Getting a Multnomah County Library card is easy! These cards are free to residents of Multnomah County and other nearby areas that participate in the Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange. If you’re a resident of the following, you could get a FREE Multnomah County Library card!
- Clackamas County, Oregon (except Johnson City)
- Cowlitz County, Washington (Ariel, Cougar, Woodland and Yale Precinct only)
- Hood River County, ORegon
- Washington County, Oregon
- Clark County, Washington
- Klickitat County, Washington
- Skamania County, Washington
You can also apply for a Passport Card if you have a library card to one of more than 100 participating libraries throughout Oregon. The Passport Card is not a full library card, but it can still be used to check out items (including laptops) and download e-Books from OverDrive!
Get FREE passes to Cultural Institutions!
All Multnomah County Library cardholders can participate in the My Discovery Pass program. However, librarian Nadia cautioned, “Not all of these passes are available to each patron at all times. Once you log into your My Discovery Pass account, it will show you which passes are available to you.”
Sometimes, passes will not be available. If that’s the case, you’ll want to check back again on the first of the month. Passes may not be available if you already have two reservations, you’ve already visited each venue this year or you owe more than $20 to the library. If you’re using a student card or passport card, you will not be able to check out museum passes.
The number of people admitted per pass varies depending on the venue and you’ll need to log in to view that information.
Currently, the following institutions are participating:
- Portland Art Museum
- Literary Arts
- Northwest Film Center
Stream free movies, audio books, e-books and more!
Download {and keep} free legal music from Freegal! You can also stream music from hoopla and Music Online.
Stream FREE online movies, TV shows and more from hoopla, IndieFlix and Overdrive.
Access free e-Books and audio books from Overdrive, hoopla, and Tumble Books Library/
Access digital magazines with Zinio!
Access exclusive subscription databases like Auto Repair Reference Center, Business Insights, CultureGrams, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Heritage Quest, Medline Plus, New York Times archives, Reference USA and WorldCat.
Check out laptops, iPads and more!
The library offers laptops and iPads for checkout. However, they must stay within the library. Laptops can be used for two hours per day. The iPads offer filtered internet access and games for children.
Learn new skills with online and offline library resources!
Learn computer and software skills from Lynda.com. More than 1,900 online courses are available, covering topics from animation to programming and more!
Prepare for tests such as the GED, SAT, CBEST, GRE, ASVAB and other academic and employment-related exams. You’ll need your library card to log in to the helpful Learning Express database!
Learn a new langauge with Mango! The software can help you master over 40 new languages. English courses are available in 17 different languages. Children up to age 6 can begin learning a new language with the included Little Pim program!
Learn English with help from the local library. The library offers English classes, informal conversation times and more to help English learners practice!
Study to become a citizen with six free two-hour classes provided by the library. These classes will help you prepare for your interview, exam and more.
Take adult literacy classes at the library! The LEARN (Let Every Adult Read Now) program provides one-on-one tutoring to adult patrons who are struggling to read. The tutors can also help you prepare for the GED or citizenship exam!
Kids & Teens LOVE the Multnomah County Library!
Get live homework help from Tutor.com! The tutors are available for one-on-one help between 2pm and 10pm every day. They speak English, Spanish and Vietnamese. They’ll help you proofread rough drafts of essays, tackle math problems and even study for the PSAT!
Teens are invited to join the Teen Council, where teens and library staff work on service projects, leadership skills, creative projects and events. Snacks are always provided!
Read for prizes during the summer! The Multnomah County Library summer reading program includes free live performances, arts, crafts and many reading incentives for babies, kids and teens.
If you’re under 18, you won’t get late fees on ANY items! If the item becomes seven weeks past due, you will be fined for the replacement fee.
Get materials delivered to your door for just $3!
No time to visit the library? Get books, DVDs and more sent directly to your mailbox for just $3 per item! If you’re a homebound patron, you can receive mail service free. Get more details right here.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.