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Library board reports record checkouts, plans student cards and library lockers
Summary
Milwaukie’s library board reported nearly 700,000 checkouts in 2025 (the highest since 2015), previewed student cards for K–12 being discussed with the North Clackamas School District and said the library has ordered two sets of external lockers to allow after‑hours holds and returns, with phased rollout and staffing constraints.
Brent Hajar, the library director, and Library Board members presented the board’s "Places, People and Plans" update at the March 10 study session. Hajar said the library recorded almost 700,000 checkouts in 2025, the most since 2015, and highlighted non‑book services: eBooks, a "library of things" (tools, musical instruments), community‑room programming and a small food pantry.
Board members described services designed to meet community needs beyond the physical building: study rooms (reservable online), a multiuse community room used for Narcan trainings and movie nights, and rotating art curated by the Arts Committee. The library foundation and Friends groups reported volunteer hours and bookstore fundraising (Friends reported raising more than $46,000 and 4,242 volunteer hours in the past year).
On future services, Hajar described early discussions with the North Clackamas School District on automatic student library cards for K–12 students (an "automatic data load" approach that would allow students electronic access and simplified checkouts). Staff said the idea is at an exploratory stage and raised privacy and data‑integration considerations; no implementation decision was made.
Hajar also reported the library has placed an order for two sets of external lockers to support after‑hours holds and returns. Staff said lockers will be treated as separate library locations in the system, will be rolled out thoughtfully (not seven‑day service initially) and will require limited operational changes. The board stressed a phased approach to staffing and site selection and noted the lockers complement other options (drive‑through returns, book returns) under consideration.
Board members said staff will continue to coordinate with the foundation and Friends to support programming and explore mobile services (book walkers and potential vehicle for outreach). The board also plans to present consolidated data on tree‑planting, permit trends and strategic planning topics in coming months.
