Vailey Oehlke, Director of Libraries
Vailey Oehlke was appointed Director of Libraries for Multnomah County in 2009. A longtime resident of Portland, she began her career at the library in 1997 as a youth librarian in the Multnomah County Library School Corps. After six years, she joined the staff of the downtown Central Library, first as a section administrator and then as director. She became the library's deputy director in 2008 and was promoted to director a year later.
A champion of innovation, Vailey is committed to helping Multnomah County Library anticipate and respond to the changing needs of our community by providing resources, services and spaces that help advance opportunity and equity.
Vailey is passionate about the important role of public libraries in developing vibrant and engaged communities, and is engaged in local and national boards and advisory groups. She is past President of the Public Library Association, and has served on the Executive Boards of the Public Library Association and the Urban Libraries Council and on the board of Nonprofit Technology Education Network (NTEN). She is a member of the American Library Association and the Oregon Library Association.