Multnomah County Library offers free use of community rooms for groups and individuals to support learning and exchange of information and ideas. Meetings and events held in the large community rooms must be free, open to the general public, promote learning and exchange of information and ideas, and require an application (see large community rooms policy).
There are three types of community rooms: small, medium and large. Small and medium community rooms are for individual and small group use. Large community rooms are able to accommodate larger groups (12 or more, capacity varies by location).
Reservations
- Patrons may make reservations online, by phone or in person.
- A library account is not needed to reserve a room.
- A valid email address is required to make online reservations. Staff are available to assist if that is not an option.
- Patrons may make same-day walk-in reservations if a room is available.
Responsibilities of patrons
Patrons using the community rooms must follow library rules and other library policies. Patrons are expected to clean up the room after each use and report any issues to staff. Groups using the community rooms may not exceed the posted capacity listed below. If patrons have not shown up after 10 minutes of the reservation time, the space may be made available for others to use. Rooms left unoccupied for 10 minutes or more may be considered vacant and available for others to use. Unattended items may be removed by staff and placed in lost and found. The person who signed up for the space is liable for any damages to facilities and furnishing. Patrons must leave the community rooms 10 minutes before the library closes.
Reservation cancellations
Patrons should notify the library as soon as possible if they are not able to make their reservation or need to cancel it. Repeated cancellations may result in loss of future community room use privileges. Reservations can be canceled online or by contacting the library.
List of community rooms
- Central Small Community Room 2B (10 people)
- Hillsdale Small Community Room B (2 people)
- Hillsdale Small Community Room C (2 people)
- Hillsdale Small Community Room D (2 people)
- Holgate Medium Community Room 2B (6 people)
- Holgate Small Community Room 2D (2 people)
- Holgate Small Community Room 2E (2 people)
- Hollywood Small Community Room B (1 person)
- Hollywood Small Community Room C (1 person)
- Hollywood Small Community Room D (1 person)
- Capitol Hill Large Community Room (14 people)
- Central Large Community Room 1A (40 people)
- Central Large Community Room 1B (21 people)
- Fairview-Columbia Large Community Room (16 people)
- Gregory Heights Large Community Room (16 people)
- Gresham Large Community Room A (56 people)
- Gresham Large Community Room B (12 people)
- Hillsdale Large Community Room A (46 people)
- Holgate Large Community Room 1A (30 people)
- Holgate Large Community Room 1B (30 people)
- Holgate Large Community Room 1A + 1B (60 people)
- Holgate Large Community Room 2A (24 people)
- Hollywood Large Community Room (40 people)
- Kenton Large Community Room (21 people)
- Northwest Large Community Room (14 people)
- Rockwood Large Community Room A (14 people)
- Rockwood Large Community Room B (22 people)
- Sellwood-Moreland Large Community Room (18 people)
- Woodstock Large Community Room (24 people)
Note that the community rooms at these locations are currently closed for construction: Albina, Belmont, Midland, North Portland and St. Johns.
Small and medium community rooms
Reservable spaces intended for individuals or small groups for meetings, study, conversations or other focused activities.
- Available at some library locations.
- Seating for 1-11 individuals; sizes vary by location.
- Activities in these rooms must be free but do not need to be open to the public.
- They can be booked immediately, if available.
- Patrons are required to sign up to use the rooms, but do not need to reserve a room in advance.
- Reservations can be made in 30-minute increments, up to 2 hours (120 minutes) per day for small community rooms
- up to 4 hours (240 minutes) for medium community rooms.
Patrons are allowed one booking of the small or medium community rooms at one Multnomah County Library location per day.
Small community rooms
- first come, first serve
- limited to 2 hours per day
- some locations allow for reservations 7 days in advance
Medium community rooms
- may be reserved for 4 hours per day
- may be booked up to 30 days in advance.
- Can be used on a first come, first served basis if not in use.
- Government agencies may reserve medium community rooms up to 4 months in advance.
How to request online a small or medium community room
- Browse availability of the small or medium community rooms
- Submit a reservation request for an available room
- You will receive immediate confirmation of the reservation
Large community rooms
Large community rooms are available at most of our locations. Large community rooms can accommodate more than 12 people, and require an application and approval for use. Meetings and events held in large community rooms must be free and open to all. Activities in the large community room should support community engagement through learning and the exchange of information and ideas.
Large community rooms may not be used for the following activities, including but not limited to:
- Private events
- Commercial purposes
- The collection of personal information (e.g. event pre-registration or sign-in sheets are not allowed)
See the large community room policy for the complete rules and expectations.
Applicants may reserve the large community rooms once a month and up to 30 days in advance. Government agencies may reserve large community rooms up to 4 months in advance (for rules and exceptions for government agencies, see the last section of the large community room policy).
An adult age 18 or older must complete the Large community room application form and be present at the meeting or event when youth groups use the large community rooms.
How to request online a large community room
- Review the policy for use of large community rooms
- Browse availability of the large community rooms you want to reserve
- Submit a reservation request
- Within 72 hours (three days), you will receive a message letting you know whether we can accommodate your request.
Rooms are not reserved until the application is approved by library staff.
If your request is less than 72 hours (three days) away, please call or visit the library during open hours to inquire. We will try to accommodate your group if there is availability and your application is approved.