Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) is the primary source of funding for public libraries in our county, supporting open hours at libraries in Aloha, Banks, Beaverton, Bethany and Cedar Mill, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Garden Home and West Slope, Hillsboro, North Plains, Sherwood, Tigard, and Tualatin. WCCLS provides infrastructure that links 16 full-service libraries into one system, supporting access to books and community events for all county residents. Most libraries are open at least 6 days a week.
About 45% of WCCLS funding currently comes from a local option levy that will expire in June 2026. If Measure 34-345 does not pass, services would be reduced.
In November 2025, voters will have the opportunity to consider a proposed measure that would fund public library services in Washington County. The current levy rate is 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. If passed, Measure 34-345 would cost property owners 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value starting in July 2026.
Current WCCLS budget (in millions)
If passed, Measure 34-345 would fund:
- In-person events
- Homework help & online tutoring
- Public access computers & wi-fi
Over 10,000 students participated in library programs designed to support reading, learning, and student success last year. WCCLS has issued 83,549 library cards to public school students since 2019.
- Ability to reserve materials for pickup at any of the 16 libraries across the county
- Access to library catalog with 1.5 million items
- Access to online learning tools, e-books, audiobooks, and streaming video
Last year, WCCLS courier trucks delivered 2.5 million books and other items to libraries.
- 16 full-service public libraries in the county
- Most libraries are open at least 6 days a week
- 1.5 million items in shared collection
- Study rooms and meeting rooms
Last year, there were over 2.4 million visits to WCCLS libraries. Total checkouts exceeded 7.2 million, saving users $140 million by borrowing items instead of purchasing them.
- Regular events and programs, including storytimes in languages such as Spanish and Chinese
- Annual summer reading program
- Interactive play areas to promote learning and social interaction
Last year, libraries hosted over 200,000 participants at 6,000 in-person events for kids and teens including summer reading.
Frequently asked questions
- If passed, Measure 34-345 would authorize an increase in property taxes.
- The proposed measure would cost property owners 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The tax would continue from July 2026 through June 2031.
- The owner of a home assessed at $348,600 would pay approximately $129 per year, or $10.75 per month. This amount would be an increase of $4.55 per month, compared to the current levy.
- The proposed measure would raise $188,915,688 between July 2026 and June 2031.
If Measure 34-345 does not pass, library services would not be provided as proposed and property taxes would not be increased. Reductions in library hours, book purchases, and reading events would occur.
- Libraries last asked voters for an increased levy rate in 2015 (from 17 to 22 cents).
- The population of Washington County continues to grow, and the costs to provide service also continues to increase.
- Digital collection usage has skyrocketed, especially since the pandemic. We see 20% to 30% growth each year. Digital books are much more expensive than print books. Digital books often cost 3 to 4 times the cost of the same title in print. We now provide many titles in multiple formats – print, digital ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video. This increases the cost of providing service and improves our relevance to the community.
- Libraries support increasingly complex community needs, in addition to our traditional mission of providing access to books and reading programs. The services our community expects libraries to provide continue to expand. Some of the services libraries provide in addition to our traditional mission:
- Internet access and digital literacy training, assistance connecting with government services online, help with job searches, etc.
- Acting as safe community spaces, cooling/warming shelters, connecting community members to social services
- In-person social development spaces for young children, makerspaces for creating, study rooms for students and people doing online job interviews, meeting spaces for community groups; free lunch sites in the summer, free tax prep, and more
- A wide range of educational and recreational programs to meet community needs for free and welcoming spaces for connecting and learning.
Since 2006, library service has been partially funded by a levy. The current levy was passed in May 2020; it authorized the collection of property taxes from July 2021 through June 2026.
Read more about our proposed library funding model.
