Library History
It All Started in a Candy Store...
| 1872 | P.A. Clark and H.S. Austin plan to establish a circulating library in Anaheim |
| August 1873 | Formal opening |
| April 1884 | Reverend H.J. Sheridan proposed to organize a Young Men's Social Club and establish a reading room stocked with the best newspapers and books, in a building on Los Angeles Street (now Anaheim Boulevard) south of the Masonic Hall |
| March 1886 | The Town Trustees (now City Council) began to discuss the need for a place "where young people can pass an evening among refining influences and in adding to their store of knowledge" |
| February 1901 | Cornelius Bruce offered room in his Candy Store between Los Angeles and Claudina streets on Center Street, to establish a library and act as librarian for a salary of $12 a month |
| August 1902 | The Board of Trustees established the municipally supported Anaheim Public Library and accepted an offer to transfer all 672 books and other property (a set of bookshelves, a reading table and 2 rocking chairs) from the Free Library to the city library |
| September 1902 | Fees were $1 per year, 60 cents for 6 months, 25 cents for 1 month or less |
| July 1906 | President and secretary of Library Board appointed to visit Fullerton Library to inquire of the method of securing a Carnegie Library |
| September 1906 | City Clerk authorized to write Andrew Carnegie requesting information about securing a library building for Anaheim |
| November 1906 | Library expands to rooms in new Candy Kitchen |
| February 1907 | city Clerk receives confirmation from Andrew Carnegie's secretary, James Bertram, that $10,000 would be provided if the city agrees to terms of the grant |
| July 1907 | Site Committee collected $2,652.59 from residents to buy Building Lot #45, paying William and Adelheid Konig $2,400 |
| December 1907 | Richard Fischle advised Library Board that he had rented the library premises to a barber when the library lease expires on January 1, 1908. Library collection to be moved to Anaheim Chamber of Commerce rooms until new library building is ready for occupancy |
| December 1907 |
Library Board accepts architectural plans of John Austin of Los Angeles. City trustees reject plan and advertise for additional architects |
Carnegie Library (now the Anaheim Museum)
| January 1908 | Library Board chose Austin again after reviewing 4 resubmitted plans. Miss Jean Adams appointed librarian of the new location |
| February 1908 | Austin plans approved by City Trustees |
| June 1908 | Kuechel and Rowley of Orange chosen contractors when their bid is revised to $9,589, below the 10,000 limit of the grant |
| November 1908 | Cornerstone was laid at dedication of the building |
| January 1, 1909 | Anaheim Public Library's Carnegie Building was opened to the public for the 1st time |
| September 1911 | Library benefit held at the Opera House |
| July 1917 | Flag pole installed |
| August 1925 | A juvenile department included in next year's expenses. Elva Haskett is hired as the 1st Children's Librarian |
| November 1925 | 21,405 books in the library |
| 1929 | Elva Haskett introduces Pinocchio to the children |
| February 1932 | Plans completed move the Junior Library to the basement |
| March 1933 | Earthquake causes damage to roof tiles and chimney |
| March 1938 | Floods damage the city and library and Pinocchio is lost in the flood waters |
| July 1940 | Using a cart equipped with book racks, librarian Calnon takes books to the park. |
| July 1951 | Restless young boys start a fire in the restroom, prompting Fire Chief, Ed Stringer to begin the 1st Junior Fire Prevention Program |
| 1951-1952 | Phonograph record library established. Only long playing records in the collection. Circulation reports show 121,105 materials circulated (adults), 49,097 (junior) |
| May 1956 | City authorizes purchase of new site for Central Library (Vineyard Lot F6) |
| 1957 | The library held the initial celebration of Anaheim's Centennial 1857-1957. A reception, sponsored the Anaheim Doll Club, honored pioneer families |
| August 1, 1957 | William J. Griffith is appointed City Librarian |
| February 1958 | Funds obtained for acquisition of a bookmobile |
| February 1959 | Bookmobile celebrates its 1st year of service. Circulation: 54,505 |
Central Library & the Branches
| April 1960 | Voters approved Library Bond Issue, Proposition L, authorizing construction of a new Central Library and also a branch library |
| November 1960 | City Council designates the northerly 300 feet of land at Broadway and Harbor Boulevard the site for the new Central Library. Thomas J. Russell selected as architect for branch library to be built on Mattie Lou Maxwell Park in the vicinity of Broadway and Magnolia streets |
| July 1961 | Joe Jordan, A.I.A. Burbank, was formally selected by the Library Board as the architect for the new million dollar Central Library facility |
| November 1, 1961 | Formal groundbreaking ceremony for West Anaheim Branch |
| March 1962 | Elizabeth J. Schultz designated to formulate plans for a Friends of the Library |
| May 21, 1962 | Official groundbreaking ceremony for both the library and police facilities |
| August 27, 1962 | Opening day for Elva L. Haskett Branch Library |
| May 1963 | Library designated a U.S. Government Depository |
| December 5, 1963 | Central Library opens to the public; officially dedicated on February 23, 1964 |
| November 1964 | Grand piano from the Symphony Guild received; program and presentation held on December 13 |
| January 1965 | Anaheim becomes a charter city, changing Library Board from administrative to advisory body |
| January 1966 | Arrangements are completed for naming APL a selective depository for state publications |
| March 2, 1967 | Mother Colony History Room officially opened |
| February 1968 | 10th anniversary Bookmobile service; 688,473 books have been checked out during this period |
| April 1970 | Proposition L which would have provided funds for library expansion defeated |
| May 1971 | Parks and Recreation Commission officially approved placing a library on the south end of Juarez Park |
| June 1971 | Library designated a Disney Depository , with an emphasis on Disneyland |
| May 1972 | Anaheim City School District superintendent asks the Library Board to create a library for the Mexican-American community at the George Washington School, soon to be a community center |
| February 1973 | George Washington Community Library opens. (Library discontinues staffing in December 1976) |
| June 1972 | A Resolution authorized purchase of land at 1344 Euclid and 3 acres at Nohl Ranch Road and Imperial Highway for future library sites |
| July 24, 1975 | Groundbreaking ceremonies for Euclid and Sunkist Branch Libraries |
| June 16, 1976 | Dedication and opening of Sunkist and Euclid twin branches |
| August 26, 1980 | Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Canyon Hills Branch |
| July 11, 1981 | Dedication of Canyon Hills Branch. Official opening July 13 |
| December 20, 1988 | Formal presentation of $9,000 from the Friends of the Library for the purpose of establishing a videocassette rental program |
| September 30, 1992 | Library begins the Adopt-A-Magazine campaign to replace subscriptions lost to budget cuts |
| April 1995 | Reception held to honor patron benefactors, featuring Dr. Kevin Starr, noted author and California State Librarian |
| June 1995 | Anaheim grapples with the effects of the Orange County bankruptcy. City Manager answers questions about the effects of the financial crisis on the libraries in Anaheim Magazine article |
| July 1995 | Branch Libraries are reopened on Mondays with new hours |
| Summer 1995 |
Theodore Taylor is featured speaker for the 17th Annual Michael L. Roston Creative Writing Contest. Credit card equipment is installed on coin-operated machines (1st public library installation) |
| 1996 | Adopt-a-Magazine campaign underway. Library becomes a division of Community Services. Anaheim Public Library Foundation holds its first Mystery Authors Luncheon with the theme, 'Crime a la Carte' |
| April 1997 | 2nd Annual Authors Luncheon sponsored by Anaheim Public Library Foundation, "South by Southwest" |
The Second Century
| April 2002 | The library begins it's Centennial celebration with special programs throughout the year, and introduces a new website |
| October 2003 | The new Central Library Quiet Zone expands public space to the 2nd floor with 7,500-square-foot of additional space opened up for adults and seniors. The web-based Horizon catalog enhances library services |
| May 2004 | Haskett Staff Reunion and Public Farewell Festival held in Maxwell Park. Original Haskett Library building demolished. (built in 1961). Bookmobile service is expanded to cover the Haskett service area while the branch is closed |
| February 2005 | Groundbreaking Ceremony held on February 15, for the new Elva Haskett Library building |
| September 2005 | A 2nd Bookmobile is added, CNG powered, and featuring the theme "Wild about Reading!" |
| May 2006 | The new Elva L. Haskett Branch opens on May 20, with 24,000-square-foot, including a large courtyard Reading Garden, bug-themed Children's Room with a Storytime Theatre, Teen and Tween spaces, and separate Computer Labs for Adults, Children, Teens, and Families |
| February 2007 | Most of the 1st floor at Central Library is closed off for construction of the new children's space and renovations to the building exterior and entrance. All Adult collections are relocated to the 2nd floor |
| June 2007 | The new 10,000-square-foot East Anaheim Branch opens June 16 on Santa Ana Canyon Road, offering storytimes under the trees, and sweeping views of Anaheim Hills |
| October 2007 | The new Anaheim MUZEO opens on October 16, encompassing the original Carnegie Library for Muzeo programs, and the new location of the Anaheim Heritage Center and Disney Resort Reading Room (formerly the Anaheim History Room) |
| December 2007 | The new Mary Toepelt Nicolai Children's Room opens December 8, at Central Library with a safari theme, including a life-size giraffe and trees, a wild animal themed storytime room, a hand painted entrance mural, and a dedicated Children's Computer Lab. The adjacent 7-8 Place is a room just for Tweens |
| March 2008 | Anaheim Teen website introduced |
| September 2008 | Three large historic murals are permanently displayed and dedicated at the East Anaheim Branch, honoring the history of the area |
| December 2008 | The Historic Woelke-Stoffel House (formerly the Red Cross House) is dedicated on December 12, with a Victorian Christmas Open House |
| January 2009 | The Carnegie Library celebrates it's 100th birthday on January 15. City deals with a worldwide financial crises. Library hours are reduced, with most branches cutting a day of service each week |
| November 2009 | Central Library moves all Adult Services and materials to a temporary location next to City Hall while major ADA renovations take place |
| March 2010 | Major budget cuts to the city budget, the library loses 11 full-time staff |
| April 2010 | Library hours are cut again, with all branches opening later and closing earlier |
| July 6, 2010 | The newly remodeled Central Library opens, featuring a new ADA elevator and restrooms on the 2nd floor, energy efficient lighting on the main floor, and a larger computer lab |
| July 23, 2011 | The 1-acre Founders’ Park, featuring the Mother Colony and Woelke-Stoffel Houses, was dedicated. New amenities to the site include a Carriage House for exhibits and meetings, Pump House with restrooms, full-size windmill, period landscaping, and trails with interpretive panels |