Multnomah County Library - Northwest

Until recently, I hadn’t been to the library since middle school (about 15 years ago). I finally found a genre of books that wrangles my ADHD enough to keep me focused enough to read a whole novel, so I’ve been stopping into the library more often. The staff—from the librarians to the (handsome lol) security guard—are all incredibly patient, compassionate people. I’ve overheard security perform a restroom check in a calm, collected manner (followed by a very gentle and respectfully-delivered reminder about the time limit on the restroom). I’ve overheard a librarian, armed with a soothing tone and patience in spades, take a considerable amount of time assisting a frustrated neurodivergent person as they tried to save their progress on their computer game. When a man without access to a charger port was plugging his cable into a computer tower to charge his phone, a librarian informed him that they have phone chargers he could use (without an ounce of judgement in their voice). When I first opened my library card, the librarian that assisted me was visibly excited to be able to share all of the wonderful resources that the library provides for free. Their excitement made ME excited. In a world that is so unkind and impatient with the homeless, the neurodivergent, the marginalized, those who generally need more time and understanding—it’s extremely comforting and genuinely makes me a little emotional to see that everyone can feel safe and secure at the library, even if that feeling starts and stops at the exit for some of us. Librarians are heroes and we’re beyond lucky to have the entire staff that we do at the NW Library. I’m glad I’ve started going back after so long—thank you all for all that you do for us!

A very nice small front room. There is a young librarian that doesn't use a respectful and quiet voice on her misunderstood mission to help. What an irony. One or two security guards present all the time , I guess because of the back "meeting"room occupied by vagrant squatters who hang out for the restroom and watch TikTok while hogging some public space as personal. Understandable from their point of view but what about the rest of us, homeless or not? Oh, well... Come and see the "first come first get the whole desk for the day" rush. We pretend to care for them, they don't even. Hypocrisy versus " What ya gonna do about it", who do you think wins? Not the reader.

DO NOT COME HERE! As a black male I was racially profiled tremendously and was racial harassed and threatened by the manager Nicole. I was the only black person in the entire library and she proceeded to come up to me and told me to move out of the chair I was sitting in and reframe me from working because she wanted a homeless man to sit in my seat. I was not bothering anyone and was just simply working. Rather than simply coming to me with respect and politeness she proceeded to use her authority to kick me out of the library when I was not bothering anyone or anybody and proceeded to tell me to no come back due to my kind. Mind you there were numerous homeless people in the library and out of all people she decided to start a conflict with me, a black man simply just studying. If you wish to have peace of mind and a community library that does not racially harass people and not have numerous homeless people bothering you, PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE! I will be following up with some sort of legal action around this because I WAS RACIALLY HARASSED FOR SIMPLY DOING MY WORK AWAY FROM PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY. I hate that is 2025 and we as people of color still have to deal with this in Portland but please do not come to this library that is under the current management of Nicole. Go somewhere else.

Friendly, helpful staff and great selection! The online checkout and selection of ebooks are great. Streamlined for in and out or cozy enough to sip coffee and read. There are two restrooms, a meeting room, computers, printers... It's everything a library should be!

A small but pleasant library. Staff was professional, friendly and helpful. On 2/20/2025 the security guard was friendly and appeared to be going above and beyond his duty. Very limited free paved parking was full before they opened on a Thursday. Limited paid street parking in the area. Can pay with coins, credit card or through app. Bus stop nearby. Restroom was clean.

The moment you enter this institution, your nostrils will inform you that it is not a library; it is a daytime homeless shelter. A security guard has replaced the librarian at the front desk. The tragic decision to squander this precious resource on drug addicts and vagrants is emblematic of our city's unrelenting doom loop.

Small but mighty! A new location for this library has been selected off of Pettygrove St. ETA TBA. HURRAH!

Wow! What a great library! The only service I use is to check out books but they’ve made it so easy. I read 5 or 6 books a week so I really need their help. I look up books or writers on the computer and just simply order them online. You can have up to 20 books on order at a time so it makes it really easy. The librarians are all so nice and so helpful, the entire experience is just great! Highly recommend!

Libraries are second only to good coffee shops as my favorite places to spend time. The Northwest branch of the Multnomah County library is a fabulous location. The staff are super helpful and very friendly. I think the key is that this is a small, intimate building that beckons you to spend hours here...not just rush in and pick up your holds. I'd choose visiting this branch long before heading over to the main branch.

The NW branch is a small corner of the library system, but it's very convenient for those who utilize the online reservation services. The in-person media selection is limited, but I'm always able to find a couple of good books here, usually nonfiction.

Last time I was here I walked into a police action: police car spins into the intersection to block it, other side behind another police care is a cop with a sniper rifle. couple other police cars right there, the police stopped letting people out of the library. Was an upset guy with a guy in an apartment above the McMenamin's across the street. No police this time. The library recently had some sprucing up, new paints, carpet, etc. They get so much into such a tight space here and still have a friendly feel.

How to utilize your adorable and unintimidating Northwest Library: 1. Acquire a library card. Do not lose card as it is important for later steps. (If you do lose your card, however, the friendly staff at NWL will be happy to replace it in less than a minute at no charge. Having lost my library card three times in the past four months, I know this from experience.) 2. Go online to the Multnomah Library Catalog. Place holds on any books that look interesting (you will need your card number for this). Put NWL as your pick up location. 3. Check you email until you get one saying your holds have arrived at your friendly neighborhood branch. 4. Hop on your bicycle and have a relaxing ride down to your adorable NWL. 5. Check the magazine exchange for free magazines. 6. Browse the library's collection for anything that looks interesting. 7. Pick up your holds. (Note, you don't have to have your library card on your person to check things out: just i.d.). 8. Check your e-mail for notices about when your materials are due. Return or renew materials. Experience inner peace. Experience intellectual satisfaction. Repeat steps 2-8. (Or 1-8 if you lose your card!)

This branch reminds me of a little schoolhouse library you would find in the town of Mayberry. It is small and charming, the staff is always friendly and the locals you see always remember your name. This branch is always filled with wee ones attending library sing-a-longs and listening to story time with the librarian, which adds to the innocence and magic of this location. I could spend an entire day in the library, but I have always found the main branch to be a bit overwhelming. I love the Northwest branch because it's small enough to navigate with ease, while having access to the vast collection of books at the main library by reserving your selections online and having them sent directly to this location.

Libraries are wonderful. I could attack this keyboard for all the verbs and descriptions that would put this into a nice picture. But then again I see three pictures here and there's no point in doing that. It's small akin to the one near Fremont Street. There is an extensive DVD selection that is right next to the door. The mystery section is rather odd. I suppose it goes with the genre. There is an extensive science fiction section and the "General Fiction" is along the aisles deep into the building. The staff is always helpful.

I absolutely love this library and the ease of use of the online Multnomah County Library system to order any book I can think of. The staff at this location is very friendly, patient and always happy to help. There are plenty of well displayed titles to pick up and read immediately. At the same time, when a book isn't available, it is super easy to request it through the online system and it usually arrives to the NW branch for pickup in a few days to a couple of weeks.

Love this place people don't seem to come help you though . It's also very inconvenient that they only open at 12 , the kids I nanny eat and then nap around that time so they don't have time for that.

When it comes to libraries, I admit, I get around. Multnomah County Library - Northwest is not the biggest, vastest, or most visually impressive library I've been to but functionally it's the best. Patronizing MCL - NW a few times a week, the branch is always busy, yet the shelves are reliably neat, the staff helpful, poised, and friendly, and lines are nonexistent. The ease of checking out material and utilizing resources is exemplary.

Small but great branch of an amazing library system. Staff is great. Nice location on 23rd.

I have really enjoyed coming here since I moved to the Portland area last year. I attend the children's programs regularly (book babies and tots and toddler story times) and can't say enough good things about Susan, the children's librarian. I love the knitting group as well, and have had great interactions with other staff and librarians.

nicest staff ever. going to miss you guys, I cancelled my account Wed, now I'm in Santa Rosa, CA. hope to move back in a few years.