Unfortunately, the Multnomah County Library will be open fewer hours per week to implement its mission and philosophy

Multnomah County Library mission and philosophy.

Multnomah County libraries to close on Mondays, reduce hours because of budget cuts.  (The Oregonian, 6/25/2012)

Excerpt: Starting July 1, all 19 branches of the county library will be closed on Mondays and hours on other days will be shortened, despite the voter approval of the local option levy in the May primary election that continues the majority of the library's funds. 

A poor economy and resulting budget cuts are to blame for the reduction in hours, according to a statement on the library's website. 

"Families throughout our community have felt the same effects of the sluggish economy on their finances and continue to make cutbacks in their own budgets," the statement said. "Like most other local government agencies, this is also the case for the library. So a reduction of hours is necessary."  

Without passage of the local option levy, the statement said, the library branches would have faced complete closures.