Salem Public Library
Old Salem library, ca. 1920

44°56′07″N 123°02′32″W / 44.93528°N 123.04222°W / 44.93528; -123.04222
Location	Salem, Oregon, United States
Type	Public library
Established	1904
Branches	2
Collection
Size	398,869 items
Access and use
Circulation	1,148,570
Population served	177,694
Members	51,953
Other information
Budget	$7,170,479
Employees	56
Website	cityofsalem.net/library
References: Oregon Public Library Statistics, 2021–2022^[1]

The Salem Public Library is a public library system serving Salem, Oregon, United States. The system includes two branches and is a member of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service, which serves the Salem metropolitan area.

History

The Salem Public Library was established by the Salem Woman's Club in May 1904, with 50 donated books,^[2] and located in the city council chamber beginning later that year. The library board appealed to industrialist Andrew Carnegie to fund the construction of a permanent library, and was granted $27,500. The library, located at the corner of State and Winter streets, opened on September 12, 1912.^[3]^[4]

The Salem Public Library was a founding member of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service, a regional reference and catalogue system serving the Mid-Willamette Valley area, when it began in 1974.^[5] In 2004, library supporters attempted to create a consolidated library district for Salem, to be funded by a permanent property tax, but were rejected by voters in the November 2004 election.^[6]

Main Library

The downtown library was relocated to a larger building in the new civic center on July 6, 1972.^[7] The library was closed in December 1989 to begin a $5 million renovation,^[8] which was completed on January 26, 1991, and added 35,000 square feet (3,300 m²) of space.^[9] A $18.6 million seismic and safety upgrade was completed in 2021.^[10]

West Salem Branch

The Salem Public Library opened a branch in West Salem on October 17, 1957, in the former West Salem city hall.^[11]^[12] The library moved to a larger, 5,400-square-foot (500 m²) facility at the Oak Hills Shopping Center on April 5, 1987.^[13]

References

^ "Oregon Public Library Statistics". Library Support and Development Services. 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
^ Thompson Jr., Dennis (May 22, 2004). "Library marks storied past". Statesman Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Salem Public Library". Salem Public Library. January 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
^ Zimmerman, Andy (March 24, 2017). "Heritage: Former library served Salem for decades". Statesman Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
^ "Regional Library Service to Start". The Oregon Statesman. June 30, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Thompson Jr., Dennis (November 3, 2004). "Salem Library District: Property-tax fee soundly defeated". Statesman Journal. p. 7S. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Blackenbaker, Ron (July 7, 1972). "Salem Library Opens in Civic Center". The Oregon Statesman. p. 26. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Decker, Christine (February 20, 1990). "Business booms at Salem library". Statesman Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Decker, Christine (January 25, 1991). "Soon Salem can check out library". Statesman Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Salem Public Library Seismic and Safety Upgrade Project". City of Salem. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
^ "Branch Library in West Salem Open". The Oregon Statesman. October 18, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "West Salem Library Job Brings Honor". The Oregon Statesman. October 2, 1957. p. 4. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Feldman, Stuart (April 6, 1987). "Library celebrates its gains". Statesman Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.