November 2024

Quick Facts

• The Passport Program allows library cardholders of participating Oregon libraries to get a Multnomah County Library card.
• Patrons who live in the free service area should be given a 2_METRO or 3_METRO_Y card.

Procedure

1. A patron from a participating Oregon library presents a library card. If a patron is unwilling or unable to meet the name, address or identification requirements for security or physical reasons, an exception may be made on an individual basis by a PIC, supervisor, or the contact center staff. 
2. Staff will look up that library to see if it is participating in the Passport program. If it is not, refer the patron back to the home library to request participation in the Passport program. 
3. If the patron's library is part of the Passport program, staff will register the patron for a library card with all of the standard registration requirements.
4. Choose PASSPORT or PASSPORT_Y as the Profile name, depending on the patron's age.
5. Give the patron standard new patron information, Include that Passport patrons may have up to 10 checkouts and 10 holds and that some services are not available to Passport patrons because of vendor agreements or volume of requests.

Rationale

The Oregon Library Passport Program recognizes that library service ought to mirror the way Oregonians live, work, shop, and play, and reduce barriers to library services. Oregon libraries participating in the MIX agreement (Clackamas County Cooperative Libraries, Washington County Cooperative Libraries and Hood River County Library) are already participating in this program.

Some services are not available to Passport patrons because of vendor agreements or volume of requests. Passport or other non-resident patrons may purchase library services for full Multnomah County Library services, including remote database access and InterLibrary Loan services.

Policy

Multnomah County Library is participating in the Oregon Library Passport Program. By presenting their Multnomah County Library cards, patrons can obtain library cards at all other participating libraries in Oregon. Cardholders of participating Oregon libraries can apply for a Multnomah County Library card. Terms of use for this program are established by each participating library, and materials must be checked out and returned at that library or library system.

Passport patrons must present a library card from a participating library to receive a Multnomah County Library Passport card.  It does not matter where the patron lives, only that a library card from a participating library is presented at registration.

Patrons who live in the Free service area are not eligible for a Passport card. They can get a standard account with a 2_ METRO OR METRO_Y Metro user profile.

Passport patrons are allowed:

• 10 items checked out, including media and Chromebooks.
• 10 holds
• Pharos access
• E-book access may be limited due to vendor agreements.
  • Passport patrons have full access to OverDrive, our largest e-book supplier, Hoopla, and Kanopy.
  • E-books that are accessed like subscription databases are not available to Passport patrons remotely. This is due to vendor agreements. All patrons can access databases when they are at a Multnomah County Library.
  • Everyone has access to websites such as Project Gutenberg without a library card.
• Subscription databases must be accessed within a library. Remote database access is not allowed because it would violate our vendor agreements.
• Library Outreach (LOS) and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services are only available to Multnomah County residents, due to the volume of requests.

All other standard circulation policies apply.

This program does not affect the free service area and the MIX agreement.