Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Main Library, 1970-2003
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The original Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Main Library. |
The Main Library Opens |
Growing the Library, Crowning the King |
The Need for a new King |
Historical Photos
The Main Library Opens
In 1961, a bond issue and a 1965 federal grant provided $4,470,000
for the construction of a 105,000 square foot Main Library building.
This facility opened in April of 1970, after over thirty years of
the library being housed in the old Post Office building.
Subject arrangement of the Main Library was abandoned in 1976, and the collection was rearranged to conform to the Dewey
Decimal System. Later surveys inferred that most people came to the library to browse through the collection rather than to
look for a specific item. The display of the collection was then restructured to reflect a merchandising and marketing approach.
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Growing the Library, Crowning the King
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In September 1986, The Silicon Valley Information Center (SVIC)
opened to the public. The center received funding from the State
Library and boasted an on-line catalog. Local high technology company
representatives made corporate visits to the department. Budget
problems led to the closure of the SVIC in July 1992. Much of the
book collection was incorporated into the Reference and circulating
collections at the Main Library and branches. Other components of
the collection, including clipping files, company archives and the
SVIC database, are no longer available.
Convention Center ground-breaking began on December 19, 1986. Main Library
became an oasis in a sea of downtown construction. March 6, 1987
saw the ground-breaking for the Light Rail Transit station in front
of the Main Library. Light Rail service started on June 17, 1988
with the Main Library (Convention Center) as the southern-most stop
on the line. The Main Library was renamed the “Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Main Library” on January 15, 1990. This action
expressed a commitment by the City of San José and the Library
Department to serving all residents. In April 1995, the Main Branch
celebrated its 25th anniversary with dedications, displays of new
multi-media information systems, and live music.
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The Need for a new King
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By 1996, SJSU President Robert Caret and Susan Hammer, then Mayor of
San José, both found themselves faced with similar problems:
crowded main libraries, badly in need of technological upgrades,
with no space for expanding collections. Neither leader had the
financial resources to address these needs alone. After comparing
notes, the mayor and the university president reasoned: Why not
join forces and build a a new facility that could greatly improve
library service to both the city and the university? Susan Hammer
formally announced plans for a new joint city/university library
in her February 1997, State of the City address. Library service
at San José's main branch came full circle Friday, October
20, 2000 with groundbreaking for the new King Library on the site
of the original Carnegie Public Library.
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Historical Photos - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Main Library
1970-2003
| Dr.
King Main Library - Construction and Completed Building 1967
- 1970 |
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| Dr.
King Main Library - Dedication Ceremonies 1967 - 1970 |
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| Groundbreaking Invitation - 1967 |
Opening Ceremonies Invitation
- 1970 |
Opening Ceremonies - 1970 |
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More Historical
Photos
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This page last updated April 20, 2007 by the
Web Team
