• The library serves about 1,000 people daily and issues about 300 new library cards monthly.
• The Friends of the Tigard Library and the Tigard Library Foundation made significant contributions for artwork and books.
• The library houses more than 235,000 items, including books, movies, music and more.
• In 2018-2019, library users checked out more than 1.1 million items.

If the Library parking lot is full you can park at City Hall or the Senior Center. View a map of alternative parking locations.

The Tigard Public Library serves the Tigard community by promoting reading and providing access to materials in all formats to meet residents’ informational, cultural, educational and recreational needs. The Library fosters lifelong learning and provides an array of programs and services to encourage the development of well-rounded citizens.

Respect a variety of viewpoints and opinions and make them available to the public in the interest of promoting a healthy democracy.

Encourage library users to become comfortable in using information in a wide variety of formats and to instruct them in using new technologies for information gathering.

Assist patrons in finding the information they want, and when they want it in a form that is most useful to them.

Develop partnerships with the community to ensure that library services truly respond to the needs and desires of Tigard residents.

The Tigard Public Library receives funding from both the City and Washington County. Tigard Library, like most other libraries in the county, is operated by local government. The Tigard Library is part of the City of Tigard. The Library is operated with a combination of City and County funding.

Since 1976, Tigard Library has participated in a cooperative agreement with Washington County to provide library service to all county residents. Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) allows us to easily share our materials with other public libraries through an online catalog. A daily courier service delivers books and other materials between the 16-member libraries to meet our patrons' needs. WCCLS also provides support for reference, youth services and outreach services for the elderly and handicapped.

Funds to operate WCCLS services are budgeted in Washington County's general fund. Periodic library levies provide additional funding strictly for libraries in the county. In 2020, Washington County voters approved a five-year library levy beginning in July 2021. The Tigard Library also receives some grants annually for specific purposes such as Summer Reading and other services to children.

From a small room in the old City Hall on Main Street to its current location on Hall Blvd., the Tigard Library has had a colorful history complete with crashing ceilings and a pregnant cat.

1963: The City Council creates Tigard’s first public library on October 28.

1964: The Tigard Library opens in a cramped room at the back of City Hall at 12420 SW Main Street with 1,011 books donated by the community. It is run entirely by volunteers.

1967: The Library moves to the Otto Sorg building at 12568 SW Main St. Circulation was 12,678.

1972: The Library serves over 6,300 people. The Friends of the Tigard Library organize to assist the library financially.

1976: Tigard Library becomes a member of the newly formed Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS), which extends public library service to all county residents. The Tigard Library book budget is $1,500.

1979: The Friends of the Library begins a campaign to raise funds for a new library citing poor ventilation, inadequate parking, lack of shelf space for books among other factors. The Library’s service population grows to 24,000.

1982: A citizen’s committee studies sites and space needs. It projects that the Library will need 18,900 square feet between then and 2000. Two bond measures for a new Civic Center that would include a new library failed.

1983: Once again, a bond measure to construct a new Civic Center is narrowly defeated.

1984: Achunk of ceiling crashes narrowly missing a patron. Three weeks later voters approve a $2.2 million bond measure to construct a new Civic Center.

1986: The new 11,400 square-foot library opens in Civic Center at 13125 SW Hall Blvd. with additional hours.

1987: The Library’s card catalog is replaced by a computerized catalog.

1988: A tortoise-shell cat adopts Library staff and volunteers, who name her Libby the Library cat.

1989: Library celebrates 25th anniversary.

1990: Libby blesses staff with four kittens, who she keeps on the workroom storage shelves with materials for Toddler Time story times.

1993: Local resident Mary M. Puett bequeaths the Library over $72,000, which is used for a 1,345-square-foot addition.

1995: The Library is the first in the county to offer an Adult Reading Program.

1999: Library receives generous bequest of more than $800,000 from Grace Tigard Houghton for a reading room.

2002: Tigard citizens pass $13 millionbond measure for new library.

2004: Forty years after the Tigard Library first opened, it moves into its fourth location in a 48,000 square-foot building on a 14-acre natural site.

2007: Tigard Public Library circulates over 1 million items for the first time.

2012: The Tigard City Council passes a resolution to rename the Community Room in honor of George and Yvonne Burgess, longtime library volunteers and officers of the Friends of the Tigard Library.

2013: Library celebrates 50 years of service to the community.

2014: Library celebrates 10 years in its current library building. A total of 475 people join the party.

2019: Library updates the teen area, and celebrates 15 years in its current building!

Learn more about the Library’s history.