Library services in the neighborhood date back to at least 1903, with a deposit station. St. Johns Library opened at its current library location in 1914. The building was designed by architects Folger Johnson and Donald Mayer. St. Johns Library is one of the remaining Carnegie libraries in Oregon.
Milestones
2020 Multnomah County voters pass library bond, funding expansion and renovation of several libraries. St. Johns Library will be renovated and expand its current space by nearly 3,000 square feet.
2001 The renovated library reopened on February 13.
2000 St. Johns Library closed for renovation on March 19. Updates included new plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems.
1996 Multnomah County voters passed a $29 million general obligation bond measure to renovate deteriorating branch libraries and improve technology in all branch libraries. St. Johns Library was one of four branches designated on the ballot to receive special attention.
1985 St. Johns Library was refurbished and a new exterior ramp for accessibility to people with disabilities was added.
Mid-1960s The development plan called for replacement of University Park and St. Johns buildings with a larger, more modern library. However, the community did not favor replacing their historical Carnegie building and the plan was dropped.
1953 Library Association of Portland Director Bernard Van Horne began developing a long-range plan for library development. Following the national trend, he planned to have fewer but larger branches in some areas of Multnomah County. A new main branch was designated for the Peninsula.
1940s During the war (1939 - 1945), the Ration Board operated out of St. Johns Library. At that time, every American family was issued a series of ration books, and they couldn’t buy certain goods without this. The library did its part by being the location where the ration books were distributed in the area.
1918 A baby clinic opened in St. Johns Library.
1913 St. Johns Library opened on November 22.
1912 The land for St. Johns Library was the generous gift of Mr. M.L. Holbrook. The Carnegie Corporation funded the building.
1907 Five “reading rooms” opened in various Multnomah County locations, including the St. Johns area. The St. Johns Reading Room opened in a rented building on Jersey Street, as did the Peninsular Reading Room. The St. Johns Reading Room closed the following year, but the Peninsular Reading Room stayed open until the St. Johns library opened.
1905 The deposit station was discontinued.
1903 Peninsular Station provided the first public library service for North Portland’s Peninsula neighborhood with a “deposit station.” It was one of 11 locations in Multnomah County that provided a small collection of books somewhere other than a library building.