Oregon Historical Society Reopens Research Library After 2 Years

PORTLAND, OR — It's been about two years since the Oregon Historical Society had its collections of research materials — books, manuscripts, films, photos, and more — packed up and moved into storage. Once everything was safely away, they started a massive renovation project of their research library.

The project is finally done, the library is back open and taking reservations for researchers to get back to work.

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"The research library is truly the heart of everything we do at the Oregon Historical Society," said OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk.

"Without these priceless collections, and the individuals who have preserved and stewarded them for over 120 years, OHS's exhibitions, scholarship, and educational programs would not be possible."

The changes include:

• A refreshed reading room that highlights the library’s mid-century architecture and also serves as a flexible space for hosting workshops and programs;
• A tech hub that allows several researchers at a time to explore collections in a variety of historical and contemporary media — from VHS to digital files;
• A collaborative learning lab that serves as a creative, flexible space where small groups of students, educators, researchers, community members, and archives professionals can share knowledge, explore the library’s vast resources, and make new discoveries that expand collective knowledge about Oregon’s complex history;
• A reconfigured reference desk that gives staff a better vantage point to both serve researchers and safeguard the precious materials in OHS's care;
• A map and architecture viewing station that creates a central access point to digitized and original materials from the library's enormous collection of documents that have charted Oregon from past to present;
• Twenty-first-century behind-the-scenes workspaces that give OHS staff the space and technology they need to preserve and make collections available for the next 120 years

"After what has been a historic and unpredictable year and a half, I am grateful that we have completed this renovation and are ready to once again open our doors to researchers," Library Director Shawna Gandy said.

"The reason our staff is so passionate about preserving and making our collections accessible is because of the countless students, scholars, writers, filmmakers, historians, and others who use these materials in their work."