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Other Libraries in the Portland Area
Sometimes you may need to broaden your search for resources beyond our library. There are multiple libraries in the Portland area that provide you with borrowing privileges for no fee or a small fee either while you are a student or if you are an area resident. Information on library cards and borrowing policies is available here.
Multnomah County
Public Library
Multnomah County Public Library
The MCPL is an excellent resource to expand your research. With a public library card, you can remotely access almost all of the public library's databases, check out books from any public library location, and use your card for interlibrary loan, when the article or book you need is not available through the public library.
How to get a public library card
Fill out a registration form.
- You will be asked to show valid photo identification.
- Applicants under the age of 13 must have the signature of a parent or guardian.
- Parents or guardians may sign in lieu of identification for children under the age of 17.
Who can get a card
You may get a free library card if you are a resident of Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington or Hood River counties in Oregon; or Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties in Washington; or if you live in Camas, Woodland or Yale, Washington.
Libraries in these areas belong to the Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange (MIX) and have a reciprocal borrowing agreement. Residents within the boundaries of MIX may use any public library covered by the agreement. Each library system you use will ask you to apply for a separate library card. Rules and fees may vary between systems. For information on other MIX libraries, visit Library Information Network of Clackamas County, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hood River County Library and Ft. Vancouver Regional Library District
If you live outside of these reciprocal agreement areas, you may register for a one–year library card for a fee of $70.00 per household
OHSU Library
Oregon Health & Science University Library
How to get a OHSU library card
You may obtain a library card for OHSU's library for an annual fee of
$35. Registrants must show current identification. Books may be checked out for 28 days at a time.
Library resources, including full-text electronic resources, may be used only in the library.
Portland State
University Library
Portland State University Library
Portland State University has an academically focused collection, which may be useful for research papers, especially those assigned in the liberal arts. Students at the Art Institute of Portland may purchase a library card for PSU for $30 per year.
Information from the PSU library:
Bring $30 annual fee and current student ID to the Circulation Desk at the PSU library, and fill out the enrollment form. You will be issued a library card, which will allow you to check out up to 5 books at a time for a three week period.
Faculty and staff may also purchase a PSU library card, at a cost of $50 per year. Bring $50 annual fee with current State ID to the Circulation Desk and fill out the enrollment form. You will be issued a library card, which will allow you to check out up to 5 books at a time for a three week period.
PSU library databases are accessible ONLY in the PSU library.
Portland Community
College Library
Portland Community College Library
Members of the community who pay taxes to support the college, PCC Alumni, and retired PCC staff may register for (free) guest cards. Registrants must be 18 years or older, and not attending high school. Although guests are always welcome in our libraries, priority is given to PCC students. Due to limited resources, student computer labs and reserve materials are not available to Guest patrons. Reference area computers may be used. 2 items may be checked out for 3 weeks at a time.
Community residents must show picture ID and proof of address that they reside in the PCC district. A driver's license, state or federal identification such as a passport, a state identification card, a voter's precinct card and evidence of current address is accepted.
Other Area Libraries
You may use the library at Reed College, but cannot obtain a library card for borrowing privileges.
You may use the library at Lewis & Clark College, but cannot obtain a library card for borrowing privileges.