Holgate Library
🏢 Multnomah County Library · Portland, Oregon
Holgate Library
Rebuilt from the ground up in 2024, the Holgate Library in Portland's Foster-Powell neighborhood tripled in size to 21,000 square feet — the most energy-efficient library ever built in Multnomah County — and opened its doors on July 13, 2024.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 12pm–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 7905 SE Holgate Blvd, Portland, OR 97206
Phone: (503) 988-5123
Website: multcolib.org
Plus Code: 84QVFCR9+43 (Portland, OR)
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📖 About Holgate Library
Library service in the Foster-Powell area of southeast Portland began in 1904 as a humble deposit station in a Lents drug store, later expanding to the Arleta neighborhood. The modern Holgate Library at 7905 SE Holgate Boulevard opened on May 19, 1971, consolidating the Arleta and Lents branches into a single 6,060-square-foot facility. A seismic and sustainability renovation in 2000 added a solar-powered electricity backup system, one of the first at any Multnomah County branch. With funding from the 2020 voter-approved $387 million Multnomah County Library Capital Bond, the old building was demolished and replaced by an entirely new structure that closed for construction on December 5, 2022, and reopened to the public on July 13, 2024. The new Holgate Library is 21,000 square feet — triple the former size — making it one of the largest branches in the county and the most energy-efficient library building in Multnomah County history. The $27 million project was the first new permanent library to open in the county in more than a decade.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Library service in the area dates to 1904; the Holgate branch on SE Holgate Boulevard has served Foster-Powell since 1971
- Reopened July 13, 2024 in a brand-new 21,000 sq ft building — triple the previous size — at a cost of approximately $27 million
- First new permanent Multnomah County Library to open in more than a decade, and the most energy-efficient MCL building ever constructed
- Features the first enclosed teen space in the Multnomah County Library system, with a 75-inch screen for gaming, homework and creative expression
- Large children's play and learning space, multiple flexible community rooms, bilingual storytimes and solar energy features
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Holgate cardholders enjoy free access to Multnomah County Library's full digital collection:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing, copying, scanning and free Wi-Fi
- Laptop lending kiosk
- Lucky Day collection for high-demand items with no holds
- Flexible community rooms for groups of 2–60 people
- Enclosed teen space with gaming technology and study areas
- Large children's play and learning area
- Bilingual and multilingual programs and tech help
- Book returns and system-wide hold pickup
🎸 Programs
- Bilingual storytimes (English-Spanish and other languages)
- Native Family Storytime
- Tech help drop-in sessions in multiple languages
- Teen gaming and creative programming in the enclosed teen room
- Family and toddler storytimes
- Community room events and meetings
- Summer reading program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Portland
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new Holgate Library open, and how big is it?
The new Holgate Library opened on July 13, 2024. Built at a cost of approximately $27 million using the 2020 Multnomah County Library Capital Bond, the new building measures 21,000 square feet — three times the size of the previous 6,060-square-foot branch that closed for construction on December 5, 2022. It was the first new permanent Multnomah County Library to open in more than a decade.
What makes the Holgate Library's teen space notable?
Holgate's 570-square-foot enclosed teen room was the first dedicated enclosed teen space to open in the entire Multnomah County Library system. It features a 75-inch screen for gaming, a place to study and do homework, and space for teens to be in community with each other away from the main floor.
How long has there been a library in the Foster-Powell area?
Library service in the area traces back to 1904, when the Library Association of Portland placed a small book collection in a Lents drug store. The Holgate Library at 7905 SE Holgate Boulevard has been the primary branch for the Foster-Powell neighborhood since it opened in 1971, consolidating two earlier branch locations.
Does Holgate Library have community meeting rooms?
Yes. The new 2024 building includes multiple flexible community rooms that accommodate groups ranging from 2 to about 60 people. Room reservations are managed through the Multnomah County Library website at multcolib.org.
🖨 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.
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