Santa Clara County. Free Library.

The Santa Clara County Free Library was founded in July 1914 and was located in the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose, at the corner of Market St. and St. James St. The original library consisted of three rooms, which quickly expanded to seven rooms. Within six years twenty-four community branches were established, ranging from Milpitas to Gilroy.

The County Library was tied closely with the local school districts. Under the County Library law of California the school district gave the County Library its library funds, and professional librarians acquired the books and shipped them out to the schools. Thus the school children had access to all of the books at the County Library. The County Library was tied with two school districts in 1914, which expanded to almost all of the seventy-eight school districts in the County by 1922. In 1922 there were 48,000 books and over 14,000 borrowers in the system. As of 2008 the Santa Clara County Library has seven branches in Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.

From the description of Santa Clara County Free Library collection, 1914-1931. (Santa Clara County Archives). WorldCat record id: 501067344

Administrative History

The Santa Clara County Free Library was founded in July 1914 and was located in the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose, at the corner of Market St. and St. James St. The original library consisted of three rooms, which quickly expanded to seven rooms. Within six years twenty-four community branches were established, ranging from Milpitas to Gilroy.

The County Library was tied closely with the local school districts. Under the County Library law of California the school district gave the County Library its library funds, and professional librarians acquired the books and shipped them out to the schools. Thus the school children had access to all of the books at the County Library. The County Library was tied with two school districts in 1914, which expanded to almost all of the seventy-eight school districts in the County by 1922. In 1922 there were 48,000 books and over 14,000 borrowers in the system.

As of 2008 the Santa Clara County Library has seven branches in Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.

From the guide to the Santa Clara County Free Library collection, 1914-1931, (Santa Clara County Archives.)