Construction underway! Why multiple libraries closed at the same time
Multnomah County Library locations are undergoing construction or renovations. Thanks to a 2020 library bond measure, your libraries are getting exciting updates.
Authored on:
10 things you can get at the library for free (besides books)
Libraries are now thriving community spaces where you can meet with peers, get computer help and enjoy art programs. But did you know there are many more free things that you can do through the library?
Authored on:
Spring is here! Library staff share how they connect to nature
April is a month full of nature! It’s Native Plant Appreciation month, Plant Appreciation Day is on April 13 and Earth Day is April 22. This month, we asked our staff of color and culture how they connect with nature, plants, gardening and books.
Authored on:
March Mathness
This March, kids can learn how math can be fun by participating in March Mathness!
Authored on:
6 women who tell our stories
The 2023 Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrate Women Who Tell Our Stories.” We are highlighting women storytellers who work in print, radio, TV, podcasts and other media.
Authored on:
Top 5 books about Black Resistance for kids and teens
The 2023 national theme for Black History Month is “Black Resistance,” in recognition of the historic and ongoing oppression that Black and African American people have resisted.
Authored on:
The Library's BCLA team
"BCLA team members are committed to making and maintaining community connections, creating a safe space, and highlighting Black culture through displays and programming.
Authored on:
History of Kwanzaa at North Portland Library
The North Portland Library has been participating in community-wide Kwanzaa celebrations since 2000. Educator and community leader Joyce Harris has been a staple for Kwanzaa in Portland since the early years of celebrations, dating back to the early 1970s in someone’s home.
Authored on:
The Spanish-speaking library team meets people where they are
The Spanish language team collaborates with schools, community partners and nonprofits to connect with patrons in and out of the library.
Authored on:
About the Indigenous Team
In 2021 the library formed an Indigenous team to provide better representation of Indigenous people in the library. The Indigenous team strives to offer multi-generational programs and better access to resources. They also create displays that value elders, youth, storytelling, tradition and activism.
Authored on:
Your Lucky Day is today!
Lucky Day books are highly anticipated books, often new releases or bestsellers, that you usually have to wait for because they are so popular. So if you’ve been waiting for a particular book, today might be your lucky day!
Authored on:
The Ukrainian library collection
The library has a selection of Ukrainian materials for you to explore. Come and check them out!
Authored on:
The White Allies Handbook with Lecia Michelle
Lecia Michelle is the author of The White Allies Handbook: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women. She is a librarian by trade with experience at universities and public libraries.
Authored on:
Mid-Autumn Festival brings tradition and joy!
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most celebrated holidays in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which is sometime in mid-September, when the moon is at its fullest.
Authored on:
Teen siblings volunteering at the library
Multnomah County Library’s Summer Reading program encourages kids, teens, and families to read throughout the summer. With hundreds of kids signed up each year to participate, Summer Reading relies on youth volunteers to keep everything running smoothly.
Authored on:
Patron spotlight: Frances Spann
When Frances Spann would come into the library for technology help, she was determined to finish writing, editing and publishing her life story.
With the help of Lynnea Amend, staff technology trainer, and Andrew Nilsen, bilingual Spanish tech help coordinator, Frances Spann learned new technology skills and made two new friends.
Authored on:
Sensory Storytime supports our neurodiverse community
For families looking for a welcoming space for children on the autism spectrum or those that would like a more adaptive storytime experience, Sensory Storytime is an inclusive and interactive program.
Authored on:
Participate in Summer Reading - in more ways than you thought possible
The Summer Reading program is about more than reading. It is about building a love for learning with fun things to do for all ages.
Authored on:
A Juneteenth legacy
On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday. This monumental day was made possible by the countless efforts of strong community leaders. Among them is Opal Lee - coined as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”
Authored on:
15 influential LGBTQ+ people of our time
This Pride Month, the library is recognizing the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) communities. Through the sharing of their own experiences, talents and advocacy, they’ve become influential voices for our time.
Authored on:
Summer Reading starts June 16, and you’re invited!
Students across Multnomah County will receive a Summer Reading gameboard at their school before summer vacation begins. To participate, players keep track of the time they read, are read to, listen to audiobooks, or complete gameboard activities. Players can earn books, coupons, a Summer Reading T-shirt and other prizes. Summer Reading is free, and youth who finish the game will be entered into the grand prize drawing.
Authored on:
Court of Venom author Kristin Burchell on poison, character, and connection
The library partners with Ooligan Press to publish one Library Writers Project book a year in print. This year, author Kristin Burchell, worked with Ooligan Press on the publication of her book Court of Venom.
Authored on:
Teens participate in designing new libraries
Since Multnomah County voters approved the Library Capital Bond in November 2020, the library has been hard at work with architecture firms to map out the design process for the construction and renovation of the Chapter One libraries. Throughout the process, the library and the firms have been meaningfully including teen voices with the help of two design programs.
Authored on:
Chinese and Vietnamese patrons share what they love about the library
Multnomah County Library offers Chinese and Vietnamese language services to serve Portland’s vibrant Asian community. Patrons and Multnomah County voters make the library and its services possible, and some of them have shared how the library has made a difference in their life.
Authored on: