Multnomah County Central Library — Attraction in Portland

I want to say this now. So many people are complaining about the homeless here. Now I do not deny there are a lot of homeless that come here that do not respect these spaces, but not all of us are like that. They gave up on help and resorted to drugs and alcohol. A lot of them weren't even mentally I'll and just lost all sanity being on the streets for so long. Me, I am currently homeless and I have been since I was 17 and I'm 19 now, but I respect the rules and spaces. They have to be strick of security for safety reasons and the rule on food, they still have signs saying it started on Nov 1st. You were informed of it changing and it's cause the non respectful homeless make messes.

The ones that don't want to change and get off the streets are the ones that cause issues, but the rest are doing what we can. With the open on the computers, if it's not illegal content like child pornography, they really can't do much about it. Simply go to the main desk and let them know of the inappropriate use and they can block them from using the computers because it is in the rules. With them panhandling, just tell them you don't have any change or cash on you. If they continue to persist let security know and they will handle it and don't worry about making a scene. And the whole "well why don't you get a job and get off the streets." Some of us are trying. to have a decent job you need a address, but to get an address you need a job. It a continuous loop and finding a way out is difficult. Maybe do your research on places that can help and let them know. Instead of being rude about it. Please try to be courteous to the ones that respect the space. We are trying. This library is amazing and it sucks that so many people are giving it a bad review because of the disrespectful homeless that come here. Rate it on there services and not on the population that...

The library is a good place to get information. But sometimes times I hear people complain about the homeless. It's really sad knowing people can look down their noses and judge their neighbors righteously.

Sounds like those stories we hear about emotionally weak children who cry out in the night, "Mommy, mommy! There's a monster under my bed.", or "Daddy, daddy! There's a monster in my closet." But there never is. Then, even children who never believed in monsters grow up to finally believe and cry out in the day, "God, God! There's an eviL man over there!"

We need to finally grow up and not even think about judging our neighbors. After all, we're all created in our makers image, and to judge one of us eviL is the same as judging him eviL. Of all those who Live not one is eviL.

We need to choose to be strong emotionally and stand on our own two feet before our emotional weakness leads us, no herds us to our total destruction save for the teacher, of course.

The teacher finally lives and is finally among us. Let the things that divide us ( like love and hate ) fall to the wayside. Let us all rise up from the dirt in which we lay and cry about eviL being everywhere to stand on our own two feet. Our creator will never molly coddle us. Never has. We are totally free. Just as free as he is.

The teacher has spoken, but not lectured.

Let the...

Hi, I think my score is more a 4.5 (read below regarding Security) than a 5, but I wanted to leave a Note and say how Happy/Pleased I was today by the service I received by Nick and Kristi (they were in the Non-Fiction section). Nick went way out of his way to Locate a Book that I had on "Hold," but for some reason.. went "Unavailable" in the System -- so he went to the Library Basement and was able to Track one down for me! Then the other Comment is for Kristi, who was so nice and gave me a Freebie Purple Swag Library Bag. (I was ok w/ Blue but she asked me if I wanted any of the other colors) But this wasn't the only time I got Premier Service by Mult. Central Library: Another time I had a couple of DVDs on Hold that wouldn't Switch Libraries to my Default Location, so the Librarian actually did it for me and the DVD's went over by the next day! Sorry I forgot who that was.. I am Impressed that the Central Library has TONS of Hard-to-find Books you usually cannot get in any of the Portland Suburbs, and the Library building itself is beautiful and Airy to walk through. My only Complaint is the Parking and the Security Guards were being Jerks in acting like I was Homeless or Soliciting there... when it was obvious I'm a Patron and drove up in my Prius. Anyway, I Highly Recommend MCCL, if for your helpful Library Staff more than...