A totally nerdy thing you can do in Oregon this summer (if you live in Oregon)
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Aug. 1, 2025
People travel, and some travelers collect ephemera to memorialize
their trips or to brag about them. For example, train tickets,
postmarks, and such.
In Oregon, there is a program called Oregon Library Passport. In
short, if you have a valid library card from your local library,
you can go to just about any public library in Oregon and get a
limited-validity card from there.
For example, if you live in Washington County, the Metropolitan
Interlibrary Exchange (MIX) agreement allows you to get a
full-validity library card from Multnomah County Library, Libraries
in Clackamas County, Hood River County Library, Camas Public
Library, and Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. But beyond
these areas, you can also take advantage of the Oregon Library
Passport program at places such as Newberg Public Library (part of
Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library System) and Scappoose Public
Library.
Under this program, you will get a one-year validity, a restricted
library card without access to electronic resources (such as
PressReader and Libby -- something you probably have access to
already through your home library).
Come to think of it, arguably, you can go on a road trip across
Oregon and collect library cards from every town and county. There
isn't an obligation on your side to actually use the library cards
to check out materials (although that would be nice if you're
staying for a few days near a library). And it could also be useful
if you want to use a public computer while visiting another town,
since some libraries require a valid card number to use a computer
and/or printer.
I can imagine someone actually doing this.
=>
https://www.olaweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=581:passport-directory&catid=20:site-content
Oregon Library Passport participating libraries (Oregon Library
Association)
Note: Not all libraries in Oregon participate in this program. For
example, Columbia City Community Library does not.
