Home > State > Executive > Oregon State Library
Oregon State Library > Web site
The State Library Building in Salem houses the central offices of the Oregon State Library. (Oregon State Archives Photo)
Present Duties
The Oregon State Library was established as the Oregon Library Commission in 1905. Since its founding, the library has been governed by an independent board of trustees. The present board consists of seven citizens from throughout the state who are appointed by the governor. The library consists of an administrative team and three programs:
Government Research Services provides research and reference assistance to state government and to persons on official state business. Specialized collections include federal and state government publications and a comprehensive collection of materials about Oregon. The library also provides permanent public access to Oregon state government documents. The Genealogical Research Center is a partnership project of the library and the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society.
Library Development Services include planning for statewide library development, hosting quality Web sites for public libraries, providing equal access to information resources for K–12 students through the Oregon School Library Information System, collecting and reporting library statistics, and administering state and federal library grant programs. Current library development priorities are improving early literacy services to children in public libraries and facilitating access to library services for all Oregonians.
Talking Book and Braille Services is the Oregon Regional Library for the Library of Congress National Library Service for the blind and physically handicapped. Oregonians who are unable to read standard print because of a visual or physical disability are eligible for free library services. Books and magazines are available in audio format and in braille. Reading materials and equipment are mailed to the reader and back to the State Library, postage free. Audiobooks and magazines can also be downloaded for playback on portable digital players provided by the library.
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 250 Winter St. NE, Salem 97301-3950
Telephone: 503-378-4243
Fax: 503-585-8059
General E-mail: reference@library.state.or.us
Contact: MaryKay Dahlgreen, State Librarian
Administrative Rules Coordinator E-mail: MaryKay Dahlgreen
Records Officer E-mail: MaryKay Dahlgreen
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov
Location Map: by Yahoo! Maps
Legal and Legislative Information
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 357
Administration Budget Analysis (pdf) - by Legislative Fiscal Office
Audit Reports - select agency from menu
Records, Publications and General Information
Agency History (pdf) - a detailed history of the agency
Records Retention Schedule (pdf) - a list of the public records kept at the agency
State Archives Holdings - a select list of the agency's records available for research at the State Archives
State Library Publications - a link to the Oregon State Library Catalog