By Willow (willowashmaple.sbs)
Aug. 1, 2025
People travel, and some travelers collect ephemera to memorialize their trips or to brag about them. For example, train tickets, postmarks, and such.
In Oregon, there is a program called Oregon Library Passport. In short, if you have a valid library card from your local library, you can go to just about any public library in Oregon and get a limited-validity card from there.
For example, if you live in Washington County, the Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange (MIX) agreement allows you to get a full-validity library card from Multnomah County Library, Libraries in Clackamas County, Hood River County Library, Camas Public Library, and Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. But beyond these areas, you can also take advantage of the Oregon Library Passport program at places such as Newberg Public Library (part of Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library System) and Scappoose Public Library.
Under this program, you will get a one-year validity, a restricted library card without access to electronic resources (such as PressReader and Libby -- something you probably have access to already through your home library).
Come to think of it, arguably, you can go on a road trip across Oregon and collect library cards from every town and county. There isn't an obligation on your side to actually use the library cards to check out materials (although that would be nice if you're staying for a few days near a library). And it could also be useful if you want to use a public computer while visiting another town, since some libraries require a valid card number to use a computer and/or printer.
I can imagine someone actually doing this.
Oregon Library Passport participating libraries (Oregon Library Association)
Note: Not all libraries in Oregon participate in this program. For example, Columbia City Community Library does not.
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