Home delivery

Is it difficult for you to visit the library due to a current or ongoing health challenge or disability? We can help.

Bringing the library to you 

If a health challenge or disability makes it hard to get to the library, our free home delivery service can bring materials directly to you. Please contact us to learn more and explore your options.

Frequently asked questions

Multnomah County residents with permanent or temporary conditions that restrict them from leaving home can qualify for home delivery. 

Home delivery patrons can receive library materials by mail for free — and keep them longer. Physical items have an eight-week checkout period starting from the day they’re mailed, and e-books and audiobooks have a six-week checkout period. Plus, if the item isn’t reserved by another patron, it will automatically renew.

We mail library items to patrons in zippered pouches. When you’re ready to return your library materials, you can mail them back in the pouch they came in. We cover the postage both ways!

There are a few ways to reserve items for home delivery: 

Phone: Call us at 503.988.5123 to reserve items by phone.

Mail: Each month your home delivery pouch comes with a request sheet. You can use this request sheet to reserve items for your next delivery. When you return your library items, just fill out the sheet with your requests.

Online: You can easily reserve items for home delivery on our website. Simply: 

  • Sign in to multcolib.org. 
  • Find the item you want in the catalog.
  • Click “Place a Hold.”
  • Choose Library Outreach as your pickup location.

Yes, but Interlibrary Loan books have the standard three-week checkout period. Interlibrary Loan books are mailed directly to patrons in bright orange pouches.

Online options

Many library resources and services can be accessed digitally. Want to read an e-book or listen to an audiobook? You can access hundreds on different platforms with your library card. Itching to watch a show or listen to some tunes? Hoopla and Kanopy have you covered. Longing to learn a language? Check out 40+ options on Mango Languages!

We also offer support over the phone. Reach out to 503.988.5123 for help with: 

  • E-books and downloadable audiobooks.
  • Managing your account and personal information.
  • Learning about library events and community resources.

Reading list