Hood River County Library District is supported by local property taxes and supported by the Library Foundation, using those dollars to keep lights illuminated and books on shelves in Hood River, Parkdale, and Cascade Locks.
Explore the library’s Makerspace, where all ages can experiment with technology, crafts, and DIY tools. In addition, we have an array of genealogy resources for researching your family history.
About the Library
Hood River County Library, built in 1914 and often referred to as “Library Park,” is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Together with Georgiana Smith Park nearby, its establishment exemplified the county’s early attempts at providing a comprehensive public library system.
The library boasts an expansive collection of magazines that change regularly, and the staff is always more than willing to look for specific titles you request. There’s also free WiFi access and plenty of computers for users’ use.
Jean first moved to Hood River in 1993 and holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration from Columbia University and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. Since 2016, she has served on the library board and is dedicated to helping others and supporting her community; in particular, she enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and wing foiling, as well as coaching middle school track and field.
Books
Hood River County Library District serves the communities of Hood River, Parkdale, and Cascade Locks with traditional library services as well as online and technological options. Our expansive selection of books, magazines, audiobooks, and programming supports us in meeting these needs, as do our programming services.
The District is currently working towards creating a maker space to enable all ages to collaborate, design, and innovate using technology, crafts, and Do-It-Yourself tools. Furthermore, Kanopy provides free movie and music streaming.
Governor Kate Brown chose Yelitza Vargas-Boots of Hood River County Library District as part of the Oregon Library Board – an advisory body responsible for library mission, vision, and policy across Oregon. She will serve in her new position for nine years.
Programs
Hood River, situated along a beautiful river, is renowned as an unparalleled vacation destination. Skiing, mountain biking, white water rafting, and other outdoor sports activities abound here; in addition, Hood River boasts world-class vegan food production as well as several successful brewery labels and award-winning Columbia Gorge wineries.
The Library District strives to offer our community all they need to learn, create, and flourish – whether through traditional print books, online resources, or technology tools like wifi and public computers at each library branch location.
The Library offers an expansive online resource library featuring full-text magazine databases, digital audiobook/e-book checkouts, and streaming video service with thousands of movies/TV shows/documentaries/specials, etc. Your library card grants access to these resources at any time, day or night!
Computers
Hood River County Library District offers traditional library services at its locations in Hood River, Parkdale, and Cascade Locks – free wifi, public computers, and programming for all ages – while also offering patrons new online and technological offerings that they would like them to know about.
Since 2010, libraries have seen an increased demand for electronic resources rather than physical materials. To meet this need, Hood River Library District offers online full-text magazine databases, digital audiobook and e-book checkouts, sample tests for GRE, SAT, and Professional Exams such as law enforcement or pharmacist, drop-in tech support for many devices, online sample tests for GRE/SAT/Professional exams as well as drop-in tech support covering multiple devices, drop-in tech support covering various devices as well as an upcoming Makerspace where users can create using technology alongside arts/crafts/DIY tools to collaborate, invent and learn. This will serve as an inclusive space where people of all ages come together and learn from one another!
Interlibrary Loan
The Library utilizes the WorldShare(r) interlibrary loan service from OCLC, giving us access to one of the world’s largest resource-sharing networks. With this service, we are able to quickly and efficiently provide patrons with electronic or print resources not available within our collection.
All Library District patrons may utilize interlibrary loan services with some limitations and requirements. You must possess a valid Hood River County Library Card before using this service, and before making your request, please check our Catalog to determine whether we already own that title or the title will be returned, as requests will not be fulfilled if our library already holds an existing title has an item requested for it.
Library cards also give you access to TumbleBook Library, which offers a vast collection of professionally published picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, videos, music, and games – perfect family learning resources for skill building and development as well as pure entertainment!
Bookmobile
Bookmobile service provides library materials directly to people where they live, work, and play. A specially equipped bus or van provides this vital service; many communities lack access to traditional libraries, so the Bookmobile serves as the only source of library services in these locations.
Hood River County Library District’s three Bookmobiles provide library card registration, books for all ages, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, and magazines – with two classic Bookmobiles also offering a walk-up service so patrons can browse and borrow books without entering.
Hood River County Library District’s Makerspace offers an interactive experience for people of all ages to explore technology, crafts, and DIY tools in an atmosphere designed to spark creativity and innovation. Your Hood River County Library District card provides access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks available through Kanopy and TumbleBooks; these family learning resources aim to develop reading skills while engaging readers and having fun.
