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About Us
About Our Library
503 E. Hancock St.
Newberg, OR 97132
Phone:
503.538.READ (7323)
Fax: 503.538.9720
email us
The mission of the Newberg Public Library is to enrich and nourish the life of our community, providing countless opportunities for the integration of people and knowledge.
The Library provides residents of the Chehalem Valley with access to a variety of resources. The Library has been in downtown Newberg since 1908. Today the Library has expanded from simply providing books, to becoming the information resource for the community.
The Library has been financially supported by the City of Newberg since 1908. The City currently provides a variety of support activities for the library such as financial, facilities management, and administration as well as funding, which comes primarily from the City's General Fund. All staff are employees of the City of Newberg.
- Services Available at the Library
- Library Cards
- Library Foundation of Newberg
- Newberg Library Friends
- Library Advisory Board
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Library History
- City of Newberg
Services Available
* 75,000 books, videos, audio cassettes, CDs and other library resources
* 200+ magazine subscriptions
* Access to over 1.5 million books in the Automated Library Catalog
* Access to libraries throughout the world through interlibrary loans
* Storytimes held weekly for all ages from birth to school age
* T.A.B. (Teen Advisory Board for youth between 6th-12th grades)
* Health Reference Collection
* The Oregonian online - the full text of the Oregonian from 1993
* Ebsco Magazine index - online database of magazine articles in over 500 magazines
* Newberg Graphic - The Graphic Newspaper on microfilm from 1888
* Microfilm reader/printer
* Internet Computers for public use
* Video and audio cassette collections
* Music and books on CDs
* Typewriter for public use
* Parenting collection of magazines, books (fiction and non-fiction), and videos
* Children's collection of magazines, videos, picture books, easy readers, fiction and non-fiction, books on tape or CD
* Young Adult collection of magazines, books (fiction and non-fiction), books on tape or CD and computers for youth between 6th-12th grades
Library Cards
There is no charge for the use of resources in the library. For those who live within the City limits of Newberg (or own property inside the City), there is no fee for a library card.
For those that live within the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service (Chemeketa Community College District) there may be a fee. Check with the library.
Those living in other areas may receive a card for a fee. Click here to see what options are available
Identification showing a current address is required.
Library Foundation of Newberg
The Foundation is building an endowment fund to support the Newberg Library beyond the public funding that is received. The foundation has funded the purchase of music compact discs, geographic resources, and sponsored a project to place a card in the hands of every kindergarden student in the area. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. An information brochure is available at the Reference Desk.
Newberg Library Friends
The Newberg Library Friends is a volunteer group that assists the library in many interesting and worthwhile ways such as sponsoring book sales to raise funds, supporting children's programs, expanding the library resources and encouraging community support. Call 538-7323 or ask at the Circulation Desk for more information.
Library Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is made up of five citizens, four city residents and one resident from the surrounding area. Their regular monthly meeting is held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 pm in the Library Rotary Meeting Room. The Board makes policy for the library and provides citizen input to the library director.
Board members are appointed by the City of Newberg Mayor and confirmed by the Council each Spring with the four year terms starting in July. Announcements of openings are made in The Newberg Graphic, on this website, in the Library newsletter, and posted at the Library and City Hall. Applications are available at the Library or online at the City of Newberg web site.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers provide many hours of assistance to the library by shelving books, assisting with programs, mending books and a wide variety of other tasks. Volunteers may sign up by calling (503) 538-7323 or completing an application at the Circulation desk.
Library History
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-born American industrialist, established a philanthropic association to build libraries in the English speaking world. Between 1881 and his death in 1919, over 2,500 libraries were built throughout the world, 1,700 of them in the United States. The Oregon Library Association has published a list titled, "Carnegie Public Libraries In Oregon." In addition, there are many websites devoted to the history of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie libraries.
The Newberg Ladies' Wednesday Club was successful in its request to the Carnegie Corporation and received $10,000 for the building of a library. Construction began in 1911 with dedication ceremonies held March 29, 1912. The Carnegie Library is an example of the American Renaissance style which was quite popular at that time.
By the 1970's the community had outgrown the 4,000 sq. ft. Carnegie Library. In 1983 the citizens of Newberg passed a $963,000 bond measure to expand the existing building on land that had been donated to the City. Construction began in 1984 and during that time a local fund raising drive netted $160,000 from area residents and businesses to furnish the new 18,000 sq. ft. library. On February 15, 1986 the expanded building was dedicated. The modern addition incorporates the design of the historic Carnegie building and provides the residents of the area with a library to take them into the 21st century.
Currently there is an effort underway to expand the children's area of the library. Plans have been developed and fundraising will be occuring in 2006-07 with building planned for late 2007 or 2008.
The Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service, also referred to as CCRLS, is a cooperative effort of 17 Member Libraries in the Central Willamette Valley of Western Oregon.