Multnomah County Library outlines staffing plan tied to $387 million bond, to finalize plan in January

Multnomah County Library Director Annie Lewis and Interim Deputy Director Dave Ratliff briefed the county board on the library’s “future staffing initiative,” saying the final staffing plan will be completed by mid to late January and integrated into the FY 2026 budget.

The library’s planning is driven by a December 2023 performance audit from the Multnomah County Auditor’s Office, which included recommendations 9 and 10 directing the library to develop a staffing plan to fully staff facilities when construction from the 2020 capital bond completes. “The final staffing plan however will be complete by mid to late January because it's inextricably tied to our budgeting process and we'll be submitting the staffing plan changes within the FY 26 budget submission,” Lewis said during the briefing.

The 2020 voter-approved capital bond (reported by library staff as $387,000,000) will expand building space and services; library leaders said the staffing plan is intended to ensure locations can remain open, provide security/"person in charge" coverage, and support culturally and linguistically appropriate services once new spaces open. Ratliff said the library’s work builds on…