By Maureen Wright
A symbol of unity, community, and pride, the Montavilla Library opened its doors at 211 SE 80th Avenue in 1934 as a branch library. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the children of Montavilla and Vestal Grade Schools sacrificed their pennies and nickels for their new library. When economic hardships crushed individuals and the nation, ordinary people pulled together for the common good—a neighborhood library built by a combination of public and private funds. As leaders, the Kiwanis Club of Montavilla persuaded elected officials to create the Montavilla Library with a deed restriction in 1934. The library served for almost 50 continuous years, only to close when the government wrongfully removed the deed restriction.

In 2004 a dramatic grassroots groundswell of supporters plan to re-open the Montavilla Library at its historic site as a volunteer-operated and nonprofit library with donated books, the first of its kind in Multnomah County. No significant county money, no county library funds, and no new taxes or new levies are requested to re-open the Montavilla Library.

As an already proven and practical solution for tough economic times, Montavilla Library 2004 makes common sense. Here’s what is needed:

• Multnomah County Commission must restore the 1934 deed restriction that the site can only be used as a library into perpetuity.
• Your signature on a petition to persuade the county that you approve of innovative, cost-effective, and efficient grass-roots solutions to fulfill urgent public needs. Any one of any age, even non-voters, and people outside of Multnomah County, can sign the petition.
• Tell all five Multnomah County commissioners that you support Montavilla Library, because we need three votes from them.

If you would like petitions, to help, to testify in person, or have good ideas to help re-open Montavilla Library, please call project manager and founder Maureen Wright, 503/233-9383. For more information or to find petitions, visit www.montavillalibrary.org.