Multnomah County Library history

In 1890, another group of Portland citizens decided to open the Free Reading Room and Library Association.

On March 10, 1902, the library became a tax-supported free public library, open to all residents of Portland.

Albina Library's first location - a small reading room that housed about 100 books - opened in 1906, under the custodianship of Mrs.

Use of the collection continued to grow, so the library moved to larger quarters on Russell Street in 1909.

In 1911, the gift of nearby property and funds from the Carnegie Corporation of New York resulted in a larger library building at 216 N.E. Knott, just a block and a half from the previous site.

Original opening date: September 6, 1913

The Library Association of Portland’s 1917 annual report states, “On January 24th, at the earnest request of the people of the neighborhood, a branch was opened in the Rose City Park district at a point within easy reach of the residents of Laurelhurst and Beaumont.

In 1924, the Library Association board recommended to the Rose City Park Library committee the purchase of a lot on N.E. Broadway Avenue, near 42nd Street.

Rose City Park Library closed in July 1925, with the hope that the new building would be ready to open later that year.

The new library, located at 1170 N.E. Hancock Street, opened in August 1926.

In June 1967, a new Albina Library opened in a storefront building on the corner of N. Vancouver Avenue and N. Beech Street.

Friends received a $100,000 bequest from the estate of Mary E. Phillips, the Multnomah County librarian when the Friends were formed in 1972.

Original opening (current location): October 4, 1977

The $3.45 million library was funded with a portion of the $29 million general obligation bond approved by voters in May 1996.

Reopening date: April 8, 1997

By fall of 1998, properties on N.E. Tillamook Street between N.E. 40th and 41st Avenues had been selected and purchased.

After more than 20 years at this location, it closed on January 10, 1999 for renovation and expansion, reopening on June 22, 1999.