For immediate release
On May 26, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) between Washington County Cooperative Library Services and the 12 partners (nine cities and three non-profit organizations) that operate public libraries in the county. This action moves the agreements to partner agency governing bodies for their consideration and adoption. The new agreements align with the five-year levy that 59% of voters approved in November 2025 to fund countywide library service.
The agreements reflect improvements to a 50-year operating model, adopted by the Board on Oct. 28, 2025, and recommended by our 12 partner agencies (Cities of Banks, Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, North Plains, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin; Aloha Community Library Association; Cedar Mill Community Library Association; and Garden Home Community Library Association). Here are the highlights:
- Funding formula – Every library will receive a funding increase from Washington County, to support consistent levels of core service across the cooperative.
- Service area boundaries – Partners worked together to update library service areas across the county. While each library has a defined service area for planning and funding purposes, the community can continue to use and enjoy any WCCLS library.
- Operational efficiencies – WCCLS will expand community support by providing physical collections for libraries. The new agreement will reduce the amount of duplicated work across the system and decrease operating costs for our partner libraries, while continuing to provide collections that
meet each community’s unique needs. Collection management is the process of selecting, purchasing, receiving, and cataloging library materials. Currently, each partner library independently manages their collection of physical materials while WCCLS manages digital collections for the cooperative. - We are pleased to increase library funding thanks to voters who supported the most recent levy. We are grateful for the public’s continued trust in our ability to serve as responsible stewards of resources,” said Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. “Libraries are the heart and soul of our communities. By investing today, we are laying the foundation to successfully meet community needs for the next 50 years.”
About WCCLS
The cooperative was founded in 1976 after voters passed the first countywide tax measure to fund library services. Today, WCCLS partners with 9 cities and 3 non-profits to offer library services to more than 600,000 residents in the County. About 2/3 of WCCLS’ revenue comes from a 5-year levy that 59% of voters passed on November 4, 2025. Voter turnout was an unusually high 36% for the Special Election.