Vailey Oehlke, the director who's been the driving force behind the evolution of Multnomah County libraries, is heading toward retirement. Come June 3, 2024, the chapter closes on her 27-year legacy of transforming local book havens into inclusive and modern community hubs. Announced in an email from Chair Jessica Vega Pederson to County employees, Oehlke is lauded for her innovative leadership that's left the library system in a much stronger position than when she first opened its doors.
It's been a journey marked with key initiatives, like battling to stabilize funding through the formation of a library district in 2012, and a significant push to diversify the library staff to better reflect the community it serves. According to Multnomah County's news release, a whopping 35% of all library staff are now people of color, and in the last five years, nearly 51% of new hires fit that bill. These moves were an integral part of Oehlke's vision to make the libraries a welcoming home for all, especially those "furthest from opportunity."
With Oehlke at the helm, the library system has seen expansions and modernizations for 19 buildings, the creation of a new East County Library in Gresham, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art operations center, all fueled by a $387 million capital bond passed by voters in 2020. Her method was simple yet powerful – ask the community itself what would make them feel more included. "All along, I have strived to focus on the future, so that our library and all public libraries remain valued, relevant, and responsive to their communities," Oehlke stated proudly about her approach.
Deputy Library Director Annie Lewis steps up as the Interim Director while Chair Pederson and COO Serena Cruz scout for a full-time successor, collaborating with Karras Consulting during the hunt. Oehlke leaves behind a transformed library system, one that even caught the attention of the Public Library Association where she served as president, and the Urban Libraries Council where she was an executive board member. Her influence, as outlined by Randall Edwards, Chair of the Multnomah County Library bond oversight committee, has indeed built a lasting legacy that aims to evolve to meet the needs of citizens today and those of the future.
