Public Naming Commission recommends 'Anchorage Original Town Site Downtown Library' to mayor and assembly

The Anchorage Public Naming Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the new downtown branch be named the "Anchorage Original Town Site Downtown Library." The commission forwarded the recommendation to the mayor and the Assembly and said it will send a packet and letter supporting the name.

Marjorie Harrison, the library director, told the commission the name blends the library’s naming policy — which prefers geographic identifiers — with the donor’s expressed wording. "We're very excited about that and hope that it will open March, April of next year," Harrison said, describing the branch's expected opening timeframe.

Katherine Clark, representing the Anchorage Library Foundation, said the foundation supports the proposed name and that the trust language appeared to require some form of the phrase. During the meeting a commissioner read an excerpt from the donor's residuary-estate language that described the gift as being "for the Anchorage Library Foundation for the sole purpose of establishing and maintaining a new public library within boundaries of the Anchorage Original Town Site, such a library to be called the AOT Anchorage Original Town Site Library," clarifying that the bequest is contingent on that naming language.

Several commissioners asked whether the full five-word name would be a mouthful for the public and whether dropping "Anchorage" would still satisfy the trust. Commissioners discussed the risk that an acronym could accidentally form an awkward word and the need for interpretive signage or a plaque inside the building to explain the term "Original Town Site." Commissioner Kevin Heler asked about signage, and Harrison said the library plans to include a plaque inside the library and provide explanatory information to visitors.

A motion to recommend the proposed name was made and seconded; the commission took a voice vote. Chair Hes announced the recommendation was adopted unanimously. The commission said staff will draft a letter and packet to send to the Assembly and the mayor and that there will be a public hearing at the Assembly where members of the public may testify or submit written comments.

The recommendation is advisory; final approval rests with the mayor and the Anchorage Assembly.