CRESWELL – Over 20 years ago, the Creswell Library moved from the historic Old Schoolhouse across from Creswell Bakery on 2nd Street to an old clinic at 64 W. Oregon Ave., and has since undergone extensive renovations and expanded to become the library folks know today.
Today, the library owns its own building and has taken over the old clinic it shared. The expansion nearly doubled the library’s size. According to Nick Caum, library director, 36,734 people visited the library last year, and nearly 45,000 physical and digital items were checked out.
“Navigating and expanding space under construction while still providing our full range of library services was a fun and unique challenge,” Caum said, who started as a youth services librarian but became the library director in 2022. He said one side of the library remained open during construction until both sides were renovated to house the library.
The library had leased the east wing from February 2006 through December 2016, when the entire property was purchased after 10-plus years of dedicated fundraising. Previous library director, Su Liudahl told The Chronicle in a 2019 interview, “The new part is about 4,000 square feet, so essentially we’re doubling the size of our library.” Remodeling of the east wing was completed in 2019.
A teen space was created, and a large portion of the old space has been dedicated to youth services. They also added a study room that can be reserved for use, and increased their collection size.
It was reported in a 2019 article detailing the expansion from The Chronicle, that west-side demolition and reconstruction began in 2019. Because it was formerly a medical office, the process involved special lead removal from the x-ray room, along with plumbing and electrical work, cutting open the concrete wall between the wings to create the library’s temporary west-wing public entrance, painting, carpet, doors, shelving, and benches along the western wall of windows.
Chocolate and vanilla cakes were sliced up and served. Folks could enter a raffle for prizes like a quilt, book stand, or gift certificates, and crafts were set up for kiddos.
Three entities are involved in the library’s care and well-being, and they were all represented at the celebration. Library board members, Friends of the Library, and members of the Creswell Public Library Foundation had displays and information available to share with people.
Vicki Hemphill and Eric Cullander, library board members, shared photos of the library’s history and discussed current programs, including chair yoga, a knitting group, and shelf indulgence.
Hemphill said the library has expanded services by offering Libby, a free resource that allows users to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and other digital materials from the library, and Kanopy, an on-demand video streaming platform that offers films, TV shows, documentaries, and educational videos, as a way to keep up with the evolving digital scene.
Friends of the Creswell Library fundraises through membership dues and book sales and primarily supports the library’s daily needs, such as tables, chairs, shelving, books, and programs.
Friends president Jeanne Barclay said she moved to Creswell 18 years ago. “I actually came over here and applied just to see what was going on before I actually physically moved into my house,” she said. “I knew nobody or nothing. It looked like a logical place to start.”
The Creswell Public Library Foundation (CPLF) is the primary fundraising group for the library and adjuncts. This group was pivotal in raising the money for the new building and getting out of the schoolhouse. Joe Walters, pastor at Creswell Faith Center, also serves on the Foundation board. He said the foundation officially rebooted around December 2025, after being inactive for a few years because of Covid.
When Walters moved to town over six years ago, he said he found himself with more free time, which led him to volunteer at the library.
“I love to read, so it’s a good, easy fit for me,” Walters said. “And honestly, our library is amazing, so it’s an easy thing to support.”
CPLF has hosted a murder mystery at the library and has a brick program where folks can buy an engraved brick as a clever way to contribute to the foundation, Walters said, and is always looking for new ideas for fundraisers and volunteers.
Caum said when the library was at the schoolhouse it was volunteer-run and those roots stuck around.
“We very much rely on our volunteers,” he said. Around 35 volunteers help at the library today.
“I think the volunteers are a great example of how we’re supported by the community,” Caum said. “The fact that we have that many people who are willing to come in for monthly meetings is pretty incredible. The community is definitely engaged in what we’ve got going, which is excellent.”
In addition to the 35 volunteers who support the library, community partnerships help attract patrons. Caum said the Creswell Area Chamber of Commerce sends visitors, and when the City of Creswell organizes its annual Movies in the Park series, the library hosts voting for which movies to play.
Lindsey Quigley-Johnson, the youth services librarian, has been working with Creswell High School to promote the library’s services and is running the Oregon Battle of the Books at Creslane Elementary School.
Caum said the library is a positive place. When folks come in through the doors, the staff usually wave or say ‘hello.’
“I was talking to my neighbor yesterday, who doesn’t even live in the Creswell community, and he said to me, ‘I just want to thank you for helping to create such a welcoming space.’ I think that’s the culture that we’re going for,” he said.
