San José Public Library Branches, 1911-today
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The first branch library - East
San José Carnegie Branch. |
The First Branch |
Annexed Towns and Bond Measures Create New Branches |
Special Funds and Partnerships Build More Branches |
Current Developments |
Historical Photos
The First Branch
When San José annexed the City of East San José in 1911,
it acquired the Carnegie Library on East Santa Clara Street, which
became the system's first branch. Constructed in 1907, and later
renamed East
San José Carnegie Branch, the structure is now a city historical
landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. A new addition - undertaken to create a larger facility,
while still preserving the original structure - was completed in
1981. A passive solar energy system in the new section was installed
to aid heating and cooling reducing utility costs.
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Annexed Towns and Bond Measures Create New Branches
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Willow Glen Branch
was originally a county library until San José annexed the
town of Willow Glen in 1937. The branch moved to its current location
on Minnesota Avenue in 1949. In the Spring of 1974, the branch sustained
extensive fire damage. Its card catalogs, 95% of its book stock,
and most of its furniture were saved from smoke and water damage
by the exemplary action of the San José Fire Department. The
branch was rebuilt and improved, and reopened in April of 1975.
Many of the branches were funded by bond measures. A 1957 bond funded three libraries: Rosegarden which opened in 1960,
Cambrian in 1961 and West Valley in 1964. A 1961 measure funded three more branches.
Hillview opened in 1965, Calabazas in
1966, and Seventrees in 1967. The Berryessa Branch opened in 1968 funded by a 1966 bond.
Bookmobile service began in 1959. The first bookmobile traveled over 100,000 miles in the City. It had about 60
regular stops, stopping at each one every two weeks. Successively newer models were introduced in 1975, 1986, and 1999.
The latest model is equipped with a wheelchair lift and Internet access.
When Alviso was annexed in 1968. Its tiny City Hall building became the Alviso Branch
of the San José Public Library. In 1983, flooding destroyed all furnishings, equipment,
and library materials. The branch recovered quickly, reopening in March 1984. A larger, more
modern facility, providing much needed access to technology, opened in September 1999.
Almaden
and Edenvale branches opened at the end of 1971. Edenvale became
the fastest growing branch and was renamed Pearl
Avenue Branch in 1974 in response to community requests.
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Special Funds and Partnerships Build More Branches
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1976 witnessed the opening of the Evergreen, Biblioteca Latinoamericana,
and Educational Park branches. Construction and conveyance taxes funded construction of Evergreen
which opened in March. Community efforts resulted in the California State Library awarding San José a Spanish Bilingual Bicultural Materials Grant.
The grant made possible the April opening of the Biblioteca Latinoamericana in facilities which were originally provided by Sacred Heart Church.
Funding was continued by the city of San José after the grant's expiration and the library moved to a 4,000 square foot leased facility at the
remodeled Woodrow Wilson, Jr. High School building in December 1978. 1999 marked relocation of the Biblioteca into a new and permanent home; one of
the first to be specifically designed to incorporate technology and destined to become a model for future branch construction. Educational Park opened
in December 1976 as the result of a unique partnership with East Side Union High School District. San Jose Public Library staffs and operates the
facility leased from the district, adjacent to Independence High School.
Empire Branch Library, built through the use of federal revenue sharing
funds, opened in the fall of 1977. The Santa
Teresa Branch Library was funded by a 1978 construction and
conveyance tax. This area had grown very rapidly and was the only
section of the city without a branch library. The burgeoning population
placed a heavy burden on the Pearl Avenue Branch until Santa Teresa
opened in fall of 1984.
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Current Developments
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In November 1994, the voters of San José approved by a 65% majority, an advisory vote to form a city-wide
special Library Benefit Assessment District. The District provides additional funding for the library materials,
services, automation projects and facility projects. The District will expire after ten years.
The population of San José has increased dramatically since then and is projected to surpass one million
residents before the year 2020. Recent efforts have begun the process of upgrading the branch library system, beginning
with relocation of Alviso and Biblioteca Latinoamericana to new and enlarged facilities in 1999. Construction of a new and
larger facility to replace West Valley is currently underway. The Branch Library Bond Measure, approved in November 2000,
provides $212 million over ten years for six new and fourteen expanded branch libraries.
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Historical Photos - San Jose Public Library Branches
1911-today
More Historical
Photos
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This page last updated April 20, 2007 by the
Web Team
