A library is probably not the first place you think of when you’re looking to try new music, but Multnomah County Library recently started a project just for that. The Library Music Project is a new platform for Multnomah County Library card-holders to experience new music, featuring artists from the Portland area. To add to their music library, they’re accepting new submissions from Portland musicians from now until September 30.

The project started in February of this year, when they collected over 400 submissions from artists all over the Portland metro area. From that they added over one hundred and twenty-eight albums. According to Kady Ferris, electronic content librarian, the library started the project to offer something new to its patrons.

“The Portland music scene is so vital, it seemed like a good way to sort of capture what’s going on right now,” Ferris said.

According to Ferris, the current collection contains a lot of folk and rock music, but also other genres like world music, pop and electronic. They are looking to expand their offerings with future submissions.

After September 30, The Library Music Project will be doing calls for submissions twice a year. They accept only one album per artist, but if an artist is involved with multiple projects, it’s possible to get those albums accepted as well.

Shawn Cunningham, communications director, believes that the online music collection provides a necessary service to those who use the library.
“We know more people use the library online than in person. So for us, the importance of our digital offerings, and providing a really robust suite of content for people in the community to enjoy is really important,” he said.

Ferris also says that interested bands can see about performing through the library as well. Their first show is on Saturday, September 22 at 4 p.m. at the White Eagle, and all ages are welcome. Other performance opportunities might also include shooting music videos for bands at the library in the future.

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