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Collection Development Manual > Libraries & collections > Regional

Regional

Scope of collections

Regional libraries, the larger of the neighborhood branches, offer bigger collections, more staff and more human space than the smaller community libraries. Customers visiting larger neighborhood libraries can expect to find expanded, larger and somewhat more specialized collections than those found at smaller locations. In addition to the basic and electronic collections offered at the neighborhood libraries, these expanded, larger collections generally reflect the need to serve a broader and deeper audience. Users should find:

Collection descriptions of regional libraries:

Gresham

Gresham Regional Library serves the residents of East Multnomah County as well as communities in Clackamas County and Hood River County, and Clark County in Washington.

Gresham Library has a broad collection of fiction and nonfiction materials, and an excellent reference collection with a wide assortment of both adult and juvenile reference materials. Gresham is unique among the libraries in its microfilm collection. The Gresham Outlook and The Oregonian are available on microfilm.

While most of the library's users are residents of Gresham or Portland, there are also regular patrons who reside in Clackamas and Hood River counties. Most of the library's patrons are native English speakers, though in recent years there has been an increase in the number of Spanish and Russian speakers. Gresham Library has a solid and growing collection of juvenile and adult materials in Spanish, and was designated Multnomah County Library's first bilingual branch in 2000. The Russian language collection, though smaller than the Spanish collection, is showing steadily increasing use.

Hillsdale

Hillsdale Regional Library serves residents of Southwest Portland and nearby residents of Clackamas and Washington counties.

The Hillsdale collection consists primarily of current, popular fiction and nonfiction for all ages from young children through young adults to seniors. Popular topics at Hillsdale are travel, gardening, investment and history (world, United States and local). Children's materials are popular as well, particularly picture books.

Many Hillsdale patrons also use Central Library for in-depth reference and come to their neighborhood library primarily for fiction, popular nonfiction, kids' books and practical do-it-yourself titles. Hillsdale Library also has a good collection of large print materials, which is well-used.

The Hillsdale area is a culturally and linguistically diverse community, and the library strives to meet the needs of area residents. There is a large Jewish population in the area and the library maintains a good basic collection of Judaica. Hillsdale is also home to a significant Russian speaking population as well as a growing Spanish speaking population, and the library has small collections of Russian and Spanish language materials. The Russian collection is primarily fiction, and the Spanish collection is still being developed.

Hollywood

Hollywood Regional Library serves the residents of Northeast and North Portland.

Hollywood Library has a broad collection including fiction and nonfiction materials, reference works, and a well-used collection of materials for children and young adults. Popular topics include business, current fiction, computer books, biography and other popular nonfiction, and travel. The recorded music, children's and young adult collections are very well-used. In addition, the library's Teen Lounge has boosted young adult use of the library.

Most of the library's patrons are native English speakers, though in recent years there has been a small increase in the numbers of Spanish and Vietnamese speakers who use the library. Hollywood Library has a growing collection of juvenile and adult materials in Spanish and Vietnamese.

Hollywood Library is in the neighborhood where local author Beverly Cleary's books are set, so the collection of Cleary's novels and other related items are vital parts of the collection.

Midland

Midland Regional Library serves the residents of central Multnomah County and Southeast Portland, as well as residents of Clackamas County.

The library has a fairly extensive general popular fiction and nonfiction collection of materials for both children and adults. The library's collection of reference materials covers a diverse array of subjects - philosophy, automobile repair, biography, history, science, and literature among others. Current fiction, films on DVD and video, recorded music, and travel are all popular topics at Midland. There is a good collection of children's picture books and easy readers that are used extensively by children and adults.

The library also has collections in Russian, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. English language learning materials are well-used. Easy reading books with tapes are also popular for new English speakers, and with children learning to read.

Midland Library serves a diverse population of middle and working class people that includes many new immigrant and second generation families. There is a large community of Ukrainians, Russians, and Romanians and a strong Asian community that includes Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cambodians. There is a growing population of immigrant families from Mexico, and the library has three bi-lingual English/Spanish staff, including a library assistant who does extensive outreach to the Hispanic community. This area of Multnomah County has recently attracted immigrant populations from Africa and the Middle East, and in the last two years, a growing number of African-American families have moved into the area. There are several senior housing complexes in the area, and senior citizens use the library regularly. A large number of middle school children and teen-agers use the library every day. David Douglas High School is just a mile from the library and Parkrose High School has a direct Tri-Met bus line to the library. There are several grade schools and middle schools within walking distance from the library or on a bus line. The large parking lot attracts families with children who drive to the library.

The library has special collections in Russian, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Midland Library has a large reference collection of automobile repair manuals which is heavily used. There is a good collection of children's picture books and easy readers that are used extensively by children and adults. Easy reading books with tapes are popular for new English speakers and children learning to read. Midland Library has a large space designated for large print books, and these are heavily used by older patrons.