MCL Blogs

This is a long post showing meal resources in Multnomah County (and beyond). We start with school districts and then move to community organizations we know of that are helping the community. Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Para ver esta información en español, haga clic en Recursos de alimentos para familias. To see this information in Spanish, click Recursos de alimentos para familias.

Multnomah County School Districts

Multnomah County school districts continue to provide meal assistance during the summer. The SUN Service System also has information on accessing food.

We have done our best to provide current information. Please confirm meal availability through the links shared below.

Centennial [updated 3/9/23]

The food pantry at Parklane Elementary, 15811 SE Main St., Portland, is open Fridays from noon to 1:30 p.m. Stop by to access 3-5 days’ worth of FREE, fresh, and healthy food for your family. Please bring your own bags. No identification or income verification materials required. Anyone is welcomed to shop!

The food pantry at Patrick Lynch Elementary, 1546 SE 169th Pl., is open to the public on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Food 4 Families will have food distribution on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (except March 2023), during the school year, at Centennial High School, 3505 SE 182nd Ave, Gresham, 97030. 4:00pm to 5:00pm. Click here for distribution dates.

David Douglas [updated 1/11/23]

There are food pantries at the following David Douglas schools. Click here for a calendar that shows hours of operation and any closures.

  • Floyd Light Middle: 10800 SE Washington St. Mondays, 3:30 P.M to 4:30 p.m.
  • Cherry Park Elementary: 1930 SE 104th Ave. Mondays, 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
  • Earl Boyles Elementary: 10822 SE Bush St. Tuesdays, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
  • Mill Park Elementary: 1900 SE 117th Ave. Tuesdays, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Gilbert Park Elementary: 13132 SE Ramona St. Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Menlo Park Elementary: 12900 NE Glisan St. Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
  • David Douglas High, South Campus: 1500 SE 130th Ave. Thursdays, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Gilbert Heights Elementary: 12839 SE Holgate Blvd. Fridays, 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. 

 

Gresham-Barlow [updated 1/11/23]

Click this link for meal resource information. There are food pantries at the following schools:

Other community food box information can be found at The Sunshine Division and Snowcap Community Charities

Parkrose [updated 10/5/22]

There are food pantries at the following schools (click the link for closures):

 

Portland [updated 3/20/23]

There are food pantries at the following schools. Please click on the link to check for closure information.

  • Lent K-8: 5105 SE 97th Ave. Mondays, 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
  • Harrison Park K-8: 2225 SE 87th Ave. 2nd and 4th Mondays, 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
  • Lane Middle: 7200 SE 60th Ave. Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Kelly Elementary: 9015 SE Rural St. Wednesdays, noon to 1:30 p.m.
  • Woodlawn K-5: 7200 NE 11th Ave. Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Rigler Elementary: 5401 NE Prescott St. 3rd Wednesday of the month, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • McDaniel High: 2735 NE 82nd Ave. Fridays, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Sitton Elementary: 9930 N Smith St. 1st Friday of month, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Roosevelt High: 6941 N Central St. 1st and 3rd Fridays, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Bridger K-5: 7910 SE Market St. 3rd Friday of the month, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Reynolds [updated 3/9/23]

    Food pantries are located at the following schools. Click here for more information.
    • Glenfair Elementary: 15300 NE Glisan St. Tuesdays, 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
    • Reynolds High: 1698 SW Cherry Park Rd., Troutdale. Last Tuesday of the month, 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m.
    • Alder Elementary: 17200 SE Alder St. Wednesdays 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Reynolds Middle: 1200 NE 201st Ave., Fairview. Fridays 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Wilkes Elementary: 17020 NE Wilkes Rd. 1st Friday of the month, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Davis Elementary: 19501 NE Davis St. 2nd Friday of the month, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
    • H.B. Lee Middle: 1121 NE 172nd Ave. Call 503-706-2834 for information on accessing the food pantry
    • Walt Morey Middle: 2801 SW Lucas Ave., Troutdale. Call 503-810-9604 for information on accessing the food pantry
     

    Agencies, Community Organizations and Restaurants

    Information may change so please check their websites if a link is provided.

    C3 Pantry (NE): 6120 NE 57th Ave., Portland. Tuesdays, doors open at 11:30am, shopping is 12-1pm.

    Crossroads Food Bank (NE): 2505 NE 102nd Ave., Portland. Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon.

    Faithful Savior Lutheran Church (NE): 11100 NE Skidmore St., Portland. Food pantry Saturday, April 15th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

    Mainspring Food Pantry (NE):  3500 NE 82nd Ave. Food pantry Monday through Thursday from 9am to 11am.
    They suggest following them on social media to see mobile food pantry locations.  Their current free food pantries are located at:
    • Dawson Park, 1 N Stanton St. Every 1st Tuesday from 10am to noon
    • Community Transitional School, 6601 NE Killingsworth St. Every 2nd Tuesday from 10am to noon
    • East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave. Every 2nd Wednesday from 9am to 11am
    • Victory Outreach, 16022 SE Stark St. Every 3rd Tuesday from 10am to noon
    • Rockwood Village Apartments, 783 SE 185th Ave. Every 4th Tuesday from 10am to noon
     
    Meals 4 Kids: serves qualified children and families within the City of Portland. Please visit their website to complete a request form.
     
    Northeast Emergency Food Program (NE): 4800 NE 72nd Ave., Portland. Open Thursday and Saturday, 10:30am to 1:30pm. Food boxes are prepared in advance for walk or drive up pick up.
     
    Portland Adventist Community Services (NE): 11020 NE Halsey St., Portland. Offering prepacked food boxes for pick up,  Monday – Friday 9am– 11am. They also provide a mobile food pantry service to some neighborhoods.
     
    One Hope Food Pantry (NE): Located at 5425 NE 27th Ave., Portland 97211. Open for drive-through and pickup Saturdays, 11 am - 1 pm. Food boxes are available each week and a hot meal is served on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays.
     
    Sunshine Division (SE):  free emergency food boxes to pick up or be delivered. There are two locations:
    • 12436 SE Stark St. Food assistance Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 am to 11 am and 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • 687 N Thompson St. Food assistance Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 11 am and 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

    Visit their website to request a food box delivery, or call 503-823-2102

     
    William Temple House (NW): 2023 NW Hoyt St., Portland. Offering a walk-in pantry, Tuesday-Thursday, 11 am-2 pm. A guide to the pantry can be found here.
     
    Lift Urban Portland (SW):  Located at 1838 SW Jefferson St., Portland 97201. Food pantry hours of operation are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A random number lottery takes place 5 minutes before opening to determine your place in line.
     
    Portland Open Bible food pantry (SE):  Located at 3223 SE 92nd Ave., Portland 97266. Pick-up food boxes, information can be found here. Pantry times are Tuesdays 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can also place an order online.
     
    St. Johns Food Share (N): 8100 N Lombard St., Portland 97203. Food pantry open Mondays and Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm.
     
    Urban Gleaners: multiple locations across Multnomah and Washington counties. Click here for a list of locations.
     
    For more information about access to food for families including the Oregon Food Bank, please call 211, or  text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877-877 for meals locations, or visit oregonfoodfinder.org.
     
    Self Enhancement Inc also has a list of community food resources that includes sites in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washingon and Yamhill counties in Oregon and Vancouver, WA area schools. Click the link and scroll down to food resources.
     
     
     

    This March, kids can learn how math can be fun by participating in March Mathness!

    Older woman with child reading a book.

    March Mathness is a national initiative that promotes math at the same time as the basketball tournament March Madness. This program has become especially important in recent years when national test scores for math and literacy have declined. 

    Math has many day-to-day applications, and the connections between literacy and math are massive. Early math skills are linked with higher reading and test scores.

    “As part of early literacy, one of the first things kids do is recognize shapes before recognizing letters. They recognize a circle and can then recognize a specific letter like an A or a P. Once they are at reading age, they connect patterns and recognize the patterns of what letters sound like,” says Natasha Forrester Campbell, early childhood services librarian.

    Children notice word patterns through rhyming, music and poetry as they learn to read and write. But there are many ways for math to be interactive.

    Take a walk and notice the trees or flowers. How many do you see? Painting by numbers or counting toys are simple activities that can be engaging. Baking is also an easy way for kids to enjoy math. Children can practice measuring, counting, and making something they can enjoy as a sweet treat! 

    "Kids in the upper elementary grades can double or halve a recipe, calculate the profits from a lemonade stand, or create their own secret code," says Jackie Partch, youth & family services librarian. “This can help them see how math skills are relevant to daily life.”

    Celebrate this March Mathness by visiting your local library and interacting with science, math and literacy. You can do an activity at your branch, check out a book or participate in one of the March Mathness events

    Oregon Va al Colegio Información básica sobre la universidad: Información para las familias con estudiantes en la preparatoria y los pasos a tomar rumbo a la universidad.

    Solicitud de Ayuda Estatal de Oregón (ORSAA). Los estudiantes elegibles indocumentados o bajo el programa de DACA (Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia) en Oregón, pueden completar esta solicitud para recibir ayuda estatal incluyendo la Beca de Oportunidad de Oregón (Oregon Opportunity Grant) y la beca Promesa de Oregón (Oregon Promise). Esta beca también está disponible desde el 1.º de octubre. 

    Becas y Ayudas Que No Tienen Qué Reembolsar (Inglés). El gobierno federal y los gobiernos estatales otorgan becas por varias razones, desde la necesidad financiera hasta el desempeño académico o deportivo. Con una sola solicitud, los estudiantes pueden postularse para la mayoría de estos programas de ayuda.

    Ayuda Financiera de Oregón (Inglés). Un portal para varias solicitudes de ayuda financiera y becas. Los estudiantes pueden ver la descripción de cada una de ellas. 

    Becas Federales Pell. Estas subvenciones no son préstamos por lo que no es necesario pagarlas. Los estudiantes pueden recibir una Beca Federal Pell por 12 semestres o menos tiempo, pero no más.

    Becas para Estudiantes Hispanos o Latinos (Bajo Recursos Adicionales). No existen leyes federales ni estatales que prohíban a estudiantes indocumentados presentar solicitudes, inscribirse y graduarse de instituciones de enseñanza superior públicas o privadas. Sin embargo; al ser clasificados como extranjeros, los estudiantes indocumentados pierden la capacidad de ser elegibles para recibir asistencia financiera federal y tarifas de matrícula reducidas para residentes estatales. Este sitio tiene información sobre becas para estudiantes extranjeros.

    Becas para estudiantes mexicanos que viven en los Estados Unidos. El Gobierno de México, a través del Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME) y los Consulados de México en Estados Unidos de América, entrega recursos a las organizaciones e instituciones educativas que participan en la convocatoria y se comprometen a aportar fondos complementarios que al menos dupliquen los recibidos por parte del Gobierno de México. Los estudiantes tienen que pasar por el proceso de selección que tenga cada institución educativa para el otorgamiento de las becas.

    Para mayor información sobre este tema y cómo ayudar a su estudiante con la transición a la universidad, contactenos aprendiendo@multcolib.org

    Oregon Va al Colegio Información básica sobre la universidad: Información para las familias con estudiantes en la preparatoria y los pasos a tomar rumbo a la universidad.

    Solicitud de Ayuda Estatal de Oregón (ORSAA). Los estudiantes elegibles indocumentados o bajo el programa de DACA (Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia) en Oregón, pueden completar esta solicitud para recibir ayuda estatal incluyendo la Beca de Oportunidad de Oregón (Oregon Opportunity Grant) y la beca Promesa de Oregón (Oregon Promise). Esta beca también está disponible desde el 1.º de octubre. 

    Becas y Ayudas Que No Tienen Qué Reembolsar (Inglés). El gobierno federal y los gobiernos estatales otorgan becas por varias razones, desde la necesidad financiera hasta el desempeño académico o deportivo. Con una sola solicitud, los estudiantes pueden postularse para la mayoría de estos programas de ayuda.

    Ayuda Financiera de Oregón (Inglés). Un portal para varias solicitudes de ayuda financiera y becas. Los estudiantes pueden ver la descripción de cada una de ellas. 

    Becas Federales Pell. Estas subvenciones no son préstamos por lo que no es necesario pagarlas. Los estudiantes pueden recibir una Beca Federal Pell por 12 semestres o menos tiempo, pero no más.

    Becas para Estudiantes Hispanos o Latinos (Bajo Recursos Adicionales). No existen leyes federales ni estatales que prohíban a estudiantes indocumentados presentar solicitudes, inscribirse y graduarse de instituciones de enseñanza superior públicas o privadas. Sin embargo; al ser clasificados como extranjeros, los estudiantes indocumentados pierden la capacidad de ser elegibles para recibir asistencia financiera federal y tarifas de matrícula reducidas para residentes estatales. Este sitio tiene información sobre becas para estudiantes extranjeros.

    Becas para estudiantes mexicanos que viven en los Estados Unidos. El Gobierno de México, a través del Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME) y los Consulados de México en Estados Unidos de América, entrega recursos a las organizaciones e instituciones educativas que participan en la convocatoria y se comprometen a aportar fondos complementarios que al menos dupliquen los recibidos por parte del Gobierno de México. Los estudiantes tienen que pasar por el proceso de selección que tenga cada institución educativa para el otorgamiento de las becas.

    Para mayor información sobre este tema y cómo ayudar a su estudiante con la transición a la universidad, contactenos aprendiendo@multcolib.org

    Préstamos federales para estudiantes. Los Préstamos Directos con Subsidio y los Préstamos Directos sin Subsidio son préstamos para estudiantes ofrecidos por el Departamento de Educación para ayudar a los estudiantes a cubrir los gastos de su educación superior. La escuela decide el tipo de préstamo al que cada estudiante puede ser elegible. Estos préstamos tienen cantidades anuales limitadas para estudiar la licenciatura y un límite de préstamo agregado para estudiar la maestría. Las cantidades dependen del año escolar en que se encuentre el estudiante y de si es un estudiante dependiente o independiente. Por lo regular, el estudiante debe empezar a pagar los préstamos seis meses después de la graduación de la universidad.

    Préstamos Directos Subsidiados. Aunque el estudiante es responsable de pagar la cantidad del préstamo, el Departamento de Educación paga los intereses de los Préstamos Directos Subsidiados:

    • Cuando el estudiante asiste a la escuela por lo menos medio tiempo
    • Por los primeros 6 meses después de que el estudiante deja la escuela 
    • Durante un período de aplazamiento de pago bajo ciertas condiciones 

    La escuela determina la cantidad que el estudiante puede pedir prestada; esta cantidad no excede la necesidad financiera del estudiante. Esos préstamos están disponibles solamente para los estudiantes de licenciatura que presentan necesidad financiera. 

    Préstamos Directos No Subsidiados. El estudiante es responsable de pagar los intereses de los Préstamos No Subsidiados además de la cantidad del préstamo. Si el estudiante decide no pagar intereses mientras está en la escuela, los intereses se acumularán y agregarán a la cantidad principal del préstamo.

    La escuela determina el tipo de préstamo y la cantidad. Esos préstamos están disponibles para los estudiantes de licenciatura, maestría u otros estudios superiores; y no es necesario que presenten necesidad económica para recibirlos. Para calificar para los Préstamos Federales, el estudiante debe completar la FAFSA (Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes) que está disponible a partir del 1.º de octubre de cada año. 

    Se debe tomar en cuenta que el estatus de ciudadanía de los padres no afecta la capacidad del estudiante para completar el formulario FAFSA ni el derecho de recibir ayuda federal para estudiantes. Según la Oficina de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes, si los padres del estudiante no tienen SSN (Número de Seguro Social), deben ingresar 000-00-0000 cuando el formulario FAFSA solicite sus SSN. 

    Si los padres del estudiante no tienen SSN, no podrán crear una FSA ID (Identificación y contraseña en el sitio web para la Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes) y por lo tanto, no podrán firmar el formulario FAFSA electrónicamente. El estudiante o sus padres tendrán que imprimir la página de firma del formulario FAFSA en línea para que los padres puedan firmarlo y enviarlo por correo a la dirección indicada. Es importante que NO escriban un número de identificación del contribuyente en el campo del SSN. Para más información consulte la página: Los alumnos dependientes deben declarar información sobre sus padres, como también su propia información, en el formulario Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FAFSA®)

    Préstamos PLUS para padres. Es un préstamo federal que como el nombre lo dice, está a nombre del padre. Revisen el paquete de ayuda financiera, que ofrecen las universidades una vez que aceptan al estudiante, en donde se incluye una concesión de préstamo para completar el pago del costo de la universidad. Este dinero puede ser usado para cubrir los gastos que no se cubren con la ayuda financiera para el estudiante o con becas.

    Es importante ser extremadamente cuidadoso cuando se les ofrece un préstamo PLUS para padres, ya que puede tener un impacto duradero en sus metas financieras personales. 

    Algunas diferencias clave con el préstamo federal para estudiantes, y el préstamo PLUS para padres incluye límites de endeudamiento generalmente más altos y tasa de interés y tarifas de originación (procesamiento del préstamo) notablemente más altas. Estos préstamos empiezan a generar interés tan pronto como se distribuyen.

    Los padres deben reembolsar el préstamo PLUS, aun cuando su hijo no termine la universidad, no encuentre trabajo, o no estén satisfechos con la educación que pagó con el préstamo.

    Otros Recursos

    FAFSA vs CSS Profile. Este video contiene información importante sobre ambos formularios y quiénes los requieren.

    Cómo Llenar el Formulario FAFSA

    Visiten las páginas de Studentaid.gov para conocer la cantidad actual que el estudiante puede pedir prestada, las tasa de interés y los cargos por préstamos estudiantiles.

    Información Sobre Becas y Otros Recursos Financieros

    Para mayor información sobre este tema y cómo ayudar a su estudiante con la transición a la universidad, contactenos aprendiendo@multcolib.org

    Photo of college students studying
    For folks who choose to go to college, university or trade school, we know it can be stressful and expensive. Here are some resources to help you with planning and paying for college. 

    Oregon Goes to College
    Here you'll find information for families with high school students about the steps to take to prepare for college, including how to pay for university studies, links to more than 100 colleges, universities and trade schools in the state of Oregon and resources for undocumented students. This site has a portal for various financial aid and scholarship applications. You can see the description of each and also directly apply.

    Oregon Student Aid
    This website helps Oregon students plan and pay for college. Be sure to check out the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Oregon's largest state-funded, need-based grant program for college students, as well as Oregon Promise, a state grant that helps to cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED recipients. Complete multiple applications to get money for college here. 

    FAFSA or ORSAA?
    Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans. ORSAA is an alternative to the FAFSA for Oregon residents who are undocumented, including students who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. Both the FAFSA and the ORSAA open on October 1 each year. If you are not sure where to start, use this filter tool to find out which one is appropriate for you.

    The Ford Family Foundation 
    This foundation helps high-need individuals in Oregon better their lives and the lives of their families through education beyond high school. They have scholarships available, including the Ford Scholars, to assist students who otherwise would find it impossible, or at least very difficult, to obtain a college degree. 

    CollegeBoard CSS Profile
    Some colleges also require students to fill out the CSS Profile to receive financial aid. In Oregon, Reed College requires it. Check with out-of-state schools to see their requirements.

    More information from the library:

    This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

    Image of child playing with number toys
    It’s good to know that we, as caregivers, don’t need to have a background in statistics, geometry or calculus in order to give our kids a head start in math skills. But you may be asking yourself, does math even matter in the early childhood years?

    Yes, it does! A child’s math knowledge at the start of kindergarten predicts later academic achievement, but that doesn’t mean kids should come to kindergarten knowing addition, subtraction, or multiplication. School-aged kids will learn to recite numbers early on, and that is important, but math is so much more than counting and numbers!

    For young children, math knowledge includes:

    • Noticing how things have different sizes, shapes and colors. 
    • Understanding that there is a difference between moving fast and slow or up and down.
    • Recognizing when someone has more or fewer goldfish crackers on the plate than they have.

    You’re already teaching them this math knowledge without even realizing it, and there are many, many ways to explore math with young children in your everyday routines.

    Here are some examples of early math with young children:

    • Lining up stuffed animals against a wall from shortest to tallest (measurement)
    • Scribbling, drawing, and making art (noticing and creating patterns). Math coloring sheets are another way to introduce concepts to your preschooler, and you can print them for free at your local library!  
    • Putting a collection of leaves they gathered during a walk into groups of the same colors (classification)
    • Placing pretend plates and spoons on the table for a make-believe picnic (representation)
    • Playing with building blocks (spatial sense, geometry, and problem-solving)
    • Experimenting with what will float or sink in the bath tub or pool (weight and density)
    • Using the vocabulary of math and science during their play or when cooking with the family (such as estimate, organize, and predict)

    Have babies or toddlers? Check out Math in the Bath. (Added bonus, they’ll be squeaky clean at the end of the lesson!)

    And in honor of March MATHness, the library is celebrating math with lots of fun booklists:

    No matter how you add it together, having fun with math is as easy as 1-2-3!

    This article was written for our Family newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

     

    Central Library opened to the public for the first time in 1913. Since then, Central has undergone several updates, with the most significant to date from 1994 - 1997. Beginning March 11, 2023, the library will temporarily close again to start modern renovations.

    When Central reopens, patrons will find new comfortable seating, a designated teen space, additional meeting space, updated restrooms, a completed outdoor terrace, new bookshelves, and more. Learn about library construction closures and renovations.

    The refreshed Central Library will also have fewer shelves in public areas and reduced shelf heights. The shelf updates will make it easier for patrons to reach items and will visibly open up spaces. 

    Although smaller shelves mean fewer materials on the floor, Central Library will still have thousands of materials to browse, and access to Central’s extensive print reference collection and other materials upon request.

    Library staff are currently packing around 350,000 items from Central’s collection that will be moved to safe storage during the closure. Most items will be inaccessible for library holds until Central reopens. Some items will be sorted out of the collection, following the library’s regular process of removing items that aren’t circulated or are unusable. In all cases, the library recycles, donates, and partners with local organizations to gift books.

    “Very little goes to a landfill,” says Rod Madison, library materials movement manager. As library staff pack materials, the collection is updated. “Collection maintenance work includes taking out materials that are no longer relevant or usable by patrons. This is an everyday  part of a library’s work, and we go to extra lengths to ensure we do this responsibly,” shares Rod.

    “The updated Central library will be focused on providing a good browsing experience for patrons. We will keep high-priority relevant items as accessible as possible,” says Ellie Avis, collection manager. These items include those in the We Speak Your Language and World Language collections.

    “Multnomah County Library’s overall collection size is not changing, but the amount of materials patrons will see on Central’s shelves is getting smaller” says Ellie. “For years, Central Library has stored items for the entire library system because of a lack of space. With the bond-funded construction projects, we can move about a quarter of Central's collections to the new Operations Center and have space for all the improvements coming to Central.”

    The library’s new operations center, which is currently under construction, will fill holds for patrons more efficiently and patrons will be able to access these items at their preferred library location. The operations center will also be home to a retail space similar to the library’s former Title Wave bookstore, where retired library books will be sold to the public and online. Learn more about the new Operations Center

    “We’re doing this for the future— that is the focus,” says Ellie. “We will have beautiful buildings with more space for people to spend time at the library when we are done.” 

    Central has changed a lot over the last 110 years. See how by viewing photos of Central Library throughout the past 100 years.

    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.

    Meet six women who have told our stories to the world. 

    1. Nikole Hannah-Jones (1976–present) is an investigative reporter covering racial injustice and civil rights for The New York Times. She is the creator of The 1619 Project and the picture book The 1619 Project, Born on the Water. She has won numerous awards and co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. See Jones in the Hoopla documentary East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story.
    2. Jenny Zhang (1983–present) is a writer, poet and essayist. Her books explore different perspectives on current and sensitive topics including identity, extreme poverty, sexual assault and the immigrant experience. In her 2017 short story collection, Sour Heart, Zhang writes about the complex relationships within Chinese-American families. Find books by Jenny Zhang.
    3. Wilma Mankiller (1945–2010) was an activist and the first woman elected chief of a major Native American tribe. She also founded the Community Development Department for the Cherokee Nation. Her activism was informed by a belief in collective community action for the common good. Watch The Cherokee Word for Water series on Kanopy featuring Wilma Makiller and read books by and about Wilma Mankiller.
    4. Gabby Rivera (1982–present) is an LGBTQ+ youth advocate and the first Latin woman to write for Marvel Comics. Rivera’s series America features America Chavez as the first Latina lesbian teen superhero in the Marvel universe. Rivera focuses on centering joy in the narratives about LGBTQ+ and people of color. Find books by Gabby Rivera.
    5. Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray (1910–1985) was a civil rights activist, lawyer, author, gender equality advocate and priest. She was the first woman to receive a Doctor of Juridical Science degree from Yale Law School. She worked to change laws about segregation and women’s rights. Murray published two autobiographies and a poetry collection. Read books by and about Pauli Murray.
    6. Joy Harjo (1951–present) has written poetry books, plays, memoirs and children’s books. An American Sunrise is a collection of poems about the Mvskoke people. She is the first Native American to serve as Poet Laureate for the United States and served three terms. Find books by Joy Harjo.

    Discover more women who are telling our stories with these My Librarian book recommendations.

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    Hằng năm vào mùa khai thuế, thư viện chuẩn bị sẵn sàng để hỗ trợ — hoặc là sách, buổi hướng dẫn, giới thiệu dịch vụ trợ giúp khai thuế, hay in ra các biểu mẫu khi quý vị cần. Chúng tôi ở đây là vì quý vị! Hãy tìm kiếm những hoạt động trợ giúp sắp diễn ra, chương trình, và bài Blog đăng trên trang mạng của chúng tôi để có những thông tin mới nhất.

    Hạn chót để nộp tờ khai thuế liên bang và tiểu bang là thứ Ba, ngày 18 tháng 4, 2023. Quý vị có thể nhận được sự trợ giúp và hỗ trợ khai thuế theo những cách sau:

    Bản sao các biểu mẫu hoặc tập sách hướng dẫn

    Hỗ trợ chuẩn bị khai thuế

    Các hỗ trợ khác về thuế

    Khai thuế miễn phí qua mạng

    Quý vị còn có câu hỏi?

    Gọi thư viện số 503.988.5123, gửi thư theo mẫu, hoặc trò chuyện với chúng tôi. Xin lưu ý nhân viên thư viện không thể giúp chuẩn bị hồ sơ khai thuế, tư vấn những vấn đề thuế, hoặc giải thích luật thuế.

    English | Español | Tiếng Việt | Русский | 简体中文


    Каждый год во время сезона подачи налоговых деклараций библиотека готова помочь с предоставлением необходимой литературы, семинаров, распечаткой необходимых вам форм и информации об организациях, где можно получить индивидуальную помощь. Мы всегда готовы вам помочь! 

    Чтобы получить самую свежую информацию следите за сообщениями в блогах, новостями о предстоящих событиях и программах на нашем сайте.

    Крайний срок подачи федеральных и государственных налоговых деклараций — вторник, 18 апреля 2023 г. Вы можете получить поддержку в подготовке налоговых деклараций следующими способами:

    Бумажные копии налоговых форм или инструкций

    • Загрузите и распечатайте формы и инструкции для федеральных налогов с страницы Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms & Instructions, а для штата Орегон с страницы Oregon Department of Revenue Forms and Publications. Если у вас нет возможности распечатать формы и инструкции дома, то вы можете их отправить на принтеры библиотеки практически с любого устройства или из любого места, где есть подключение к Интернету.
    • Получите формы по почте. Чтобы получить федеральные налоговые формы по почте, следуйте инструкциям на веб-сайте IRS  или позвоните по телефону 800.829.3676. Чтобы получить налоговые формы штата Орегон по почте, заполните форму онлайн-заказа или позвоните по телефону 503.378.4988 или 800.356.4222 (бесплатно).
    • Обратитесь в библиотеку. Ограниченное количество федеральных налоговых форм доступно в библиотеках. Чтобы узнать, что конкретно имеется в ближайшей к вам библиотеке, позвоните по телефону 503.988.5123 или свяжитесь с нами, отправив электронное сообщение.
    • Налоговое управление штата Орегон больше не отправляет налоговые формы и инструкции в библиотеки, поэтому у нас не будет в наличии никаких бумажных форм штата Орегон. Однако мы можем распечатать многие из необходимых вам форм. Свяжитесь с нами или спросите сотрудников в любом отделении библиотеки.

    Помощь в оформлении налоговой декларации

    • Волонтеры, прошедшие сертификацию IRS, будут оказывать очную и виртуальную помощь в заполнении налоговых деклараций начиная с 28 января. Необходима предварительная запись. Позвоните по телефону (503) 243-7765, чтобы узнать, соответствуете ли вы требованиям, и записаться на прием. Доступны услуги переводчика. Вы можете найти дополнительную информацию и получить пакеты документов онлайн с веб-сайта организации Metropolitan Family Service и CASH Oregon в рамках программы IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
    • Другие общественные группы организуют очные и виртуальные программы налоговой помощи IRS (VITA)  для налогоплательщиков, отвечающим определенным требованиям; проверьте сайт бесплатной подготовки налоговой декларации IRS Free tax return preparation для партнеров, предоставляющих эту услугу в вашем регионе.
    • CASH Oregon теперь предлагает варианты виртуальной и очной помощи с налоговой декларацией в различных районах портленда. 
    • CASH Oregon также может помочь с заявкой на получение индивидуального идентификационного номера налогоплательщика (ITIN) и продлением его срока действия. Звоните 844-972-1467 для получения дополнительной информации.
    • Служба налоговой помощи фонда AARP предлагает налоговую помощь онлайн. Есть обширный раздел самопомощи. Вы также можете отправить им по электронной почте свои вопросы о федеральном подоходном налоге. Чтобы получить индивидуальную налоговую помощь от организации AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, используйте их сайт, чтобы найти ближайшее к вам местонахождение.
    • Если вы являетесь самозанятым водителем, то Roadmap to Rideshare Taxes может помочь вам сориентироваться в том, как работают налоги на самозанятость, как подсчитывать свой доход от вождения, как отслеживать налоговые вычеты и как платить ориентировочно-предполагаемые налоги.
    • Получите помощь от IRS онлайн или по телефону 800.829.1040.
    • Получите помощь в Налоговом управлении штата Орегон онлайн отправив электронное письмо по адресу Questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov или позвоните по телефонам 503-378-4988 или 800-356-4222. Рабочие часы - с 7:30 до 17:00 с понедельника по пятницу. Телефонные линии закрыты с 9:00 до 11:00 по четвергам и в праздничные дни.
    • Дополнительную информацию о подоходном налоге на Portland Arts Education и Access Income Tax можно получить на веб-сайте Portland Revenue Online или по телефону 503-865-4278.

    Другая налоговая помощь

    • Если вам нужна помощь с налоговым вопросом, выходящим за рамки обычной налоговой декларации, возможно вам сможет помочь Low Income Taxpayer Clinic юридической школы Lewis & Clark. Они обеспечивают бесплатное юридическое представительство по вопросам федерального налогообложения, специализируясь на спорах клиентов с IRS. Свяжитесь с ними по электронной почте litc@lclark.edu или заполните онлайн-форму.
    • У вас есть вопросы об административных постановлениях и позициях IRS? Хотите прочитать анализ последнего налогового законодательства или информационный бюллетень налоговых брифингов CCH Tax Briefings? VitalLaw (ранее CCH Cheetah) - это ресурс, предназначенный главным образом для налоговых юристов и профессиональных налоговых специалистов, который может помочь в нестандартных налоговых ситуациях. Он доступен в любом из 17 наших библиотек (без удаленного доступа).

    Подайте налоговую декларацию онлайн бесплатно

    • CASH Oregon имеет список бесплатных вариантов онлайн-подачи налоговых деклараций, если вы соответствуете определенным требованиям.
    • IRS Free File позволяет вам подготовить и подать федеральный подоходный налог онлайн бесплатно.
    • У Департамента доходов штата Орегон (The Oregon Department of Revenue) есть одобренные программные обеспечения для бесплатной подготовки налоговых деклараций, если вы соответствуете требованиям. Узнайте больше об электронной подаче налоговых деклараций для штата Орегон.
    • Используйте бесплатные заполняемые формы для федеральных налогов IRS free fillable forms с последних чисел января. В штате Орегон больше нет бесплатных заполняемых форм.
    • MyFreeTaxes от United Way помогает правомочным налогоплательщикам бесплатно подготовить и подать в электронном виде свои федеральные налоговые декларации и налоговые декларации штата, а также предлагает различные способы получения поддержки. Регулярная работа организации возобновится в конце января 2023 года.

    Остались вопросы?

    Позвоните в библиотеку по телефону 503.988.5123 или отправьте нам электронное письмо. Персонал библиотеки не может подготавливать декларации, консультировать по налоговым вопросам или толковать налоговое законодательство.
     


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    每年在报税季节,图书馆随时准备为您提供帮助,无论是书籍、研讨会、转介税务辅助,还是打印您需要的表格,我们都在这里为您服务!
    请在我们的网站上查看即将举行的活动、节目、和博客文章,以获取最新信息。

    2023年4月18日,星期二是提交联邦和州政府报税表的截止日期,您可以通过以下方式获得准备报税方面的帮助和支持。

    报税表或说明书

    • 下载, 打印报税表和说明书, 您可以通过 IRS (美国国家税务局), 和Oregon Department of Revenue (俄勒冈州税务局) 的网页获取报税表和说明书。如果您无法在家打印表格,您可以从任何接有互联网的设备或地点将文件发送到图书馆的打印机
    • 邮寄报税表给您。如果您想通过邮件接收联邦报税表,请按照IRS 网站的说明进行操作,或致电 800.829.3676。如果您想通过邮件接收俄勒冈州的报税表,请在网上填写订购表或致电 503.378.4988 或 800.356.4222 (免费电话)。
    • 在图书馆领取某些联邦报税表。图书馆提供数量有限的联邦报税表; 查找您附近的图书馆是否提供联邦报税表,请致电 503.988.5123 或 发送电子邮件 给我们。
    • 俄勒冈州税务局不再向图书馆提供州府报税表和说明书,因此我们没有任何俄勒冈州的报税表; 但是我们可以帮助打印您需要的报税表, 请与我们联系或询问任何一间图书馆。

    报税辅助

    其他税务协助

    • 如果您需要在常规报税准备之外的其他帮助,请联系 Lewis & Clark Law School 的低收入纳税人服务处,或许他们能帮助您。低收入纳税人服务处提供民众基本需求的免费联邦税务法律协助,专门处理纳税人与 IRS 的争议。请发送电邮至litc@lclark.edu在网上填写表格与其联系。
    • 您是否有关于 IRS 的行政裁决与立场方面的问题? 或是想阅读近期税法分析或 CCH 税务简报(时事通讯)?VitalLaw (前身为 CCH Cheetah) 主要是为税务律师与专业报税员提供或许有助于处理某些特殊税务情况的资料库,在我们所有的17个图书馆都备有VitalLaw资料库,(无法远端使用)。

    免费网上报税 

    • CASH Oregon 列出了免费上网报税的选项,如果您符合条件便可免费使用。
    • IRS Free File 网站有免费的网上准备和提交联邦所得税服务供您使用。
    • Oregon Department of Revenue 列出了免费的认证报税软件,如果您符合资格便可免费使用。了解更多有关俄勒冈州税电子申报信息。
    • 1月下旬开始,使用 IRS free fillable forms 网上免费可填写表格,俄勒冈州不再提供免费可填写表格。
    • MyFreeTaxes (United Way) 免费协助符合条件的纳税人准备以及电子提交联邦与州税申报表,协助并包括其他数种支援方式。常规运营将于 2023 年 1 月下旬重新开始。

    仍然有问题吗?

    请致电 503.988.5123 或发电邮与我们连络。图书馆工作人员无法为您准备报税表、就税务问题提供建议、或解释税法。

    English | Español | Tiếng Việt | Русский | 简体中文


    Todos los años, durante la temporada de declaración de impuestos, la biblioteca está lista para ayudar, ya sea con libros, talleres, referencias para ayuda con los impuestos o para imprimir los formularios que necesita, ¡estamos aquí para ayudarle! Busque los próximos eventos, programas y publicaciones de blog en nuestro sitio web para obtener la información más actualizada.

    La fecha límite para presentar declaraciones de impuestos federales y estatales es el martes, 18 de abril de 2023. Usted puede obtener asistencia y apoyo para la preparación de impuestos de las siguientes maneras:

    Copias en papel de formularios o instrucciones de impuestos

    Asistencia para la preparación de las declaraciones de impuestos

    Otra asistencia fiscal

    • Si necesita ayuda con un problema de impuestos más allá de la preparación regular de impuestos, la Clínica para Contribuyentes de Bajos Ingresos de la Facultad de Derecho de Lewis & Clark podría ayudarle. Ofrecen representación legal gratuita basada en la necesidad en asuntos de impuestos federales, y se especializan en controversias de clientes con el IRS. Comuníquese con ellos enviando un correo electrónico a litc@lclark.edu o completando un formulario en línea.
    • ¿Tiene preguntas sobre las resoluciones  y posturas administrativas del IRS? ¿Quiere leer el análisis de la legislación fiscal reciente o el boletín informativo de CCH Tax Briefings? VitalLaw (anteriormente llamado CCH Cheetah) es un recurso principalmente para abogados fiscales y preparadores de impuestos profesionales que pueden ayudar con situaciones fiscales inusuales. Está disponible en cualquiera de nuestras 17 bibliotecas (sin acceso remoto).

    Declare sus impuestos en línea gratis

    • CASH Oregón tiene una lista de opciones de declaración de impuestos en línea que son gratuitas si cumple con ciertos requisitos.
    • Free File del IRS le permite preparar y presentar sus impuestos federales en línea de forma gratuita.
    • El Departamento de Ingresos de Oregón tiene una lista de productos de software para preparación de impuestos aprobados que son gratuitos si califica. Obtenga más información sobre la declaración de impuestos electrónica para Oregón.
    • Utilice los formularios rellenables gratuitos del IRS comenzando a finales de enero. Oregón ya no tiene formularios rellenables gratuitos.
    • MyFreeTaxes de United Way ayuda a los contribuyentes que califican a preparar y presentar electrónicamente sus propias declaraciones federales y estatales de forma gratuita, e incluye varias formas de obtener apoyo. Las operaciones regulares comenzarán de nuevo a finales de enero de 2023.

    ¿Todavía tienes preguntas?

    Llame a la biblioteca al 503.988.5123, envíenos un correo electrónico o chatee con nosotros. El personal de la biblioteca no puede preparar declaraciones de impuestos, asesorar sobre asuntos fiscales o interpretar la ley fiscal.

    ¿Eres artista en los grados 6.º a 12.º? 

    ¿Quieres que miles de personas vean tu arte? 

    Presenta tu diseño para el concurso de arte de Lectura de Verano para jóvenes de la Biblioteca del Condado de Multnomah. El tema es “Encuentra tu voz” (“Find your Voice”). Un jurado compuesto por personal de la biblioteca, artistas y adolescentes seleccionará un ganador entre las obras de arte presentadas. 

    El diseño ganador aparecerá en la portada de todos los tableros de juego para jóvenes. El creador del diseño ganador ganará una tarjeta de regalo prepagada de $100. 

    Se seleccionarán más obras de arte para elaborar un libro para colorear titulado “Encuentra tu voz” que se entregará a los participantes del programa de Lectura de Verano. La biblioteca compartirá los diseños seleccionados y el ganador en las redes sociales.

    ESPECIFICACIONES DEL ARTE

    1. Obras de arte originales únicamente. 
    2. El contenido debe ser apropiado para todas las edades.
    3. Solo se aceptan imágenes en blanco y negro.
    4. Si dibujas a mano, usa tinta negra, marcador, bolígrafo o lápiz duro.
    5. Si está dibujado digitalmente, envíalo como EPS en blanco y negro o PNG, JPG o TIF de alta resolución (300 ppp).

    NOTA: Las ilustraciones finales se imprimirán a un tamaño máximo de 6" x 4". Puedes utilizar la caja anterior para enviar tu obra de arte. No es necesario que utilices toda la caja, pero tu obra de arte debe caber dentro de ella.

    DETALLES DE PRESENTACIÓN

    Incluye tu nombre, grado, escuela (si es el caso) y un número de teléfono o una dirección de correo electrónico para que podamos contactarte si ganas. Los ganadores serán seleccionados según los siguientes criterios:

    • Sigue las especificaciones técnicas anteriores.
    • Dibuja algo relacionado con el tema: Encuentra tu voz. Nuestras voces no solo incluyen los sonidos que emitimos, sino también las palabras que escribimos, el arte que creamos, los movimientos que realizamos y las acciones que llevamos a cabo cada día para influir en nuestro mundo.
    • Demuestra mérito artístico o de diseño gráfico
    • Los ganadores deben vivir en el área de servicio de la Biblioteca del Condado de Multnomah. 

    Envía tu obra electrónicamente a summerreading@multcolib.org, llévala a la biblioteca del vecindario o envía una versión en papel a: 

    Summer Reading / Multnomah County Library Isom Building 

    205 NE Russell Street, Portland, OR 97212 

    — Las obras de arte deben recibirse antes de las 11:59 pm del martes, 28 de febrero de 2023 — 

    La Lectura de Verano es posible gracias a los regalos que recibe La Fundación de la Biblioteca (The Library Foundation), una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada al liderazgo, la innovación y el alcance de nuestra biblioteca a través del apoyo privado.

    Photo of family enjoying time outside

    “I routinely prescribe nature to children and families.  Nature has the power to heal."  

    -Dr. Nooshin Razani, pediatrician, presenter of the TED Talk "Presribing Nature for Health"

    Research suggests that taking a walk, visiting a park, or getting out in nature can relieve stress, encourage family bonding, and support physical activity.  Less stress means less depression, anxiety, and isolation...not just for kids, but for adults, too!  

     

     

     

     

    There’s so much to see and do out there, so take Dr. Razani’s prescription and get outside!   Even just a little bit can do wonders for your health - mental, physical, emotional, and overall!
     

    This article was written for our Family Newsletter, brought to you by Home Learning Support and available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

    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.

    Books in the background, black box with white letters saying Black History Month Booklist, Black Resistance for young readers

    Here are the top 5 books about Black Resistance that librarian Alicia T. recommends for kids and teens.

    1. The first recommendation starts with two books! Stamped (for Kids) by Sonja Cherry-Paul and Stamped by Jason Reynolds. Stamped (for Kids) is a National Book Award-winning chapter book on racism and anti-racism. Kids can discover people who fought racism with antiracism and learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives. Stamped takes teens on a journey showing how racist ideas started and spread, and how to discredit them. Both books are available in Spanish with Stamped (para niños) and Stamped.
    2. Hold Them Close by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a celebration of Black children that showcases their past, embracing the present, and reaching for a bright future. 
    3. Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids by Rann Miller gives children an opportunity to learn about little-known facts and figureheads from Black history while fully encapsulating the experiences of the Black and African diaspora. Learn about African enslavement, the Civil Rights Movement, and more historic events.
    4. Victory. Stand! by Tommie Smith is a graphic memoir about Olympic gold medal winner Tommie Smith’s athletic career and his fight for civil rights. This memoir takes you through Tommie's life as a child in Texas, up to his Olympic victory and protest of racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. 
    5. Revolution in Our Time by Kekla Magoon is a compelling book that shares the history of the Black Panther party as a revolutionary movement. The Black Panther party became a target of one of the most sustained repression efforts ever made by the U.S. government against its own citizens. Magoon’s work invites a new generation of readers to learn from the Panther’s history and courage. 

    Bonus book: Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransom is a story about a girl named Ruth Anne and her family’s journey as part of the Great Migration from North Carolina to New York City.

    A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
    What do writers need? Virginia Woolf famously said that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction” (in the essay A Room of One’s Own). Writers need time, and space to pursue their craft. Writers need support, which can take the form of opportunities to read aloud, or to hear other writers talking about writing, or a community of supportive critical readers.

    There are lots of organizations in the Portland area that offer resources for writers! Some are free, others are cheap (though not all). They involve various commitments of time. Here are some local organizations, roughly grouped  - but you’ll see that they are hard to categorize… 

    Writing groups, workshops, and classes

    The Attic Institute presents workshops, classes, and individual consultation about writing projects.

    Lewis and Clark Northwest Writing Institute offers classes for community members.

    The Mountain Writers Series presents monthly readings and writing workshops. The links section of their webpage connects to a huge number of other local organizations!

    The Multnomah Arts Center offers some wonderful literary arts classes.

    Portland State University has a few different academic programs in creative writing.

    VoiceCatcher is a nonprofit connecting and empowering women writers in Portland.

    Write Around Portland offers free creative writing workshops in social service settings, and creates publication and reading opportunities for workshop participants.

    Membership organizations

    The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) offers resources and workshops related to printing and book-making. They also have certificate programs in creative nonfiction/fiction, poetry, and comics/graphic novels.

    Oregon Poetry Association, Oregon’s oldest and largest literary organization, offers community, contests, and conferences.

    Oregon Writers Colony offers community, conferences and workshops, and the use of a beach house writing retreat!

    Rose City Romance Writers, the Portland, Oregon chapter of Romance Writers of America, educates, supports, and mentors published and unpublished romance writers.

    Willamette Writers hosts regular meetings for the exchange of ideas related to writing and craft.

    Reading series

    Literary Arts’ programs include Portland Arts and Lectures, Writers in the Schools, the Oregon Book Awards and Fellowships, and Delve Readers Seminars.

    There are many different reading series in Portland! You could head out to hear writers read their work at the Free Range Poetry series at the Northwest Library,  Mountain Writers series, the Spare Room series,  the submission reading series, Burnt Tongue, Unchaste Readers, or The Switch... you could catch a reading when the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (FWWA) Pacific Northwest Reading Series has a Portland event...  or you could see one of the many readings at Powell's Books! The Notable Portland column on The Rumpus lists select awesome events, mostly literary oriented.

    Local Publishers

    The Northwest is home to a vibrant publishing world. Here are just a few:

    • Ooligan Press -  is a student-run trade press dedicated to cultivating the next generation of publishing professionals. Ooligan works with the library to publish selections from The Library Writers Project.
    • Microcosm Publishing - Microcosm specializes in nonfiction DIY (Do-It-Yourself) books, zines, and decks that focus on the reader and teach self-empowerment.
    • Forest Avenue Press - publishes literary fiction on a joyride and the occasional memoir. Our titles are infused with a fresh, complex, sometimes nutty, and often-wondrous approach to storytelling.
    • Sasquatch Books - publishes books by the most gifted writers, artists, chefs, naturalists, and thought leaders in the Pacific Northwest and on the West Coast.

    To connect to more publishers and keep up with Northwest book news, especially indy stores and authors, check out the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association.

    Other stuff

    Although closures may impact availability, Multnomah County’s Central Library offers the Sterling Room for Writers, where writers can find a quiet work space in close proximity to all the resources the library has to offer. Interested writers must submit an application and be approved to gain access to the room.

    Black-owned newspapers date back to before the Civil War. Even after Black people began publishing newspapers, there were areas of the country where people still communicated in secret to avoid violence and suspicion. In much of the country, Black people, especially enslaved Black people, lived under governments that made it illegal for them to read or write. When Black people wrote, read and published their own newspapers, it was an act of vital resistance against oppression.

    "Newspapers are essentially the time capsules of society, and from them, you can learn a great deal about the everyday lives of Black people who lived in the past. I've learned so much about the history of Black people in Oregon that was never taught in school," says Lanel Jackson, Black Cultural Library Advocate (BCLA) library assistant. Lanel's research provides the foundation for this article.

    Image of library assistant inside the library reading a newspaper

    To find information from local Black-owned newspapers: 

    By the turn of the century, there were over 500 Black-owned publications nationwide. The first publicly recorded Black-owned newspaper in the United States was Freedom’s Journal, established in 1827 in New York. It distributed 103 issues before shutting down in 1829. Freedom’s Journal was a source of information for thousands of Americans seeking information about health, entertainment, education and more.

    Black-owned newspapers covered the fight for civil rights, marriage, death, divorce, birth announcements, residents moving to new locations, visitors, and achievements of community members. They sometimes included people's home addresses and pictures of the owner.

    In 1896, Adolphus Griffin established the first Black-owned newspaper in Oregon, The New Age. Also known as the Portland New Age, the weekly newspaper published local and national information until its end in 1907. 

    In 1903, E.D. Cannady published the first issue of The Advocate, which covered segregation, employment and more. When E.D. Cannady married Beatrice Cannady, she became the lead publisher and editor of The Advocate until its closure in 1938.

    Stories about incidents and events often evolved over days, weeks or even years. As a result, additional research may be needed to uncover a story's facts. Read historical Black-owned newspapers from different areas to discover connections made between people in Portland and other cities along the West coast. 

    You can also find more newspapers through the library’s EBSCOHost and Pro-Quest databases with your library card number. With Pro-Quests Ethnic NewsWatch, read current and historical coverage of various communities of language and culture.

    Various colorful books on a table

    Photo credit: Motoya Nakamura, Multnomah County 

    Gone are the days when you were hushed for giggling. 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?

    1. Learn a new language: With Mango Languages, you have access to over 40 language courses from basic introductory courses to more advanced, and conversational learning. Learn Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Vietnamese, German and more.
    2. Watch a movie: Watch documentaries and indie films through the Kanopy collection or stream music, comics, and videos through Hoopla.
    3. Print documents free of charge: Printing is available at all library locations, for free! Use the mobile printing service or come use a library computer for copying, faxing and scanning.
    4. Visit a local museum: Enjoy free educational and cultural experiences through My Discovery Pass. You’ll find tickets for museums, local cultural attractions and performances.
    5. Live homework help: With your library account, you can gain access to Tutor.com, where you can practice for the PSAT, tackle a math problem, or have a paper for your class proofread.
    6. Start your citizenship journey: Learn about the process of becoming a citizen in a free series of classes. The classes cover U.S. history, government and other information that can help you prepare for the Citizenship Test. Classes are in English and taught by volunteers from Mission: Citizen.
    7. Get Job help, resume building and interview prep: Library staff can help you get started with your job search. From creating a resume and cover letter, to practicing for an interview, the library has classes and individual appointments available for you.
    8. Take adult literacy classes: The library offers one-on-one and small group tutoring to help patrons achieve their learning goals. Whether it is to prepare for a GED exam or read a child’s notes from school, the library’s adult literacy team can help.
    9. Visit the Rockwood Makerspace and build cool things (grades 6-12): The Rockwood Makerspace is a collaborative learning environment for teens to hang out, create independent projects with art supplies, and learn new technology.
    10.  Get one-on-one tech help: Many locations offer drop-in tech help sessions. Come by and meet one-on-one with a friendly tech helper. They’ll help you find answers to questions about mobile devices, websites, getting started with e-books and more. 

    The library is excited to welcome youth in grades 6-12 to participate in the 2023 Multnomah County Library Summer Reading Art Contest!

    With the theme of “Find Your Voice,” teens can create and submit cover art to be displayed on the Summer Reading teen gameboards. Prizes include a $100 prepaid gift card!  

    A panel of library staff, artists, and teens will select one winner from the entries. If your artwork is selected, people across Multnomah County will see your artwork all summer long. The library will also share winners and honorable mentions on the library’s social media channels. Selected art will be included in a Summer Reading coloring book.

    ART SPECIFICATIONS

    1. Original artwork only.

    2. Content should be appropriate for all ages.

    3. Black & white image only.

    4. If hand drawn, use black ink, marker, pen or hard pencil.

    5. If digitally drawn, submit as black & white EPS or high resolution (300 dpi) PNG, JPG or TIF.

    NOTE: Final artwork will be printed at a maximum of 6” x 4” [measurements may change if art is scaled down].

    The box on the flyer is proportional to the final maximum measurement, and you may use it to submit your artwork. 

    You don’t have to use the entire box, but your artwork must fit inside of it.

    SUBMISSION DETAILS

    Please include your name, grade, school (if applicable) and a phone number or email address so we can reach you if you win.

    Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

    • Follow art specifications above 
    • Draw something related to the theme: Find Your Voice. Our voices include not only the sounds we make, but the words we write, the art we create, the movements we perform, and the actions we take each day to impact our world.
    • Show graphic design/artistic merit.
    • Winners must live in the Multnomah County Library service area.

    —Art is subjective. Decision of the panel is final.—

    By submitting a design, you agree to the following:

    • You affirm that the artwork is your original design and that no part of the artwork has been copied or derived from any other work. 
    • You give the library permission to make digital and print copies of the artwork you are submitting and to share the artwork you submitted with the public on the web, on the cover of teen gameboards, in a coloring book and in other places.
    • You give the library permission to include your first name, grade and school when the library makes copies of or shares the artwork you are submitting.

    Entries must be received by: 11:59 pm, Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023.

    Submit your artwork electronically to summerreading@multcolib.org, bring it to your local library, or mail a paper version to: Summer Reading Program – Multnomah County Library Isom Building, 205 NE Russell Street, Portland, OR 97212

    Summer Reading is supported by gifts to The Library Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to our library's leadership, innovation and reach through private support.

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