San Rafael Public Library - San Rafael, CA
Posted by: 
saopaulo1
N 37° 58.492 W 122° 31.965
10S E 541037 N 4203129
San Rafael's public library is housed in a Carnegie Library that dates back to the early 1900s.
Waymark Code: WM5C3B
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 12/16/2008
Views: 4
1887 The Women's Christian Temperance Union bravely established the first free public library
in San Rafael, in rental space in the Francetta Building on 4th Street between D and E.
1903 The library moved to the old San Rafael High School on E Street.
1909 The San Rafael Public Library was opened at its present site on E Street between 5th
and Mission avenues. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 to construct the
building and the site was purchased for $6,500 through the generosity of 61 civic-minded
residents.
1960 The first major expansion doubled the space (to 10,800 square feet), with a new second
floor wing with staff parking underneath.
1976 The library's second expansion converted staff parking into the Children's Room.
1992 The library was closed in July for earthquake retrofitting and reopened a year later. In the
interim, the library operated with one-fifth of its collection housed in the rear of the old E
Street School.
1993 San Rafael library director Vaughn Stratford was instrumental in the creation of MARINet,
a consortium of the city and county libraries in Marin County. MARINet libraries share a
single on-line catalog, and support a delivery service to exchange materials between the
17 participating libraries.
2004 Vaughn Stratford retired after 23 years of service and David Dodd became the new
library director. (
visit link)
1100 E Street
San Rafael, California 94901
415 485 3323