Information on:

San Rafael Public Library

1100 East Street
415-485-3323

History

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.

1908 - 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.


San Rafael Public Library is not affiliated with AmericanTowns Media

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