Firearms

• Effective November 2025 upon installation of signage, most library locations are covered under a Multnomah County ordinance prohibiting concealed handgun license (“CHL”) holders from carrying firearms into those library buildings.
• Generally, firearms are not permitted in or on library buildings. However, for purposes of library Rule 7, the following people may carry firearms on library premises:
  • A police officer or reserve officer, as those terms are defined in ORS 181A.355.
  • A parole and probation officer, as defined in ORS 181A.355, while the parole and probation officer is acting within the scope of employment.
  • A federal officer, as defined in ORS 133.005, or a certified reserve officer or corrections officer, as those terms are defined in ORS 181A.355, while the federal officer, certified reserve officer or corrections officer is acting within the scope of employment.
  • An honorably retired law enforcement officer.
  • An active or reserve member of the military forces of this state or the United States, when engaged in the performance of duty.
  • For the three locations identified below as permitting concealed handgun license holders to carry a firearm, a person who is licensed under ORS 166.291 and 166.292 to carry a concealed handgun. This license permits a patron to carry a handgun in an open (e.g. holstered visibly on a belt) or concealed (e.g. holstered invisibly under a jacket) manner.
  • A person who is authorized by the library to possess a firearm or dangerous weapon in the library.
  • An employee of the United States Department of Agriculture, acting within the scope of employment, who possesses a firearm in the course of the lawful taking of wildlife.
• If someone is observed carrying a weapon or any other dangerous item in a disruptive or threatening manner, PICs and security personnel should be prepared to respond in accordance with active threat training and critical incident response procedures.

Procedures for locations where firearms carried by CHL holders are prohibited (see table above)

• Excluding active threat situations and the exceptions outlined above, if library personnel observe someone carrying a firearm on library premises, they should strive to take the following steps as quickly and as safely as possible:
  • Call 911 and report the observation. Notify 911 that under Multnomah County ordinance, concealed handgun license holders cannot carry firearms at this location.
  • Notify other library employees working at the location.
  • Notify one of the emergency contacts identified in the critical incident response procedures.
  • Notify law enforcement of the Multnomah County Concealed Handgun License Ordinance and that it applies to this location.
  • Permit law enforcement personnel to contact the patron and determine whether the patron may lawfully carry the firearm in the library.
  • If law enforcement determines that the patron is carrying the firearm unlawfully, and the patron does not possess a concealed handgun license, then the patron should be excluded for one year for violating rule 1. PICs and security personnel should ask responding law enforcement personnel to notify the patron on the library’s behalf.
  • If the patron possesses a valid Oregon concealed handgun license and it is determined that this is their first violation of this ordinance at a library location, law enforcement should require the patron to leave the building immediately to remove their firearm from the premises. The PIC should work with law enforcement to inform the patron that they are excluded until that condition is corrected and provide a warning that if they repeat the violation, they will be excluded for one year. The warning should be noted by the PIC in an incident report.
  • A subsequent violation will result in an exclusion period of one year. The PIC should work with law enforcement to communicate the exclusion.

Procedures for locations where firearms carried by CHL holders are permitted (see table above):

• Excluding active threat situations and the exceptions outlined above, if library personnel observe someone carrying a firearm on library premises, they should strive to take the following steps as quickly and as safely as possible:
  • Call 911, report the observation, and request that law enforcement personnel contact the patron to determine whether the firearm is carried in accordance with a valid Oregon concealed handgun license.
  • Notify other library employees working at the location.
  • Notify one of the emergency contacts identified in the critical incident response procedures.
  • Permit law enforcement personnel to contact the patron and determine whether the patron may lawfully carry the firearm.
  • If law enforcement determines that the patron is carrying the firearm unlawfully, then the patron should be excluded for one year for violating rule 1. PICs and security personnel should ask responding law enforcement personnel to notify the patron on the library’s behalf.
  • If law enforcement determines that the patron is carrying the firearm lawfully and in accordance with a valid Oregon concealed handgun license, then, in the presence of law enforcement personnel, PICs should ask the patron to keep the handgun concealed at all times while on library premises (to minimize disruption of library operations).
    • If the patron complies with the reasonable request to keep the handgun concealed, then the patron may remain on library premises.
    • If the patron does not comply with the reasonable request to keep the handgun concealed, then the patron should be excluded for violating rule 3. PICs and security personnel should exclude the patron in the presence of law enforcement personnel (or ask responding law enforcement to exclude the patron on the library’s behalf). 

Unattended Firearms

• Unattended firearms are a safety hazard and should not be touched by library employees or patrons.
• Secure the area where the firearm is located, clearing patrons from the area if necessary.
• Call 911and ask police to retrieve the unattended firearm.
  • Please ask them to provide an estimated time of arrival.
  • If police indicate that arrival time is more than 15 minutes, request that the SOC send personnel with a lock box to secure the firearm until police arrive.
  • Notify the SOC at 503-988-6080
  • Notify the EMT PIC at 503-201-0522

Other weapons

• Almost anything can be used as a weapon; however, certain items might be more dangerous and disruptive to library operations, and therefore considered by the library to be “unauthorized weapons” when carried by patrons. PICs and security personnel must use their best judgment to determine whether an item should be considered an “unauthorized weapon.” Generally, unauthorized weapons include (but are not limited to):
  • Any weapon that is used or possessed unlawfully (also a violation of rule 1).
  • Any unsheathed blade.
  • Any fixed-blade or folding knife with a blade 4 inches or longer.
  • Any bow, crossbow, arrow, bolt, slingshot, or similar projectile item.
  • Any tool or piece of equipment that is readily capable of causing serious physical injury and that might reasonably be regarded as a weapon (e.g. an axe).
• If the PICs or security personnel determine that a patron is carrying an unauthorized weapon, then the PICs or security personnel should provide a reasonable direction to remove the item from library premises. PICs and security personnel should request law enforcement assistance if they believe the assistance will be necessary to resolve the situation safely.
• It is not lawful for patrons to carry certain items concealed upon their person (including any knife having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force, any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slungshot, metal knuckles, or any similar instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person). PICs and security personnel should not advise patrons to conceal such items. Concealing such an item upon one’s person is a violation of rule 1.
• Generally, any violation of rule 7 that is also a violation of rule 1, involves an accompanying violation of rule 2, or involves an accompanying violation of rule 3 that is threatening in nature, will result in a minimum exclusion length of one year.