Northwest
857:Hollywood
847:Hillsdale
253:open plan
160:Architect
1240:Portland
1184:Umatilla
1059:Columbia
926:Brooklyn
882:Rockwood
798:Branches
645:July 23,
468:(1991).
187:79002129
91:Location
1346:Portals
1214:Yamhill
1209:Wheeler
1194:Wallowa
1174:Sherman
1149:Malheur
1139:Lincoln
1124:Klamath
1109:Jackson
1089:Gilliam
1084:Douglas
1054:Clatsop
967:Related
953:Vanport
943:Lombard
867:Midland
852:Holgate
842:Gresham
827:Central
817:Belmont
805:Current
288:Details
234:History
226:as the
1384:Oregon
1159:Morrow
1154:Marion
1099:Harney
1044:Benton
1021:Oregon
921:Arleta
911:Former
862:Kenton
812:Albina
710:
617:
1249:North
1242:lists
1199:Wasco
1189:Union
1094:Grant
1074:Curry
1069:Crook
1039:Baker
1029:Lists
635:(PDF)
497:(PDF)
486:(PDF)
355:(XLS)
152:Built
102:97205
1169:Polk
1144:Linn
1134:Lane
1129:Lake
1064:Coos
708:ISBN
647:2024
615:ISBN
362:2013
202:The
155:1913
144:Area
1019:in
730:in
210:of
182:No.
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