It’s been three months since the main branch of the Multnomah County Library reopened after being closed for nearly a year for renovations. The improvements include new and updated meeting rooms, a new designated teen space, new gender-inclusive and family restrooms, charging and internet improvements and a variety of safety changes, like lowered shelves, new fire alarms and air quality monitoring equipment. 

Shelly Jarman, the regional manager of the Central branch, says library staffers are well equipped to help all the community members who come into the library, from unhoused Portlanders who need social services to school kids researching papers and others looking for specific books or periodicals. For many of the people who work in the building, the purpose of the library is to help people, which varies from person to person and day to day. Jarman and library PIO Shawn Cunningham  join us to tell us more about how the last few months have gone and what they’re hearing from patrons.