Will Murrayhill get its own branch library?

Beaverton City Library leaders hope new branch will ease crowded facility

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 22, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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Murrayhill neighbors could have a library branch closer to home come February.

The Beaverton City Library is hoping to extend its services into Southwest Beaverton by leasing a 7,032-square-foot space at 11200 S.W. Murray Scholls Place, Suite 102, in the Murray-Scholls Town Center.

“By opening a branch library in the community, we will be able to serve an area that is underserved as far as location,” said Ed House, Beaverton’s library director. “The branch library will be easier to access for those who live there, especially our youth.

“It’s also a very green option because it eliminates people’s need to drive to the main library — they will have resources right there in their neighborhood.”

The terms of the five-year lease with two, five-year options to extend that lease will be the subject of a study session during Monday night’s City Council meeting, where city leaders are expected to take action.

If the council gives the idea a green light, the $894,778 in appropriations needed to fund the branch library’s start-up and operation costs would be submitted to the city’s Budget Committee as an amendment to the supplemental budget for a Nov. 5 hearing.

The proposed funding will come from two sources initially: $544,778 from the library fund’s contingency account and $350,000 from the general fund’s contingency account. The Washington County Cooperative Library Services will provide additional revenue beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year based on the branch library’s first year of service activities and matching funds for materials purchased.

The Murrayhill branch library will be similar to the Cedar Mill Community Library — Bethany Branch, which opened two years ago.

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