The Oregon Blue Book is the state's official almanac and fact book. It contains listings and functional descriptions of government agencies and educational institutions. It also features an almanac, maps, facts about Oregon history and elections, as well as information on the arts, media, and other cultural institutions in Oregon. The print version of the Oregon Blue Book is published during odd-numbered years as required by ORS 177.120. The Web version is updated regularly.

The primary goal of the Oregon Blue Book is to help the citizens of Oregon understand and gain access to their government and related institutions. To accomplish this, the Oregon Blue Book provides thousands of Web links. But understanding requires more than just directories that list websites. Accordingly, the Oregon Blue Book is brimming with original content:

 

Several resources, such as the Economy, Government Finance and History sections, provide in-depth analysis to better place the Oregon experience in context.

 

Dozens of state agency histories (see PDF example) show how state offices and functions have evolved since the first provisional government in the 1840s.

 

Records retention schedules (see PDF example) describe the functions of state agency programs in concise, straightforward language to help make large and complex agencies a little easier to comprehend.

 

Of course, the Oregon experience consists of much more than just understanding government. For a broader perspective, the Oregon Blue Book provides access to hundreds of Oregon art and culture organizations, newspapers, radio and television stations, and more. And the Oregon Topics section includes hundreds of links to subjects that cut across rigid organizational hierarchies.

 

The Explore Oregon section features numerous cultural exhibits such as one exploring Recreation in the Cascades since 1900. Other exhibits include Oregon's Cemeteries; Oregon's Early Rural Schools; Protecting Oregon Beaches; Centennial of Woman Suffrage; and much more.

 

And there's plenty more to discover about Oregon.  The Notable Oregonians Guide offers biographical sketches 84 individuals who have become prominent in various pursuits. The Explore Oregon section also has the Oregon Movies Guide and the Oregon Authors Guide.

Meanwhile, the Fun for All section offers a wealth of games, quizzes, trivia, and other resources for all ages. These include six Oregon Jeopardy Challenges and 24 Oregon jigsaw puzzles.

Like Oregon, the Oregon Blue Book is expansive - totaling over 1,200 Web pages with thousands of images. We encourage you to explore the Oregon Blue Book and, by extension, explore the state itself. The scenic photos displayed throughout the Oregon Blue Book will give you a taste of the rich natural and cultural beauty to be found in Oregon. You can also take a photo tour of the governmental center of Oregon, the State Capitol.

 

And as you explore, please let us know if you have suggestions for making the Oregon Blue Book a better tool for understanding and accessing Oregon resources.

 

The site map is great way to get a quick overview of resources.