THEN AND NOW

TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY

THEN AND NOW

1910-2010

ALPAUGH-THEN

Alpaugh was established as the sixth County Library Branch in 1913.

In 1910, a deposit station had been set up on two shelves, hung on the wall of the “merchandise store” of W.N. Billing on North Broadway. W.N. Billing on North Broadway. The Alpaugh Library Association wanted a library building and raised money for it with a membership subscription of $10 per member.

ALPAUGH-NOW

The present Alpaugh Branch was built next to the old building and dedicated in the fall of 1960.

Public Hours: Public Hours: Public Hours: Public Hours: Public Hours: Public Hours: Public Hours: Public Hours: Tuesday : 10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm Wednesday : 10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm

Internet: Internet: Internet: Internet: 2 public internet stations.

ALPAUGHCELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Alpaugh had open house on Wednesday June 9, 2010 from 3-6. The public came in for the open house. They had treats and beverages and talked about the picture on the new magnet card.

DINUBA-THENThe Tulare County Library System was formed in July of 1910. In September, 1910, the Dinuba Women's Club filed a petition to have a County Library deposit station (a spot where patrons could pick up and deposit books) set up in Dinuba. The petition was granted and the first deposit station was set up in a corner of the Dopkins Furniture Store with a deposit of 50 books sent from Visalia. A year later more room was required, and the branch was moved to the Snell was required, and the branch was moved to the Snell Building on Tulare Street. The first librarian, Miss Etta Pillsbury, was appointed and was paid the princely sum of $5.00 a month.Sometime in 1912 the branch complete with a reading room moved to the (then) new Chamber of Commerce building. In 1913 there were about 1,000 books.

DINUBA-NOW

In 1975 the present day library branch was built. Dinuba was designated branch #1 in 1910, and still holds that distinction and still holds that distinction today.

DINUBACELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Dinuba had a good turn out for the Open House held on June 10, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. The Friends advertised in the Dinuba. The Dinuba Sentinel in the Dinuba. The Dinuba Sentinel was there to take a pictures of the two children that won the Wimpy the Kidraffle that the Friends sponsored. We had several people come in to enjoy the festivities.

EARLIMART-THEN

The Earlimart Library was established in October, 1914 in the Alila School with Mrs. Rebekah Bristow as custodian. It offered the usual 50 books of a County deposit station. In October 1915, the library was moved to Mr. Ough’s Store with Miss Violet Ough as custodian. The Branch was discontinued in December, 1915, and then re-established in February 1916, in the and then re-established in February 1916, in the school house. The library was then moved from store to store with store owners as custodians. Then, in 1926, it was moved to the Adams family store where it stayed until 1940.During WWII, the library was in the home of Reverend and Mrs. Swift.The present Branch was built in 1959, and in 1963, Earlimart was the second most active County Branch, lending 67,176 books.

EARLIMART-NOW

Public Hours:

Tuesday :10 am -1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm

10 am - 1 pm, 2 Wednesday :

10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm

Thursday :10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm

Friday :10 am - 1, 2 pm -

6 pm

Internet: 3 public internet stations.

EARLIMARTCELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Earlimart had open house on Thursday June 10, 2010 from 3-6. The public came from 3-6. The public came in for the open house. They had treats and beverages.

EXETER-THEN

In March 1909, even before the County Library System was established, the Exeter Women's Club was the first local group to take advantage of a new State network to distribute books to rural areas. They set up a deposit station (a place where people could deposit station (a place where people could borrow and return State books) in the H. Miles & Co. Store. Then, when the Tulare County Library System was formed in 1910, the Women's Club petitioned to become one of the first County stations. Exeter became County Deposit Station #2 in Nov., 1910.

EXETER-NOW

Public Hours:

Tuesday :11 am -5 pm; 6 pm - 8 pm

11 pm - 5 pm, 6 Wednesday :

11 pm - 5 pm, 6 pm - 8 pm

Thursday :9 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 6 pm

Friday :9 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 6pm

Internet: 6 public internet stations

EXETER CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

IVANHOE-THEN

The Ivanhoe Branch was established March 19, 1914, as the Venice Hill Branch in Waddle’s store. The branch was open daily, Waddle’s store. The branch was open daily, with Mr. Waddle as the custodian. The salary was $2.50 a month.

IVANHOE-NOW

Public Hours:

Wednesday :10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm

Thursday :10 am - 1 pm, 2

Thursday :10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 6 pm

Internet: 5 public internet stations

IVANHOE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

LINDSAY-THEN

A free reading room was established in Lindsay in Dec. 1909. The reading room was open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Edward Treutlein was the first custodian. The room rented for 10 dollars and was financed by “entertainments, dues and subscriptions”. A Tulare County Library deposit station (a place where patrons could pick up and deposit County library books) was placed in the reading room in July, 1910. On Sept. 16, 1910 the Lindsay Branch Library was established as the third Branch Library in Tulare County.established as the third Branch Library in Tulare County.

In 1911, the Lindsay Branch moved to the Owl Stationary Store on Honolulu Street. It moved again in 1912 to the Toothaker

Then, in 1934, Lindsay applied for a new library building to become a CWA (Civil Works Administration) project, sponsored by the Lindsay School District. The school district provided funds, the city donated the site, and the CWA contributed labor and material.

LINDSAY-NOW

The new building opened in 2008

Public Hours:

Tuesday :11 pm - 5 pm; 6 pm - 8 pm9 am - 1 pm; 2

Wednesday :9 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 6 pm

Thursday :11 am - 5 pm; 6 pm - 8 pm

Friday :9 am - 1 pm; 2 pm -6 pm

Internet: 7 public internet stations.

LINDSAY CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

OROSI-THENIn 1917, the County obtained a $3000 Carnegie grant to build a $5,000 Carnegie library in Orosi. The Woman's Improvement Club of Orosi raised $2000, purchased lots and arranged for lumber and labor to be donated for sidewalks. Construction was delayed until after the war (World War I).war (World War I).The library was the last Carnegie library to be completed in California and is only one of three of the Craftsman style remaining. It has 2 fireplaces and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It is the only Carnegie library still in use as a library in Tulare County.

OROSI-NOW

The city of Cutler had a small branch which moved from place to place, including stores. In 1978, it joined with the Orosi Branch and it then became the the Orosi Branch and it then became the Orosi/Cutler Branch of the Tulare County Library System.Come in and visit this charming old library, keeping in mind that someday, a modern, larger library would be nice in this area.

OROSI CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Open House for Orosi was a great success for a lot of kids and some adults. Our Open House hours were 2 to 4. At 2:30 customers started to come in. All were surprise that we had food in the library but I explained that it was a special occasion. I had lots of the special occasion. I had lots of the regular kids that come in the afternoon and they enjoyed the cookies, water and juice. They asked if I was having another party any time soon. I said yes, when we have our summer reading program and they were all invited to come. Total was 34 kids and adults. It was a good day and I really enjoyed doing this.

PIXLEY-THEN AND NOW

The Pixley Branch was located at the Pixley Sheriff Sub-station and moved to the Pixley School location.

SPRINGVILLE-THEN

On December 15, 1910, an official request for a library deposit station was signed by seven prominent residents of Springville who agreed to comply with the County requirements. The Springville Library Deposit Station was established in March of 1911, in the Springville Hotel, with Mr. L.A. Sickles as library custodian.In 1912, the deposit station was moved to Rochdale Store and was open daily except Sunday. In 1914 it was housed in the Post Office, and in 1917 it was in the store of Peabody and Hubbs. From 1918 to 1929 it was back in the hotel with Mrs. Minnie Elster as and Hubbs. From 1918 to 1929 it was back in the hotel with Mrs. Minnie Elster as custodian.In 1929 Mrs. Juanita Radeleff was appointed custodian, and the library was moved to her home where she also operated the telephone switchboard.In 1940, the library, which consisted of several shelves of fiction, a few children's books and a dictionary, was moved to Shaw's Variety Store on Main Street.More space was available in the real estate building across the street, and the library moved there from 1947 until 1972.When the former Springville tuberculosis sanitarium on Highway 190 was converted into the Sequoia Dawn senior citizen complex, the community was offered the present building to house the library. It was remodeled in 1992 through the generosity of the Springville Lyons Club.

SPRINGVILLE-NOW

Public Hours:

Thursday :11 am - 5 pm , 6 pm - 8 pm

9 am - 1 pm , 2 Friday :

9 am - 1 pm , 2 pm - 6 pm

Saturday :9 am - 1 pm, 2 pm

- 5 pm

Internet: 2 public internet stations.

SPRINGVILLE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

SPRINGVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY CELEBRATES TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY’S 100TH BIRTHDAYOver 65 Springville patrons participated in the Tulare County Open-House Centennial Celebration, A CENTURY OF SERVICE –1910-2010, at the Springville Branch Library on June 10, 2010! Patty Torrey Hovey on June 10, 2010! Patty Torrey Hovey entertained children and adults alike with her songs and instrumental renditions. Local authors, Marilyn Meredith, Jeff Edwards, and Brent Gill brought samples of their specialized literature. The Library Gingerbread Man by Dotti Enderle was read and children designed their own “dewey ducks” fashioned after their favorite library subjects. The Springville Historical Society provided a display of the Springville Library and Town History! Library handouts and refreshments were enjoyed by all!Happy 100th Birthday, Tulare County Library!

STRATHMORE-THENIn 1936, it was moved to a new Town and Country Club House on BalfoIn December, 1910, Strathmore citizens petitioned to establish a County library deposit station, and in June 1911, a station was set up in Harry North's Barber Shop. Mrs. North was custodian of the collection of 50 books, and the hours were 3:00 to 6:00 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.Later moves took it to Anway's Butcher shop in 1912, and the Economy Store in 1913. On July 1st, 1913, under revised Economy Store in 1913. On July 1st, 1913, under revised State law, it officially became the Strathmore Branch of the Tulare County Library. In December, 1913, it was moved to a room in the new Strathmore Town and Country Club on the corner of Guthrie and Lawson Streets. Having a whole room to itself, it became a library with a public reading room. The Women's Club bought the building in 1930 and gave the Library the larger room. Altogether, it was in this building for 23 years. In 1936, it was moved to a new Town and Country Club House on Balfour St.. Here, during WWII, it was opened in the mornings for the first time.

STRATHMORE-NOW

Then, in February, 1976, the Strathmore Branch Library was built at 19646 Road 230. It was financed from Revenue Sharing Funds allocated by the Tulare County Funds allocated by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors and is still the Strathmore Branch building today.

STRATHMORE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Strathmore Branch Library’s Open House was held on Wednesday, June 9th from 2-6 P.M.. There were over 50 guests during that time, mostly kids. Jeff Edwards, local historian, was there and featured some of his historical books. I have purchased some and am sending in the next shipment for approval to add to Strathmore’s collection. The story, THE LIBRARY GINGERBREAD MAN by THE LIBRARY GINGERBREAD MAN by Dotti Enderle was read and the kids participated in a dewey decimal title search. They also designed their own “squirty” duck patterened after their own favorite dewey –decimal subject. They also made a Father’s Day gift ornament. They all enjoyed refreshments provided by the Tulare County Library

THREE RIVERS-THEN

On December 10, 1910, at the written request of ten Three Rivers residents, a County Library deposit station was set up in the River Inn Hotel with Mr. Ernest McAdams in charge. The entire library collection was lost when the Inn was destroyed by fire in September, 1911.

In 1912, the Three Rivers Branch reopened in the home of Mrs. J. S. Silverton. The same year, the Kaweah Branch opened in the home of Mrs. Laura Hopping who was paid $2.50 per month, the going rate for library custodians at that time. And in December 1918, the month, the going rate for library custodians at that time. And in December 1918, the Hammond Branch was established with Mr. Lawrence Hough as custodian.

All three branches moved into the homes of succeeding custodians. In 1928 the Hammond Powerhouse was shut down and the Hammond Branch was closed. The Kaweah and Three Rivers Branches continued in the homes of successive custodians.

In June, 1959 the Three Rivers Branch was moved to the Wylie Building on Highway 198 and in August, Frankie Welch retired, having been branch librarian for 46 years. The Kaweah and Three Rivers Branches were consolidated at this location in 1960.

THREE RIVERS-NOW

The present library building was built The present library building was built by the County and opened to the public on August 1, 1977.

THREE RIVERS CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

I was pleased with the attendance at our Open House - 35+. I was able to arrange to have the Artistic Director of the Center Stage Strings Faculty, Danielle Belen, to give a short program about their upcoming music camp in Three Rivers. Danielle also played several classical pieces for us. You can check out their web site (www.centerstagestrings.com) to see the five public performances (www.centerstagestrings.com) to see the five public performances they will be giving in Three Rivers the week of June 12th – four of which are free to the public. A friend of mine and customer Pat Valentine who was with the Tulare County Symphony when she lived here full time gave a short cello program. We then had a short discussion about our local writer, Santosha Tantra.

TIPTON-THENIn response to a petition for a deposit station, dated December, 1911 and signed by 47 citizens of Tipton, County Librarian, Miss Jennie Herman, established a Library Station in Tipton in April, 1912. It was the 21st County Branch Station and it was set up in the Rochdale Store with Laura Gwillim as custodian. She was paid $2.50 a month. It offered the usual 50 books of a County deposit station. A Visalia Times article from April, 1912 reported that “every wide-awake little town in the County is demanding a station, and in time, every town will be supplied .… County library work is no longer an experiment.”County library work is no longer an experiment.”The Tipton station was discontinued in October, 1913, and re-established in September, 1914 in the Atkinson store. It remained in the Atkinson store until 1926.The library then moved from home to home nine times with home owners as custodians. Finally, in 1941, it was moved into the Woman’s Club House, where it stayed until 1953.

TIPTON-NOW

From 1944 until 1953 at that time the Tipton Branch was closed and a bookmobile was used.

The present Branch was built and opened in September, 1955.

TIPTON CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Tipton had open house yesterday Thursday June 10, 2010. The public came in for open house; they all had came in for open house; they all had cookie and beverages. We all had a nice talk and several wanted to know if Tipton’s Library had been around for 100 years.

WOODLAKE-THENSix Woodlake residents petitioned the County for a library deposit station in 1911, and a station with 50 books, was placed in John Day’s Post Office and store in December, 1911. John Day was the custodian.

Between 1913 and 1920 it was moved to the Schelling Drug Store, the Woodlake school, Mrs. Gordon Day’s house, back to Day’s Store and to Blair’s Store. In house, back to Day’s Store and to Blair’s Store. In 1952, the Woodlake Branch had 4,000 books and the circulation was almost 20,000 books for the year. Plans to build a new library for the high school were discussed in the early 1960’s, but a lack of funds made it impossible to construct a new building.

WOODLAKE-NOW

Mr. Courtney McCracken offered to donate the money needed for construction of a library building.In 1966, the Courtney McCracken Library was dedicated. The building housed the County Library Branch, the High School Library and a study hall. The complete cost of the structure and all furniture was paid for by Mr. McCracken.

WOODLAKE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

VISALIA-THEN

The fourth County Library in California was established by the Board of Supervisors on June 10, 1910. The Trustees of the Visalia City Library offered Jennie Herrman, the County Librarian, administrative workspace in their facility. She established twelve branches her first year and established twelve branches her first year and outgrew her borrowed space. The administrative offices moved frequently between 1911 and 1919, when the old Masonic Building on North Church was rented. The offices stayed there until 1931, when they moved to the old Courthouse, and from there to the AAUW Building on Locust, where they stayed until 1957 when the new Tulare County Courthouse was completed.

VISALIA-NOW

In 1970 the Board of Supervisors authorized a Planning Department study of library needs in the County which resulted in the 1972 TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY MASTER PLAN. This offered various alternatives for better library service, including consolidation with one of the independent city libraries. In 1973 Visalia suggested that both city libraries. In 1973 Visalia suggested that both public service libraries could be consolidated in a new building from revenue sharing funds allocated to the County and to the City. A joint Library Commission was appointed to plan the building. The City Library staff became County Library staff in July, 1976 and the new building opened to the public on November 22, 1976.

VISALIA CELEBRATING 100 YEARS