Overview
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.
Goals and Features
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:
Dozens of state agency histories (
see DAS 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.
Meanwhile, the
Fun for All section offers a wealth of games, quizzes, trivia, and other resources for all ages.
Discover!
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.
The
site map is great way to get a quick overview of resources.