Multnomah County Library

Multnomah County Library is one of the most important cultural and educational resources in our region. With the highest circulation among U.S. public libraries serving fewer than 1 million people, our library reaches more people in our county than any other public or private cultural or educational service. More than one-fifth of Oregon’s population is served by our library. With a history that dates back to 1864, our library has been a national leader for more than a century. 

A few facts that demonstrate Multnomah County Library’s leadership. Our library:

• Is the oldest public library west of the Mississippi.
• Ranks number one in circulation among U.S. libraries serving fewer than 2 million people.
• Is visited in person by more than 15,000 every day.
• Receives 19,000 visits online each day.
• Checked out or renewed 23.9 million items last year.
• Reached more than 325,000 babies, preschoolers, children and adults with reading and learning programs last year.
• Broke records in 2011 with the library’s Summer Reading program—98,000 children participated and over 650 people volunteered, many of them young people.
• Offers programs in five languages—English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese.

Multnomah County Library supports all of our community’s endeavors from the arts to a thriving economy, from education to public affairs, from science to cultural engagement.