Celebrate the Library Centennial
In 2010, the Fresno County Public Library celebrates its 100-year anniversary of serving the information, education, and entertainment needs of Fresno County residents. State legislation established County Library Service in 1909. On March 12, 1910, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors was the third California County to establish a County Library under this new legislation. The cities of Clovis, Coalinga, Easton, Fowler, Kerman, Kingsburg, Laton, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, and Selma joined together and service was administered under a contract with the City of Fresno.
The initial purpose of California’s county library system was to bring reading/education materials to rural populations which had poor access to library facilities, most of which were available only in major cities. Pre-existing libraries in Fresno County were usually financed through subscriptions, fundraisers, and paid memberships; the new Fresno County Public Library, however, required no fees or subscriptions to join.
On July 11, 1917, the Board of Supervisors approved incorporation of the Fresno City Library into the Fresno County Public Library. Within the first 10 years, new rural branches opened in Caruthers, Riverdale, Tranquillity, Orange Cove, San Joaquin, Big Creek, Auberry, and Mendota and by 1923 a branch was established in Firebaugh. Pinedale opened in 1948 and mountain and foothill libraries followed: Shaver 1976, Piedra 1982, and Bear Mountain 1994. In the Fresno metropolitan area, in addition to the Carnegie Central Library, there was the North Fresno branch (now Cedar Clinton), several branches in West Fresno, the Gillis Branch in 1940, Fig Garden in 1962, Sunnyside in 1965, Leo Politi in 1974, Mosqueda in 1976, and Woodward Park in 2004.
To extend system reach, Bookmobile Services were launched in 1962 and enhanced with subsequent mobile services including the Biblioteca Ambulante, AprendoVan, and Day Care Bookmobiles. Additional special countywide services were expanded to include the Talking Book Library for the Blind in 1975, Library Services in the Jail, the reestablished Literacy Services Center in 2000, and the Senior Resource Center Library in 2005. The Library also operated numerous other branches which have since closed or were temporary branches designed to serve construction crews for dam projects and military personnel on local bases during World War II.
From the early days of delivering books, via horse-drawn wagon or even dog sled, to today’s delivery of information in digital and other multimedia formats, the Library has ensured free access for County residents of all ages in order to provide lifelong learning opportunities and to enhance the quality of community life.
