Albina Library — Multnomah County Library

🏢 Multnomah County Library · Portland, Oregon

Albina Library — Multnomah County Library

One of Portland's oldest neighborhood libraries, Albina traces its roots to a 100-book reading room in 1906 and has been a civic anchor in the Eliot and King neighborhoods ever since. In 2025 a capital-bond expansion at 205 NE Russell Street grew the branch to nearly four times its previous footprint, adding a sensory room, expanded community spaces, Spanish-language services, and a Black cultural collection — all while preserving the branch's century-long tradition of connecting North/Northeast Portland with the full Multnomah County Library system.

👋 Use the Library Online

📖 About Albina Library — Multnomah County Library

Albina Library began in 1906 as a modest reading room of about 100 books under the care of Mrs. P. P. Leche, making it one of the first neighborhood branches in Portland. By 1907 it had moved to the Emporium building on Williams Avenue; demand was so high that staff 'found it almost impossible to keep the shelves supplied.' A move to Russell Street came in 1909, and in 1912 the branch relocated to 216 NE Knott Street with support from the Carnegie Corporation, occupying a purpose-built building that served the community until 1960. After decades at storefront locations on N. Vancouver Ave., NE 15th Ave., and elsewhere, the branch returned to 216 NE Knott in 2021 and then moved to its current expanded home at 205 NE Russell Street in 2025 following a major capital bond renovation funded by voters in 2020. The expansion added approximately 22,000 square feet — growing the branch to nearly four times its former size — and includes upgraded ADA access, a sensory room, laptop lending, multiple community rooms, and dedicated collections in Spanish and for the Black community of North/Northeast Portland.

⭐ What makes this library special

• Founded in 1906 as one of Portland's first neighborhood branches — more than 115 years of continuous community service in the Eliot and King neighborhoods
• Expanded in 2025 to nearly four times its previous size through the 2020 voter-approved capital bond — one of MCL's most transformative branch renewals
• Dedicated Spanish-language services and collection, plus Black cultural staff and curated Black community collection
• Sensory room and sensory accommodation tools for children and teens, plus a laptop lending kiosk
• Multiple reservable community rooms and accessible computer options, serving a diverse North/Northeast Portland neighborhood

📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card

Your Multnomah County Library card gives you free digital access to thousands of titles and research tools — available 24/7 from any device:

📍 Nearby Multnomah County Library Branches

Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.

All libraries in Portland  ·  Browse all Oregon libraries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.

📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.

✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.

✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.