Library Expansion

Brief Description

On July 12, 2017, the City Council voted to move the Library  to the 501 Building.  After much work and planning over two years, the Library Commission decided it was more cost effective to expand the current Library building.

  1. Consultant for Needs Assessment

    The process has begun to find a consultant to conduct a needs assessment for the library. nce the selection is made the assessment should be completed within four months. Read on...

  2. City Rejects Bid & Agrees to Pursue Needs Assessment

    The Library Commission presented their recommendation to the City Council to reject the current bid of $320,000 to complete the proposed expansion in favor of conducting a needs assessment and proposing a different plan for expansion. Read on...

  3. Library Receives Generous Gift in Memory of Bent E Petersen

    Marg Peterson has generously gifted $150,000 and an extensive private library collection to the Library in memory her husband, Bent E. Petersen. Read on...
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Detailed History

On July 12, 2017, the City Council passed a motion to move the Library to the 501 Building.   A new 2+2 Committee was formed consisting of two Councilors and two Library Commission members to develop ideal plans for a Library in the 501 Building.

Major steps in the process included:

  • November 2017:  Grant Writer, Meredith Howell, with support from the Friends of the Yachats Library, proposed a series of grants to help defray the costs of moving the Library.
  • December 2017-February 2018: Council and 2+2 Committee worked out lines of communications and funding plans and use of the Hall Bequest Funds in the project.
  • Spring 2017: Structural assessment made on 501 Building and current Library Building.  Cracks in 501 Building foundation noted which will need further assessment and repair.  Cracks were sanded and filled in June.
  • July 2018: Estimates to move to 501 Building were upwards of $750,000.  2+2 Committee reconvened to explore options to both expand the current Library building  and make a more economical move to the 501 Building.
  • October 2018: The City received conceptual drawings for five versions of having the Library in the 501 Building and five versions of expanding the current Library building.
  • November 2018: The Library Commission recommended to only pursue expansion of the current Library building.