Albina Library.
A branch’s address is part of its story.

How it got here

The historic Knott Street building opened in 1912. Later decades brought closure, neighborhood advocacy, a storefront reopening and another move. MCL’s relocation account connects falling use with displacement from urban-renewal projects rather than treating it simply as a lack of interest.

The library returned to the historic site during the pandemic era. After another construction closure, the expanded library opened in 2025 at its current public entrance: 205 NE Russell Street. That is the address to use, not the older Knott Street listing.

What you can find

The branch page lists a courtyard and other outdoor space, a sensory room, teen space, community rooms, Spanish language services and Black cultural staff. These are selected published features; availability and accessibility details should be checked with staff for an actual visit.

The next question

Civic Lab proposal—not adopted policy

Our proposal is to judge the investment through relationships as well as floor space. Are longtime and displaced community members able to use it? Do language services, collections and programs reflect the people it intends to reach? Paid participation and a public record of what changed would make co-design more than an invitation to comment.

Who can reach and recognize themselves in this library—and whose absence would a countywide average miss?

Part of one shared system

Branch investment is not the same as a guaranteed level of service. Our countywide proposal connects collections, staffing, safety, accessible digital service and lifecycle funding. It asks for a clear service floor everywhere, with specialized offerings where they can be sustained.