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Astoria Library board reviews reopening plans, proposed hours and teen space
Summary
At its June 3 meeting the Astoria Library Board heard a Director's report on renovation progress, discussed proposed new operating hours and teen-space arrangements ahead of reopening, approved routine meeting items, and received an update from the Astoria Library Friends Association about a matched grant for library programs.
The Astoria Library Board met June 3, 2025, at the Astoria Public Library and by remote video conferencing to review renovation and reopening plans and to hear an update from the library friends group.
Director Harold presented the Director's Report covering April–May renovation updates, programs and usage statistics, described the current temporary teen space and the teen space planned for the new building, and asked the board for feedback on proposed new operating hours once the renovation is complete (specific hours were not specified at the meeting). Board Member Liz Bartell said she had been "hearing excitement about the new library and questions about the teen space." The board approved the agenda as presented and approved the March 4 and April 1, 2025 meeting minutes; the minutes record those approvals but do not include vote tallies.
Board members questioned staff about staffing levels, the roles volunteers could play after reopening, availability of meeting rooms in the renovated facility, and whether the library should pursue a therapy dog program. Staff answered operational questions but no formal decisions or final staffing levels were adopted during the meeting. Director Harold asked board members to provide feedback on the proposed hours and signaled she would return with a more detailed recommendation.
During public comment, Pat Thomas, chair of the Astoria Library Friends Association (ALFA), said ALFA "would be receiving grant funds, which ALFA would match, to raise money for gardening tools and books," and described a new ALFA website, plans to expand fundraising and participation for the reopening, and a need for a board member with financial expertise. Director Harold said she would add an ALFA update as a standing item on future board agendas to support coordination around reopening activities.
The meeting, which listed Chair Laura Parker, Vice Chair Dan McClure, Susan Stein, Liz Tisdale and Liz Bartell as present along with Director Harold, adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
