The once boarded-up and graffiti-scrawled Millar Library at Portland State University now stands ready to welcome students and faculty yet again. This comes after a prolonged shutdown, a direct result of significant protest-related damages that rendered the building "uninhabitable," according to the most recent update from the Millar Library website. Critical damage sustained by the library included not only the defacement of its physical structure but also the impairments to vital safety systems and educational technology.
As per authorities, the cost to purge the library of this vandalism—streaked walls, windows, and despoiled books; paint spattered floors; and the remnants of occupation such as trash, wooden pallets, and tents—amounted to a staggering $750,000. This figure, disclosed by KATU, reflects the financial burden of restoring an academic sanctuary.
The reestablishment of Millar Library's operations arrives just in time for the commencement of the 2024 academic year. The facility, a staple of the campus since the 1960s has, according to PSU students, played a pivotal role in both academic and campus community life. Mason Wilder, a student at PSU, echoed this sentiment in an interview obtained by KPTV, stating, "I really felt like, where are we supposed to go to meet people and stud." Mason Wilder also stated, "Now that it’s open, it’s really helpful."
Despite the disruptive history of the library's closure, the sentiment among the PSU community leans towards reflection and growth. Many hope that this chapter in the university's history is one from which learning can be gleaned and not simply "put it right back on the shelf." As Nitunga reflected in a statement to KPTV, "This place that I used to get information, books for free, knowledge all this other stuff, to have that taken away puts a lot of things into perspective."
