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Public libraries generally are expected to be serviceable for approximately 50 years; Lake Oswego’s had operated for about five before it became cramped, according to a city official.

鈥淚t was basically full from the day it was built,鈥� said David Donaldson, Lake Oswego’s city manager. 鈥淧eople have been advocating for a new library for quite a long time.鈥�

The Lake Oswego library, built in 1983, was much smaller than planned because of complaints from residents; they did not want a multistory building in their neighborhood, Donaldson said. Now the overcrowded facility also has electrical and plumbing problems.

Next month, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas county voters could choose to approve a $14 million bond for construction of a new, 60,000-square-foot library at First Street and B Avenue. It would become an anchor tenant for the northern part of downtown, said Darrel Condra, a representative of , an advocacy group for the bond measure.

鈥淚t addresses two issues the city is trying to resolve,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’ve known since 1988 that the library is too small because of the high level of use. It (also) actually becomes the ideal retail anchor.鈥�

Even though the city of Lake Oswego conducted three studies (in 1987, 1993 and 1995) that found that the library needed to be replaced, the bond-aided effort only recently gained support from City Council.

The $14 million would go toward only the library, which would be nearly three times the size of the existing one and have new amenities 鈥� including a community room.

But a parking structure also is planned, which would be paid for with urban renewal money. Additionally, the city is exploring the idea of working with , a national development company, to build residential and retail space on or around the library and the parking structure. It would resemble the Sellwood-Moreland Library, which has housing units above.

鈥淚f you stack it 鈥� with a library on the bottom floor and housing above, for instance 鈥� you really have to do it at the same time and sequence it right,鈥� Donaldson said. 鈥淚t becomes more complicated; it’s all intertwined.鈥�

The goal is to attract as many people as possible to downtown. The new library would bring close to 1,000 people a day, Condra estimated, and perhaps more via residential and retail space. It would be the perfect tenant to encourage growth in the area, he said.

鈥淚t’s not going to be bought out; it’s not going to move out of town; it’s not going to go belly-up during the recession,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t would be the best type of retail operation there.鈥�

If the library project were to proceed, a number of businesses 鈥� including a gas station, a dry cleaning operation and a travel agency 鈥� would need to move. Some business owners were not aware of the bond measure.

鈥淚 don’t have any thoughts on the bond because I am not a voter,鈥� said Laura Jones, owner of , one of the businesses that would move. 鈥淚t will be interesting to see what happens though.鈥�

The city would help the businesses relocate, Condra said.

Also, Condra noted that future development on the four plots 鈥� each with an estimated worth between $500,000 and $1 million 鈥� occupied by the present library would bring in much more tax revenue than the businesses on First Avenue do.

But Condra reiterates that the bond would only cover library construction.

鈥淭he council asked, 鈥榃ell what is the cake in this project and what is the frosting? Is it the housing or is it the library?’ 鈥� he said. 鈥淭he library is the cake because that brings in all the foot traffic. The library will create a halo effect and improve the retail prospects of all the adjacent businesses.鈥�

If the bond were to pass, construction would start in late 2014 and finish in 2016.