About the Library

We in Hood River enjoy and pay for diverse services delivered by the county — primarily public safety, health and land use regulation — that are mandated by state law. Why is our free public library essential to our community, even if it isn’t a mandated service?

The Hood River County Library is one of the crown jewels of the county: Not only an elegant edifice gracing downtown Hood River, but also a special treasure for all living in the county. Walking into this magnificent building feels much like being welcomed to an old friend’s beautiful home.

The library constantly is in use. Upstairs, students of all ages and grown-ups are reading, using the computers, researching information, doing work, and using the panorama of the Columbia River, the downtown and Washington mountains to rest the eyes. Downstairs the library for children with its shelves and shelves of books with brightly colored spines welcomes novices to the world of reading, knowledge, and the adventures books hold for them. Here is the beginning of learning.

On both floors are the people who make this outstanding place work so well, the staff. A few are paid; many more are volunteers; all are committed to making this great reservoir of knowledge serve the people of the county. All public institutions would benefit from such dedicated people.

We are fortunate beyond words to have this superb facility. This is our legacy to the future, and it is our obligation to assure its future.

We, the citizens of Hood River County, will own and control this library, funded by us, accountable to us, not to the state legislature or the Congress.

Library Use in Fiscal Year 2009

Number of registered borrowers - 19,146

Hours open at the three branches - 5,216

Number of library materials borrowed - 116,471

Reference questions answered - 14,248

Hours of public Internet workstation usage - 38,201

Hours of wireless use on personal laptops - 16,276

Hours of volunteer work-support for the library - 3,096

Programs for children and adults - 299
Number of people in attendance - 5,737

Gorge LINK and Interlibrary Loan items procured - 6,923