Planning Better Buildings
Grants Pass library branch
After years of planning and community input, library leaders selected a 22,000-square-foot, single-story design for a new community hub in River City Square, including expanded youth spaces, meeting rooms, a secure outdoor courtyard, and ample parking. The $26 million project is now moving into design development and site preparation.
Grants Pass library — 200 NW C Street — 541-476-0571
Why Does Grants Pass Need a New Library?
The current Grants Pass library was built in 1957 and is the only remaining branch not owned by the library. This presents challenges with maintenance, space usage, and other issues that would be solved by owning the building. The new library will be fully owned by the library and built with the potential for future expansion to serve the community’s growing population. The property’s downtown location will help revitalize that area, linking the historic district to the Rogue River.
A thriving library will offer the economic benefits of Internet access, a wide variety of public programs, and materials to borrow for both education and entertainment. It will act as a community center where all can come together to learn, work, and play — including space where local organizations and groups can meet and connect.
Current Project Status
Draft rendering of the selected concept design for the new Grants Pass library in River City Square, facing 6th Street between J and K Streets.
The library is currently in the preconstruction phase, working with ZCS Architecture and Engineering to develop building designs. The library foundation is raising money through grantfunders and private donations and will soon launch a capital fundraising campaign.
History
“You can support something bigger than yourself. We’re investing in the future. We’re leaving the community better than we found it.”
The Josephine County library system, established in 1914, has been a cornerstone of the community, providing access to knowledge and fostering connections for over a century. The libraries faced a major crisis in 2007 when their dedicated funding was absorbed into the county's general fund, leaving them unfunded and forcing closure. Determined citizens rallied to reopen the libraries in 2009 through volunteer efforts, donations, and grants, restoring this vital resource to the community.
Today, the Grants Pass library operates in a county-owned building under a lease arrangement, with plans for a new facility to begin construction in 2027. This history underscores the enduring importance of libraries as community hubs and the resilience of residents who continue to advocate for equitable access to resources, ensuring these spaces remain vibrant and impactful for future generations.
Thanks to many generous donors, grant funders, and the success of the Next Chapters Crowdfund in the spring of 2023, the foundation purchased property in downtown Grants Pass — the site of the future Grants Pass library branch, located between 6th and 7th Streets and J and K Streets.
Capital Campaign Steering Committee
Josephine Community Library Foundation
Library leaders and community members celebrate the purchase of the New Grants Pass Library property in 2023.
Ann Bauer
Caroline Brooks
Dawn Welch
Dennis Webber
Doug Walker
Greg Fishwick
Mike Murphy
Sara Katz
Sue Cohen, co-chair
Vince Lucido
Executive Director Rebecca Stoltz
Josephine Community Library District
Pat Fahey, co-chair
Library Director Kate Lasky