What Hood River County Library District does

The Hood River County Library District is a public Special Library District formed on November 2, 2010, when Hood River County, Oregon voters approved Measure 14-39, creating an independent local-government unit dedicated to library operations. The District operates three physical branches (Hood River main at 502 State Street, Cascade Locks, and Parkdale) plus a Bookmobile launched in 2021 that visits seven underserved stops including Odell and Mercado del Valle. It is governed by an unpaid elected Board of Directors and led by Library Director Rachael Fox, with a named staff of approximately 25 FTEs spanning adult services, children's services, teen services, bookmobile/outreach, cataloging, and public-service clerk functions, supplemented by 1,600+ volunteer hours logged in fiscal year 2023-24. Service is provided free to all Hood River County residents, with a fine-free policy, three-year library cards, and targeted outreach to Spanish-speaking families, seniors in Providence facilities, and youth through Hood River County School District partnerships.

Core "products" comprise physical collections (books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers) and digital services delivered through third-party platforms: Libby/OverDrive for ebooks and audiobooks (up to six simultaneous checkouts for three weeks), Kanopy for streaming (ten titles per month), Gale databases for research, LiveLingua for language learning, and the SageCat mobile app. Complementary offerings include a Library of Things (laptops, hotspots, tablets, Nintendo Switch, karaoke machines, cooking equipment, learning kits), a hands-on Makerspace (Tuesday-Saturday hours), free computers/printing/WiFi, the Jeanne Marie Gaulke Community Meeting Room, cultural passes via the Discover and Go partnership, interlibrary loan, history/genealogy resources (including digitized Hood River Glacier and Hood River News archives), and free test proctoring for college and distance learners. Programming is segmented for kids (storytimes, Summer Reading, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library), teens (crafts, Magic the Gathering, volunteer hours), adults (book clubs, yoga), and Spanish-speaking families.

The revenue model is dominated by a permanent voter-approved property tax of $0.39 per $1,000 of assessed value within Hood River County, generating $1,299,000-$1,379,000 annually. Recurring fees and charges cover copies, non-resident cards ($20 for three months or $80/year), commercial meeting room use ($20/hour), interlibrary loan overages ($3 per item beyond the first two free), and $1 lost-card replacements. Grants and donations flow through two affiliated 501(c)(3)-style organizations — the Friends of the Hood River County Library (founded 1977) and the Hood River County Library Foundation (formed 1998) — supplemented by state grants, including a $75,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant from the State Library of Oregon underwriting bookmobile operations. The District sits inside the Sage Library System (70+ member libraries across Eastern and Central Oregon) and the Libraries of Eastern Oregon consortium, with reciprocal borrowing via the Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange (MIX) extending privileges into neighboring Oregon and southern Washington counties.

Name

Hood River County Library District

Legal name

Hood River County Library District

Website

https://hoodriverlibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hood River County Library District is a public Special Library District serving Hood River County, Oregon, operating three branches plus a Bookmobile. It delivers free library services, digital lending, programs, and outreach to county residents, funded primarily by a voter-approved property tax.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Digital library access
• Children's literacy programs
• Bookmobile outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hood River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Permanent tax base at $0.39 per $1,000 of assessed property value within Hood River County, established when voters approved measure 14-39 on November 2, 2010. Generates between $1,299,000 and $1,379,000 annually.
2. Fees and Charges: Fees for copies, non-resident cards, commercial meeting room use, interlibrary loan processing fees ($3 per item after first 2 free), and replacement cards ($1).
3. Grants and Donations: Private and public grants plus donations raised by Friends of the Hood River County Library and Hood River County Library Foundation. The State Library of Oregon has provided grants including a $75,000 American Rescue Plan Act Grant for bookmobile operations.
4. Interest and Other Income: Interest earnings and agreements with other government entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hood River County Library District is a public Special Library District providing free physical and digital library services, programming, and community resources to Hood River County, Oregon residents. Core offerings include lending of physical materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks), digital lending via Libby/OverDrive and Kanopy streaming, a Library of Things (tech devices and equipment), a Makerspace, bookmobile outreach to underserved areas, educational programs for all ages, computers/WiFi, meeting rooms, and interlibrary loan services — funded by a permanent property tax levy.

Product overview

Hood River County Library District operates as a public library system serving Hood River County, Oregon with three branch locations (Hood River, Cascade Locks, and Parkdale) plus a Bookmobile. The core offering consists of physical materials (Books & More) and digital services (Digital Library via Libby/OverDrive and Kanopy streaming). Supporting services include Library of Things for tech devices and household items, a Makerspace for hands-on creativity, the Bookmobile for reaching underserved areas, and comprehensive Library Programs for kids, teens, adults, and Spanish-speaking communities. Additional services include computers/WiFi, meeting room rentals, cultural passes, interlibrary loan, history/genealogy research, and test proctoring—all provided fine-free to remove access barriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Friends of the Hood River County Library: A community organization of book lovers and library supporters that supplement and support the critical work of the library staff through membership fees, donations, and book sales.
• Hood River County Library Foundation

Products and services

• Books & More (Physical Collection) Physical library collection of books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines, and newspapers available for checkout at the three branch locations (Hood River, Cascade Locks, Parkdale). Includes specialty collections, Library of Things, cultural passes, and interlibrary loan services. Available to anyone with a valid library card.
• Digital Library Digital media services providing ebooks and audiobooks via Libby/OverDrive (up to 6 books at a time for three weeks), streaming video through Kanopy (10 titles per month; unlimited for kids), online learning databases, language learning via LiveLingua, and tech help resources. Accessible 24/7 with a valid library card.
• Library of Things Lending collection of non-traditional items including laptops, mobile hotspots, tablets, board games, karaoke machines, Nintendo Switch, cooking/baking equipment, and learning kits available for free checkout. Reduces cost and waste for community members needing items only occasionally.
• Makerspace Hands-on creative space for all ages featuring craft supplies, technology tools, and DIY equipment. Open Tuesday-Thursday 10am-6:45pm and Friday-Saturday 10am-5:45pm for exploring technology, crafts, and making things.
• Bookmobile Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Fine-free library policy removes financial barriers to library access
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sage Library SystemcoreTechnology or Integration70+ member consortium of public, academic, and school libraries in Eastern and Central Oregon. Hood River County Library District patrons can borrow materials from any member library for free. The Sage catalog and SageCat app provide unified access.
• Libraries of Eastern Oregon (LEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional consortium that includes the Hood River County Library District. Partners on initiatives like the Discover and Go cultural passes program offering free tickets to museums and attractions across the LEO service area.
• Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange (MIX)coreTechnology or IntegrationReciprocal borrowing agreement with libraries in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington Counties (OR) and Clark, Skamania, Klickitat Counties (WA) enabling cardholders to access services across the greater Portland/Vancouver metro area.
• Discover and Go Partners (Maryhill Museum, High Desert Museum, OMSI, Oregon State Parks, Columbia Gorge Museum, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Libraries of Eastern Oregon, member libraries, and local arts, culture, history, and recreation organizations offering free educational and cultural experiences to library patrons through donated tickets.
• Columbia Gorge Stem HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Library of Things learning experiences and kits. The Stem Hub has items available for checkout to schools and educators in the Columbia Gorge region.
• Oregon State University Extension ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing cooking, baking, and food preservation equipment for the Library of Things collection. Items include commercial-sized food dehydrators and specialty pans available for checkout.
• Hood River County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for classroom visits, school visits to the library, library card registration drives, and summer school programs in Odell. Contact: [email protected]
• Providence Senior Living (Dethman Manor, Down Manor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly outreach visits to senior living facilities bringing library services and programs to elderly residents who cannot easily visit library branches.
• OCDC Oregon Child Development CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutreach services for children and families at the Odell location, bringing early literacy programs and library card access to this underserved community.
• SOAR Inmigración Legal ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides online citizenship classes in Spanish through their services, with promotion through the library's Spanish-language programming.
• Mid-Columbia AARP Tax-Aide ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree tax preparation assistance for low- and moderate-income families, with special emphasis on individuals 60+, offered at library locations during tax season with appointments at Columbia Gorge Community College and Hood River Valley Adult Center.
• Columbia Gorge MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Lacing Communities Together art project, a Gorge-wide initiative creating lace triangles inspired by Columbia River Gorge landscapes for a large installation reflecting regional beauty and diversity.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• OverDrive (Libby): Digital lending platform provider that powers the district's ebook/audiobook collection via the Libby app. Not a peer but a key infrastructure supplier whose pricing and terms affect service economics.
• BiblioCommons: Library catalog and discovery platform provider serving many peer public library systems. Adjacent technology vendor whose adoption by peer libraries reflects sector trends Hood River may follow via Sage.

Broad incumbents

• Clackamas County Library: Larger Oregon county library system serving a more populous metro-adjacent county. Comparable service categories (branches, bookmobile, digital lending) but at significantly greater scale and budget.
• Eugene Public Library: Oregon municipal library of similar funding model but larger operating budget. Offers comparable services including Makerspace and Library of Things that Hood River has adopted.
• Multnomah County Library: Largest public library system in Oregon, part of the MIX reciprocal borrowing network used by Hood River patrons. A scale benchmark for service breadth and digital lending innovation.

Direct peers

• Jackson County Library Services: Oregon county library district operating multiple branches with a dedicated property tax base. Comparable scale and service mix including outreach, digital lending, and community programming across a rural/small-city county.
• Corvallis-Benton County Public Library: Mid-sized Oregon county library offering comparable services including digital lending, Makerspace-style programming, and community partnerships. Similar funding mix of property tax and grants with a fine-free policy.
• Newberg Public Library: Smaller Oregon public library serving a community of similar population scale to Hood River County. Comparable mission around equity, outreach, and digital inclusion with multilingual programming.
• Deschutes Public Library District: Another Oregon special library district funded by a permanent property tax levy, serving a similarly sized Central Oregon county. Comparable structure with multiple branches, fine-free policy, and community-led programming makes it a like-for-like operational peer.

Regional players

• Libraries of Eastern Oregon (LEO): Regional consortium of which Hood River County Library District is a member. Comparable consortium structure for shared services, the Discover and Go cultural pass program, and cooperative purchasing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hoodriverlibs
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoodriverlibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cascade-locks-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hood River County Library District