Garden Home Community Library
🏢 Washington County Cooperative Library Services · Portland, Oregon
Garden Home Community Library
Garden Home Community Library is a volunteer-founded nonprofit library in the Garden Home–Whitford census-designated place on Portland's southwest edge. Started in 1983 from the bookshelves of a closed elementary school, it became an official 501(c)(3) in 1994 and joined Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) in 1996. The library doubled its footprint in 2004 and expanded again in 2019, giving its community of 7,000 a modern, welcoming space that punches well above its size.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 7475 SW Oleson Road, Portland, OR 97223
Phone: (503) 245-9932
Website: gardenhomelibrary.org
Plus Code: 84QVF68W+FF (Portland, OR)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Garden Home Community Library
Garden Home Community Library sits at 7475 SW Oleson Road in the Garden Home–Whitford census-designated place, a community of about 7,000 in Washington County on the southwest edge of Portland near Beaverton. The neighborhood traces its name to a post office established in 1882 and developed along the Oregon Electric Railway, which brought a depot in the early twentieth century. When enrollment at Garden Home Elementary School declined and the school closed in 1982, the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District acquired the property. Volunteers took the leftover school books and opened a library in the building the following year, in 1983. The community formalized the effort by establishing the Garden Home Community Library Association as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1994, and in 1996 the library joined WCCLS, the county-wide cooperative that links sixteen public libraries across Washington County. A 2004 renovation doubled the library to roughly 1,860 square feet, and a 2019 expansion added more than 1,600 additional square feet. In July 2025 Garden Home Community Library Association also assumed operation of the nearby West Slope Community Library. Today, with Executive Director Molly Carlisle at the helm, Garden Home offers a full range of public library services, a growing calendar of programs including afternoon book groups and family storytimes, and access to the entire WCCLS shared catalog of 1.5 million items.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1983 by community volunteers using books left behind when Garden Home Elementary School closed — one of the few volunteer-started nonprofit public libraries in the Portland metro area
- Member of WCCLS since 1996, giving cardholders shared access to 1.5 million items across 16 Washington County libraries
- Expanded in 2004 (doubled to ~1,860 sq ft) and again in 2019 (+1,600 sq ft) to serve a growing community
- Since July 2025 also operates West Slope Community Library, extending its community stewardship
- Operated by the Garden Home Community Library Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 93-1151382)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Garden Home WCCLS cardholders can read, watch, research, and learn free through Washington County's robust digital collection:
📚 Services
- Full WCCLS shared catalog (1.5 million items) and interlibrary loan across 16 Washington County libraries
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Library card issuance — one card works at all 16 WCCLS libraries
- Community gathering and program space
- Access to WCCLS digital resources: Libby, Kanopy, PressReader, Ancestry, databases
🎸 Programs
- Garden Home Afternoon Book Group (Thursdays, 1–2:30 p.m.)
- Family Storytime — Evening edition (Thursdays, 5–5:45 p.m.)
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Trail history walks and community outdoor events
- Community events and author programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Portland & Washington County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did Garden Home Community Library get started, and who runs it?
Garden Home Community Library was founded in 1983 by community volunteers who used books left behind when Garden Home Elementary School closed in 1982. The Garden Home Community Library Association was formally established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1994, and the library joined the Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) network in 1996. It is currently led by Executive Director Molly Carlisle.
Does a Garden Home library card work at other WCCLS libraries?
Yes. A Garden Home WCCLS card is honored at all 16 WCCLS member libraries across Washington County — including Beaverton, Tigard, Hillsboro, Cedar Mill, Forest Grove, Tualatin, and more — giving you access to a combined collection of 1.5 million items. The same card also works for the full WCCLS digital catalog including Libby, Kanopy, PressReader, and Ancestry Library Edition.
What digital resources are included with a Garden Home library card?
As a WCCLS member library, Garden Home cardholders get free access to Libby/OverDrive eBooks and audiobooks, Kanopy streaming films and documentaries, PressReader for digital newspapers and magazines worldwide, Ancestry Library Edition for genealogy research, Brainfuse HelpNow and JobNow for tutoring and career coaching, Gale Academic OneFile for peer-reviewed journal articles, and Oregon Answerland live chat reference.
Is Garden Home Community Library open on weekends?
The library is open Saturday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. It is closed on Sunday. Monday through Friday hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: (503) 245-9932.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.
