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Libraries Evolve with Changing Demographics
Tailoring programs
for immigrants;
and modernizing
with technology
C ari H achmann
T he P ortland O bserver
by
Dovetailing our city’s increased library
use with changing demographics, Portland
libraries tailor new, educational programs for
immigrants and modernize technology to
meet more needs, faster.
Multnomah County Library, the oldest
public library west of the Mississippi, re­
ceived a 201 1 National Association of Coun­
ties Achievement Award for its work with
immigrant communities within the city limits.
The library’s Resources for Immigrant’s
program, an extension of one of the library’s
key priorities of providing immigrants with
information and resources needed to partici­
pate successfully in life in the United States,
has dramatically improved free and educa­
tional services.
“We view this recognition of the library’s
ability to effectively respond to the chang­
ing needs of the community, something made
possible by countless hours of hard work by
incredibly dedicated staff,” said Vailey
Oehlke, director of the local library system.
Doubling staff from 30 in 2005,77 librar­
ians including four bilingual youth librarians
now serve 11 branch libraries. Rich collec­
tions, citizenship programs, language learn­
ing labs, and conversation circles for non­
natives are among resources Multnomah
County Library has tailored for an evolving
community.
“While this is a milestone for the library,
it is clear there is more work to be done here,
and we look forward to meeting these chal­
lenges, now and in the future,” said Oehlke.
Last year, 27,246county residents attended
1,843 programs and while providing 27 per­
cent more library materials in Spanish, Chi­
nese, Russian, and Vietnamese, usage of
such resources increased 81 percent.
Library staff now presents story times in
Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and
Vietnamese at nine library locations and of­
fer computer assistance in Spanish, Chinese,
Russian, and Vietnamese.
While a swell in immigrant resources re­
flects a changing tide in Portland’s demo­
graphics, overall Multnomah County’s li­
brary circulation has increased steadily over
the last decade, with checkouts and renew­
als doubling, and holds tripling.
photo by
C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
Rebecca Felix, a regular North Portland library patron, says the newly installed checkout station makes it easier to check out
books herself, whereas before she might have to wait in a long line.
photo by
C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
Along with 18 neighborhood libraries in Multnomah County, North Portland Library
updated services with a whole new look; including three new checkout stations,
security gates, and enhanced stations for internet and circulation.
In 2009, a citizen-led advisory committee
recommended the replacement of outdated
check-out systems with the installation of a
new data-tagging system called Radio Fre­
quency Identification or RFID.
This summer, 19 neighborhood libraries
received the installation of new checkout
stations, security gates, and the tagging of
nearly two million library books, CDs, DVDs,
and other items with RFID tags.
Items tagged with RFID barcodes are
more easily read than the library’s old
scanners, making check-in and check-outs
faster, and giving staff a better inventory
device for held or missing items along with
overall, more efficient stew ardship of col­
lections. The tags also prevent theft of
library materials.
“We all have busy lives, so coming to the
library to check out and place holds -it
[RFID] dramatically cuts down on the time to
get what you need and be on your way,” said
Jerem y G ray b ill, M ultnom ah C ounty
Library’s marketing and communications
director. .
Now that RFID-enabled checkout stations
offer patrons the speed, convenience, and
privacy o f checking out their own books,
staff can get out from behind the desk and
help more people with other needs.
“We love it, and the public seems to love
it,” said Patricia Walsh, manager at North
Portland Library, who says the new features
to the branch are more in line with their
service principles.
With about 31,000 items checked out a
day from the library, about 80% of all check­
outs are now handled by the patron, up from
19 percent in 2009, while the numbers of
missing items at Central Library has reduced
by 61 percent.
The enormous project, which cost just
over $2.9 million with $2.1 paid for by the
library and $800,000 coming from the
Multnomah County, was completed by more
than 60 volunteers who donated over 1,100
hours of work.
Summer Parkways
Reaches Downtown
Fountains at Waterfront Park burst behind the Sprockettes, young
dancers from a summer g irls ’ camp, as the group kicks o ff the fun for
audiences attending Sunday Parkways, a city sponsored event o f traffic-
free streets. From Wallace Park in northwest Portland all the way to the
Waterfront, the free Sunday event offered live music, food, bike rides,
dancing, disc golf, fitness lessons, and more summer musings.
photo by
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver