Newsroom

A new chapter: voters say yes to new Multnomah County Library spaces

Tue, 11/03/2020 - 8:16pm

New spaces will advance equity and center community input; oversight

PORTLAND, Ore. — November 3, 2020. Multnomah County voters approved Measure 26-211, a capital bond measure to expand and modernize library spaces. 

Multnomah County Library avoids significant layoffs, adds programs for schools and families

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 11:51am

Workforce reduction concludes, new County placements identified for 26 affected employees, all youth librarian positions retained

PORTLAND, Ore. — September 2, 2020. Multnomah County Library announces that no union-represented library employees will be without jobs at the conclusion of its workforce adjustment process on September 30. 

Following library branch closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Multnomah County and AFSCME Local 88 conducted a collaborative process to match staffing levels and priorities to current community needs. 

Multnomah County Library ends late fines, waives remaining balances

Wed, 07/01/2020 - 8:25am

New practice restores access to the library; clears fine debt from nearly 73,000 patron accounts

PORTLAND, Ore. — July 1, 2020. Multnomah County Library will permanently stop charging late fines on all library materials, clear all existing fines and restore access to accounts blocked because of fines, effective immediately. Patrons will continue to be billed for unreturned materials. 

Multnomah County Library expands holds service; kicks off online Summer Reading program; closure for Juneteenth

Mon, 06/15/2020 - 5:02pm

PORTLAND, Ore. — June 15, 2020 

Multnomah County Library announces plans to restore limited service beginning June 8

Mon, 06/01/2020 - 11:35am

Begins no-contact sidewalk service at four locations, announces stages for expanded service, Albina Library relocation

PORTLAND, Ore. — June 1, 2020. Multnomah County Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke announced today that Multnomah County Library will begin no-contact “sidewalk service” at four locations and a sharpened focus on service to help the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Continuing updates to library service and answers to common questions will be posted at multcolib.org/covid19.

David Douglas student IDs become Multnomah County Library cards with new Library Connect program

Tue, 05/26/2020 - 11:34am

Partnership increases access and reduces barriers to support learning
 
PORTLAND, Ore. — May 26, 2020. All David Douglas School District K-12 students can now use their school student ID to access Multnomah County Library services, just like a regular library card.

Midland Library closed March 1 through 15 for improvements

Tue, 02/25/2020 - 11:32am

Book return available on-site while work is completed
 
PORTLAND, Ore. — February 20 — Midland Library will be closed from Sunday, March 1 through Sunday, March 15 for renovations, including upgrades to install materials handling equipment that will help process items and fulfill holds more quickly and efficiently. The library will reopen at 10 am on Monday, March 16.
 

Multnomah County Library kicks off Everybody Reads 2020 with free copies of 'There There' available at all library locations

Fri, 01/03/2020 - 8:41am

PORTLAND, Ore. — January 2, 2020. Multnomah County Library invites the community to participate in Everybody Reads 2020, featuring Tommy Orange’s debut novel about the urban Native experience, There There. 

Free copies of There There are available to pick up at all library locations without a library card (while supplies last), or download the e-book or audiobook from the library catalog. The library encourages readers to discuss the book, and share their copies with friends, coworkers and neighbors.

Multnomah County readers blast publisher’s new e-book restrictions

Wed, 10/16/2019 - 11:19am

Portlanders object to limitations more than in any other city

PORTLAND, Ore. — October 16, 2019 — After Macmillan Publishers shared plans to restrict e-book access to a single copy for libraries during the first eight-weeks of publication beginning in November, people across North America rose up to object to the move. 

Multnomah County Library, Portland Community College to Host U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Sept. 7

Mon, 08/26/2019 - 9:31am

Contacts:  
Shawn Cunningham
Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Multnomah County Library
Desk: 503.988.3097 | Cell: 503.781.5410
shawnc@multcolib.org

Kate Chester
Director, Public Relations and Community Engagement Portland Community College
Desk: 971.722.8233 | Cell: 503.296.9235
kate.chester@pcc.edu

Summer Reading 2019 blasts off today, June 14!

Fri, 06/14/2019 - 3:24pm

More than 100,000 young people will read, learn and earn prizes this summer at the library

PORTLAND, Ore. — June 14, 2019— Multnomah County Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program begins today, when kids of all ages can sign up at any neighborhood library. 

Tommy Orange selected for Everybody Reads 2020

Mon, 06/03/2019 - 10:34am

Acclaimed author of There There to speak in Portland March 5

PORTLAND, Ore. — June 3, 2019 — Next January, Multnomah County Library will launch Everybody Reads 2020, the library’s 18th annual community reading project, with Tommy Orange and his debut novel, There There. 

Central Library to host “The Immigrant Story” exhibits beginning May 11

Mon, 05/06/2019 - 12:07pm

Who We Are exhibit honors those affected by 2017 MAX tragedy

PORTLAND, Ore. — May 6, 2019 — On May 11 Central Library will host a reception at 2:30 pm to mark the beginning of two exhibits in Central Library’s Collins Gallery that offer a platform for underrepresented immigrant and refugee voices in our community. The exhibit’s launch coincides with the upcoming two-year anniversary of the tragedy on MAX in May, 2017.

Library software upgrade begins May 12

Mon, 04/29/2019 - 9:01am

All Multnomah County libraries to open at noon May 16

PORTLAND, Ore. — April 29, 2019 — Beginning on at 5 pm on May 12 and through May 15, Multnomah County Library will upgrade the software that powers the library catalog, manages patron accounts and tracks library materials. The new software will provide improved email and phone notifications and better self-checkout stations. To ensure a smooth upgrade, all libraries will open at noon on May 16.

Multnomah County Library and Ooligan Press partner to print "The Gifts We Keep"

Tue, 04/16/2019 - 11:59am

Local author’s work transforms from draft to e-book to printed edition with Library Writers Project 

PORTLAND, Ore. — April 16, 2019 — For the first time, Multnomah County Library and Ooligan Press have worked together to bring a Portland author’s novel to the printed page. The Gifts We Keep by Katie Grindeland was first added to the library’s collection as an e-book as part of the Library Writers Project in 2016.

Everybody Reads 2019 featuring Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie now underway

Wed, 01/09/2019 - 10:28am

PORTLAND, Ore. — Jan. 9, 2018 — , Multnomah County Library’s 17th annual community reading project Everybody Reads 2019 begins this week with the distribution of free copies of Americanah (for adults) and We Should All Be Feminists (for high school students) by award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Multnomah County Library deepens commitment to serving Black families

Thu, 12/06/2018 - 9:58am

Grant-funded effort seeks to eliminate barriers to access and opportunity with community input

PORTLAND, Ore. — December 6, 2018 — Multnomah County Library will begin a new two-year initiative funded in part by a grant from Meyer Memorial Trust to better serve and support African and African American families. 

Library Writers Project reopens for submissions, publishes local author

Wed, 10/17/2018 - 11:48am

Multnomah County Library and Ooligan Press partner to print The Gifts We Keep in 2019

Beginning today, Multnomah County Library is accepting e-book submissions from local authors for inclusion in the library’s collection. In addition, the library is partnering with Ooligan Press to publish “The Gifts We Keep” by Portland author and past Library Writers Project contributor Katie Grindeland.

Multnomah County Library adds streaming film service, Kanopy

Mon, 10/01/2018 - 11:00am

With Kanopy, Multnomah County library patrons can access more than 30,000 films, for free

Multnomah County Library selects Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Everybody Reads 2019

Mon, 09/10/2018 - 9:50am
Acclaimed author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists to speak in Portland March 14 Next January, Multnomah County Library will launch Everybody Reads 2019, the library’s 17th annual community reading project, with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah (for adults) and We Should All Be Feminists (for high school students). 

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