The Fresno County Public Library provides books, ebooks, music, movies, magazines, newspapers, reference assistance, wireless Internet access and a variety of other services at its 35 locations throughout Fresno County, California. The library system is headquartered in Fresno,[1] at the Central Library.
The library is part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System (SJVLS); a cooperative network of 10 public library jurisdictions in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare.[2]
History of the Library
The Fresno County Public Library was founded in 1910 and housed at that time in the Fresno City Library building, which had been constructed in 1904 with a $30,000 donation from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie's gift was contingent on the City of Fresno taxing itself on a yearly basis to support the library.[3] Subsequent gifts provided Carnegie libraries in Selma, Clovis and Sanger between 1906 and 1916.[4]
The county library system originated in response to the California legislature's passing of the County Free Library Law in 1909, instituted in part to provide local organization for library systems and service populations that otherwise lacked library access.[3] In January 1910, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors accepted the proposal for a county system, and on March 12, 1910, the County contracted with the existing Fresno City Library, headed by Miss Jean Baird, to establish such library service.[3]
Baird was the first librarian in charge of the county system, succeeded after a short time by assistant Sarah E. McCardle (County Librarian from January 1, 1911 – December 31, 1945).[3][4] By the 1920s, the Fresno County Library system had become the second largest county library in the state.[3] McCardle is often credited with setting the pace for the library's early development, during her tenure as County Librarian. Among other innovations, she established library services in Fresno County schools and incorporated Fresno's municipal library into the County system with consent from the Fresno City Board of Trustees and County Board of Supervisors.[3]
By the late 1950s, the first Carnegie library building had outgrown its original quarters and the time had come to replace it with a new Central Library.[4]
The present-day Central Library in downtown Fresno opened on April 13, 1959, and today serves as the headquarters for the Fresno County Public Library.[4]
Collection size
As of June 30, 2020, Fresno County Public Library's collections contained approximately:[5]
671,985 total print materials
261,319 Children's books
57,435 Young Adult books
59,834 ebooks
98,890 physical video materials
706 downloadable video materials
77,200 physical audio materials
24,925 downloadable audio materials
Programs and Services
The Library offers Fresno County residents a wealth of information and materials, free of charge, in a variety of formats and languages. In addition to a diverse collection of books, ebooks, magazines, movies and video games, Fresno County Public Library also offers a variety of Library programs, including opportunities for children and teens, Adult Literacy services and bookmobile services to communities.
Branches
Woodward Park RegionalFig Garden RegionalBookmobile
A Google map of all Fresno County Public Library branch locations can be viewed here.
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