library

Where and when we meet

We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Tigard Public Library at 10:00 a.m.
13500 SW Hall
Tigard, OR 97223

Our History

The Friends of the Tigard Public Library was incorporated as an Oregon nonprofit in December of 1979. At that time the Library was housed in a storefront on Main Street, having expanded from a book shelf in the Tigard City Hall.

In the mid-1980’s a citizen committee was appointed to consider the possibility of developing a civic center. This committee recommended a complex that would contain the City Hall, Police Station and the Library. Members of the Friends served on this committee and campaigned for the bond measure to finance the Civic Center. The bond measure passed, the complex was built, and the new Library opened in 1986 with some furnishings and fixtures provided by the Friends. This 13,000 square foot Library was projected to fulfill the city’s needs for at least 20 years.

By 1998 it was obvious that a larger Library was needed. The city council formed the New Library Construction Committee and the president of the Friends was appointed to the committee. A site was selected, architects engaged, plans drawn, a bond measure presented and passed, and construction commenced in 2003, resulting in the beautiful new 48,000 square foot Tigard Library, which was dedicated in August of 2004.

Since its inception in 1972 the Friends have conducted more than 36 book sales. Over the years event sales have grown from $211 in 1972 to $6000 in March of 2008.

Since the opening of the Civic Center in 1986, the Friends have supplied more than $230,840 worth of furnishings, fixtures, books, computers and program support to the Tigard Public Library—over $100,000 of which has been generated over the past four years, since the dedication of the new Library.

Over the years, Friends of the Tigard Library has sponsored and funded the following Tigard Library art, events and programs:

  • Adult Summer Reading Program
  • Alphabet Chair
  • Art for New Library
  • Cultural Pass Program
  • Kids Club
  • Library Adult Reading Program
  • Music in the Library Program
  • One Year Anniversary Celebration
  • Opening Day Celebration for New Library
  • Prime Time Reading Program
  • Team Read/Grades 4 & 5
  • Tigard Reads
  • Young Adult Reading Program