North Plains Public Library

About North Plains Public Library

On April 15, 2002, the City of North Plains established a North Plains Public Library Board to create Library policies and job descriptions and to work with the Friends on the City's behalf to open the Library. The Friends began pulling together donations and making purchases to make the 590-sq.-ft converted janitor's closet of the Jessie Mays Community Hall into a library in February, 2003.

In April, 2004, Mr. Wayne Holm, CEO of Oregon-Canadian Forest Products, Inc., proposed to the North Plains City Council constructing a new 2,500-square-foot building to house the North Plains Public Library if other funds could be found for the land, interior furnishings and off-site improvements (street improvements, parking and landscaping). The Friends of the North Plains Public Library raised the funds necessary for the furnishings and off-site improvements. The Groundbreaking Ceremony was on April 28, 2005.

Mrs. Jeanie Holm organized an art project with the North Plains Elementary School and Evergreen Junior High School in the Fall of 2004. She worked with local artist Michael Orwick to prepare canvases with drawings depicting the history of the local area and with Jeff Upton from Glencoe High School who was the sole artist for the banner over the circulation desk. Mrs. Holm also coordinated the donation of artwork from Robert Weller, Michael Orwick and Debra Ramsey.

No public funds were used to construct the building. The City of North Plains has leased the land to the Friends of the North Plains Public Library for a nominal fee and the City will participate in the future operation costs. The Grand Opening of the new building was April 29, 2006. On July 1, 2007, North Plains Public Library became a full member of Washington County Cooperative Library Services.