Collection Development Manual > About the Collection
About the Collection
Founded in 1864, Multnomah County Library is a magical place in our community. The library has fostered a love of books and reading, provided free and accessible information and brought knowledge to millions of people. Books have been supplemented by 21st-century technology, and tax dollars have been spent wisely and responsibly.
The Library's purpose is to make available to individuals of all ages books and other media for their informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs. The Library recognizes that within Multnomah County there are groups and individuals with widely separate and diverse interests, backgrounds, ethnic and cultural heritages, social values, educational levels, and reading abilities. The diversity of community interests requires a wide range of subjects and the presentation of multiple points of view varying in treatment from the simple to the complex.
Multnomah County Library is Oregon's largest public library, serving over one-fifth of the state population. Central Library and 16 branches house nearly 1.8 million books and over 500 public computer search stations. Together these libraries serve the ethnically and linguistically diverse populations of Multnomah County as well as the three other counties that make up the Greater Portland Metropolitan area. Located conveniently throughout Multnomah County, the libraries house general and special interest circulating and reference collections for all age groups in languages and formats that represent and are responsive to the character of the neighborhoods that they serve. The Library collection is also called upon to meet the academic, professional and technical research needs of people around the region and nationwide. Budget constraints and space limitations prevent Multnomah County Library from duplicating specialized and comprehensive collections in all agencies. Instead, access to the library's collections is provided through an online catalog, a system of materials reserves, and various delivery mechanisms to ensure cost-effective, efficient, and equitable access to materials from any location. In addition, Multnomah County Library actively participates in regional, state and national cooperative networks, facilitates interlibrary loan, and works with consortia, sharing resources.