Multnomah County Library

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Multnomah County Library

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Multnomah County Library's 19 neighborhood locations serve the city of Portland, OR, and beyond.

Multnomah County Library is the oldest public library west of the Mississippi, with a history that reaches back to 1864. Today, Central Library and 18 other libraries make up a system that offers more than two million books and other library materials. As Oregon's largest public library, Multnomah County Library serves nearly one-fifth of the state's population with a wide variety of programs and services.

10/29/2026

🗳️The November 3, 2026 General Election is right around the corner! Drop off your Multnomah County ballot at any library location by 8 pm on Election Day. Drop boxes close at exactly 8 pm, so make sure to come early.

Visit multco.us for a map of ballot return sites, and follow for detailed information straight from the Multnomah County Elections Division!

· Where do the ballots go?
Ballots are collected by Elections staff and go directly to the Elections Office. They are collected on a regular schedule, with more collections as needed. Libraries can also call for a pickup if their totes are getting full!

· How long has the library had this system?
Multnomah County Libraries have supported elections since vote by mail was introduced in Oregon nearly 30 years ago!

· Will my ballot be handled safely?
Every election worker who handles a ballot is sworn in to uphold the integrity of our election process. In addition, multiple staff members are present when ballots are handled.

Photography by Motoya Nakamura/ Multnomah County

10/29/2026

In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month! Join us in honoring the diverse and vibrant cultures of the Native American community by attending one of our various events throughout the month! Save this post to bookmark all of the cool events happening starting November 1!

We also invite you to visit our website to learn about our incredible Indigenous team of Multnomah County Library, and all of the important work they do for the community.

10/26/2026

🥞 Aprendan a hacer crepas de manera sencilla, con ideas de varios rellenos dulces y saladas. Se dará una demostración de crepa dulce. Por favor haga clic en el enlace en bio para inscribirse.

Learn how to make crepes, with ideas for a variety of sweet and savory fillings. Watch a demonstration and learn how to make fresh French crepes with sweet filling!

When: Sunday, November 8 from 2 - 3:00 pm
Where: Central Library

10/23/2026

Many Portland buildings have a paranormal past, with some locations causing enough stir to make local headlines. From reports of screams to ghostly figures in the night, there’s enough paranormal lore out there to keep horror fans busy. Read all about Oregon’s haunted history with some of these creepy curated titles!

For readers interested in local history but who lean more towards the factual, the library has something for you too. Find out your neighborhood and house history with online tools on the library website!

10/22/2026

Do you have boxes of film negatives, old letters, or Great Aunt June's handstitched tapestry you want to preserve?

We have teamed up with our friends at Multnomah County Records & Archives() and invite you to take a deep dive into your own histories with this hands-on preservation workshop. Join experienced archivists and records professionals as they answer questions and offer strategies on preserving photographs, documents, artifacts and stories well into the future.

All attendees are encouraged to bring examples from their own personal archives. Registration is preferred, but not required. You can do so on our website!

📜 Save Your History: A Preservation Workshop
When: Sunday, October 25 from 2 - 4:00 pm
Where: East County Library, Community Room 2H

10/19/2026

⚡️ARE YOU A MENOPUNK?⚡️

Grab your spot for MenoPunks Podcast Live at Albina Library on Saturday, Nov 14th at 4:00 PM!

Host Alicia J. Rose will be in conversation with icons Alice Bag, Lidia Yuknavitch, and Lasara Firefox Allen to tear down menopause myths, fight for hormonal justice, and talk midlife creativity without the censorship.

Hormones are healthcare. Bodily autonomy is a human right. Let’s make some noise together!

🔥 Free registration is 100% required and seats are limited.

After the discussion, join Alicia and guests for the Menopunks Q&A + Networking Hour at Open Signal.

Link in comments to register!

10/15/2026

Mushrooms don't just go on fun bike rides along mossy trails, they also help save the planet!

Fungi are nature's ultimate recyclers. By eating up dead leaves, old wood, and scraps on the forest floor, they turn this debris into rich soil that helps new plants grow.

Hilde H., our 2026 Bike to Books winner (Pre-K to 2nd grade), was so inspired by mushrooms that they drew this cute little friend and won first place! You'll be able to spot "Earthy Day" painted on a bike lane in early 2027.

If you want the full "Earthy Day" inspired booklist for kids, tell us in the comments! Happy Mushroom Day 🍄

10/14/2026

Join presenter Donna L. Cohen, MEd, MLIS this weekend at St. Johns Library! Learn about election laws, redistricting, and more with Beyond Voting: What you need to know about the midterms!

Previously a teacher and librarian, Donna has presented nonpartisan civics workshops for adults for the past nine years. Her workshops foster critical thinking skills and encourage civic engagement by sharing how to get involved effectively 🗳️

WHERE: St. Johns Library
WHEN: Saturday, October 17 from 2 pm to 3:30 pm

10/13/2026

Fill out the patron survey today! Your experience is important to us, and your input helps us improve. We'd love your feedback on our short 10-question patron survey.

The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and is open from October 12-23, 2026. The library will share survey results in summer 2027.

The survey is available in English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Take it online at the link 🔗 in our comments, or stop by your local library and fill it out on paper.

10/08/2026

Multnomah County library kids have a lot to say about Banned Books Week. Swipe to read their perspectives 👉

The bottom line is that book bans are rising! Book titles being challenged and banned were predominantly by or about LGBTQIA+ persons and Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

But you can help. Continue checking out banned books, stay informed, and stay involved in advocating for your freedom to read.

Address

Portland, OR
97204

Telephone

+15039885123

Website

https://multcolib.org/

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