Multnomah County Library (1902-) | University of Illinois Archives

Name: Multnomah County Library (1902-)

Historical Note: The Multnomah County Library has been in operation in Portland, Oregon since 1902. The library was the brainchild of a group of Portland businessmen, who established the Library Association of Portland and began acquiring books in 1864. In 1891, the Library Association opened a free public service and by 1902 the city of Portland began funding the library through taxes. Throughout the 1900s, the library expanded its holdings, added departments, and opened several buildings around the city. The library was governed by the Library Association of Portland until 1990, when the Association transfered its buildings and holdings to the people of Multnomah County.

Sources: Cheryl Gunselman, "Library Association of Portland," Oregon Encyclopedia Online, accessed August 18, 2026, online at: https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/library_association_of_portland/

Note Author: Nolan Vallier