Statewide group honors Yachats leader for years of work pushing new $1.35 million library to completion

By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle

YACHATS — When the spotlight shines, some people face it full on and bask. Then there are those like David Rivinus who pivot to reflect the light on others.

That’s what Rivinus did Friday when the Oregon Library Association named him Library Supporter of the Year in a Portland ceremony.

Citing his years-long volunteer work to help make the new Yachats Public Library a reality, the association presented the former chair of the city’s Library Commission with a certificate. He accepted it — with a qualifier.

“If there’s one thing that was obvious throughout the whole project, it was that this was a team effort,” he told the Lincoln Chronicle. “When I accepted the award, that was the point I made. There were well over a dozen Yachatians — most of them volunteers — whose involvement was not only helpful; it was indispensable.”

Among the “indispensables” Rivinus cited: Friends of Yachats Library and grant writer Meredith Howell; finance and architect experts Tom Lauritzen and Linn West; past and present members of the Library Commission, notably Naomi Steenson; Marion Godfrey; Rose Valentine; the late Jane Shay; Dianne Allen; and Adam Altson. He also credited city hall staff and praised Mayor Craig Berdie for his “insistence on completing projects” such as the new library that had lain dormant.

Still, it was Rivinus who led the drive to give Yachats a 21^st century library after some 20 years of discussion, plans, pauses, glitches, pivots and finally completion. The old library, opened in 1974, was torn down last year and on that same West Seventh Street the rebuilt, larger and updated $1.35 million facility opened this winter.

“Long, sustained leadership”

Rivinus was one of two people receiving the association’s award for 2025; the other was Erin Borla, executive director of the Roundhouse Foundation in Sisters. Rivinus was nominated by library administrator Traci Altson.

“We want to celebrate people who support their libraries without compensation,” said Arlene Weible, chair of the OLA awards committee told the Lincoln Chronicle. “David brought long, sustained leadership to the library project, the kind of leadership that is worthy of recognition.”

This included Rivinus pitching in physically by helping put up shelves and driving the moving truck when most of the collection went into storage in 2024 when the library relocated temporarily to a room in the Commons.

While the need for a new library had been discussed for more than 20 years, the project didn’t build momentum until 2019. That was when a professional needs assessment called for an expanded, code-compliant structure.

Much discussion, debate and sometimes delays followed: Should the library move to another location? Add on to the existing structure? Start all over again on the current site? The least expensive option was the last choice, resulting in a facility with more room, books and amenities.

Local praise and “great news”

Rivinus’ state recognition was matched by some local tributes.

At a mid-April city council meeting, he received a plaque saluting his service to the city. Berdie praised his “incredible heart, soul and ‘heroic stubbornness’ ” in bringing the new library to life.

“Your insights and dedication have given this community far more than just a building,” Berdie said. “You’ve given us a ‘crown jewel” that proves what a small town can achieve.”

Those kudos were joined by praise from others.

“It was such a pleasure to work through the multiple funding challenges with David,” said Lauritzen. While serving on the Yachats Finance Committee in 2024, Lauritzen unearthed $600,000 in urban renewal district funds that allowed the library project to move ahead. The remaining construction funds came from bequests, grants and fundraising.

“David never lost sight of the finish line, never got visibly frustrated, and survived the multiple design iterations,” Lauritzen said.

West recalled when he first met Rivinus and volunteered to join the library’s design committee “I could tell he was extremely dedicated to getting the project completed. Always calm, David is supportive of others’ ideas and is very diplomatic. He’s a genuinely nice person and certainly deserves the award for all he has gone through.”

For Rivinus, the payoff has been “a significant uptick in the number of books borrowed, and probably even more importantly, the number of new library cards issued. That’s all great news.”

Rivinus’ career spanned years of working as a restorer and creator of wooden, stringed instruments such as violins and harps. He and his wife, composer and pianist Charlene Marchi, moved to Yachats in 2018. While his intention was to retire, he soon volunteered for the Library Commission and found himself working nearly full-time to get the new building completed. He stepped down from the commission after the library’s February grand opening.

How will he fill his new downtime?

“Although I am retired, the saying goes that violinmakers always die at the bench,” he said. “I have several violin projects that have been on hold that I can now get to.”

He can also devote more time to working with dream interpretations, facilitating three coastal workshop groups along with private consultations.

“And if there’s any time left over from all that, there’s always the house and the garden.”

• Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to Lincoln Chronicle. She can be reached at [email protected]