Who We Are
MISSION
Baker County Library District provides free public library service through books and other resources, for education, information and recreation to all residents of Baker County, Oregon.
ABOUT US
BCLD is an independent special library taxing district organized under the laws of Oregon State and serving all of Baker County. It includes the Main Library and Administrative headquarters in Baker City, branches in Haines, Halfway, Huntington, Richland, and Sumpter, and active Volunteer and Outreach programs.
BCLD is governed by a five-member elected board. To learn more about BCLD governance, budgets, and policies, visit the Governance webpage.
BCLD is heavily involved in community engagement and partnership activities throughout the county. District staff consists of 15.8 FTE, the average annual circulation is around 100,000, and the current general fund operating budget is around $1.8 million.
ABOUT BAKER COUNTY
Baker County has a population of about 17,000 people in a territory of 3,088 square miles. It is located in the northeast corner of Oregon, sharing a border with Idaho. On the north, it is bounded by the geologically diverse Blue Mountains, including the Wallowa Mountain range to the north and Elkhorn Mountains to the west and south.
The county includes miles of scenic rangeland and acres of farmland, vast forests and spectacular wilderness areas, and a stretch of Hells Canyon National Recreational Area. Recreational opportunities abound, including hiking, camping, bicycling, birding, golf, and snow sports of all kinds with some of the best powder runs in the northwest at Anthony Lakes Ski Resort. Native American tribes include the Cayuse, Niimiipuu (Nez Perce), and Northern Paiute, Umatilla, Walla Walla and other Sahaptin-speaking peoples. The nearest large airport is in the Boise metropolitan area, approximately two hours away. The nearest retail superstores are in the cities of La Grande and Ontario, each about a one hour drive along Interstate 84.
HISTORY
Library service in Baker County began in 1901, when the Alpha Club established a public library to enrich the local community. This early effort grew significantly with the support of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, whose $25,000 gift funded the construction of a Carnegie library building in 1909. With a support commitment from the city, the institution became known as the Baker City Public Library.
In 1964, the library expanded its reach by becoming a department of Baker County. A few years later, in 1971, it relocated from the original Carnegie building near City Hall to a new facility adjacent to Geiser-Pollman Park.
During the mid-1980s, the library faced severe budget cuts that threatened its future. In response, a grassroots citizen campaign mobilized to preserve and strengthen library services. Their efforts culminated in May 1988, when voters approved a permanent tax base, establishing the Baker County Library District as an independent government entity.
Community support has remained strong ever since. In 1998, voters approved a bond measure to renovate the main library and its five branch locations. Continued investment followed in 2006 with the passage of a five-year local option levy to support operating costs. This levy has been consistently renewed by voters, ensuring sustainable, county-wide library service.
In recognition of its excellence and impact, Library Journal named the Baker County Library District one of the “Best Small Libraries in America” in 2010.
For more information, see
