Our new Deputy Director, Stephen Houser, joined Multnomah County Library in August. Learn about Stephen’s work, what he loves about libraries and more!
Get to know Stephen
What’s your favorite read?
I read pretty widely and often have a few different books on my bedside table at once, but I especially love to read speculative fiction and nonfiction. Right now I’m reading Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler, Educated by Tara Westover and A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko. All of them are, by turns, thought-provoking, informative and captivating.
What do you love about libraries?
I’ve been an avid library user since childhood, so the library has meant different things to me at different points in my life. I particularly love the life-spanning aspect of library service — that we can have a deep and meaningful role in the lives of all of our patrons, wherever they are on their journey. By extension, because libraries can bring so many folks together and connect impactfully with them, libraries serve a vital role in our broader communities. As former Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden says, “libraries are a cornerstone of democracy”. We create space for connection, understanding and resilience.
What are you looking forward to locally in Multnomah County?
There’s so much, but let’s start with food and coffee! I’m looking forward to experiencing as much and as many great restaurants and coffee shops as I can while exploring all the neighborhoods and communities that our libraries serve. I’m also looking forward to getting out on hiking trails, as I love being outdoors.
Lastly, and most importantly, I’m really excited to be on the library team. [Multnomah County Library] staff are phenomenal, and it’s been amazing to see how much Multnomah County loves, uses and supports its libraries. I love our focus on equity and inclusion and what that means when we talk about achieving our mission to empower diverse communities to learn and create.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our patrons?
I’ve worked in almost every role in libraries apart from children’s services, omitting one time during a holiday season program when I dressed up as a very unconvincing Santa Claus. [That gives me] a solid grounding in the importance of focusing all aspects of library service towards our patrons. I’m always interested in hearing how we can better serve you and how we can help meet community needs.
Stephen will lead and oversee all of the library’s public services in his new role. Before joining Multnomah County Library, he served as the director of the West Georgia Regional Library System. In his 10 years of experience leading libraries, he has:
- Established equity standards for his library system — and led the effort to establish the first statewide equity standards for libraries in Georgia.
- Launched new partnerships to encourage civic engagement and outreach.
- Eliminated late fees for library patrons.
- And much more.
Stephen was also selected as a Georgia Public Librarian of the Year in 2019 and was the first public librarian selected for Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 award. We’re so thrilled to welcome him to the Multnomah County Library team!