Facilities - Old

In 1907 the San Mateo Public Library finally had its own building. Following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 the building housing the library, "Library Hall", was badly damaged by the tremor. City officials applied for a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, wanting to have a self-contained building for the library. The old building had been a multi-use one, thus limiting library space. Their petition was approved by Carnegie and they were granted an initial $10,000. However, an additional $2,500 was given following the earthquake.

The new library was designed by a San Francisco architectural firm (Cox & Cox). It was located on 2nd Avenue on land purchased by the city (its value was $7000 in 1912). After the lessons learned by the 1906 earthquake the building was constructed of reinforced concrete with stone columns. The San Mateo Woman's Club held fundraisers in order to furnish the library. They donated most of the $2,164 needed to do this. The furniture was described as being solid oak furniture.

A description of the library setting is in the San Mateo Public Library's Annual Report of 1912 (in the President's Address) as follows:

A shady little park with rustic seats on the northerly side of the building is an inviting resting place from which a rustic bridge over the creek leads to the high school and a pathway leads to the grammar school and along the parked creek bank.

The President's Address goes on to say that the close proximity of the library to several schools would be beneficial to the students. Providing them with opportunities to learn and to improve their minds. As the report states, We want more juvenile books suitable to guide, stimulate active thought, and hold the interest of the young in proper channels (1912).

As can be seen in the photo above. The San Mateo Public Library has some of the elements found in a classic Carnegie library, with its impressive facade. The information desk could be found as a focal point in the main room of the library. Window placement follows the guidelines suggested by the Carnegie Foundation. They are large windows, but still allow room for shelving underneath.

Without the Carnegie grant the SMPL would have waited for years before a separate library building could have been completed. Even with the implementation of a tax, the first year only generated just over $400. Chances are it would have remained in shared facilities, unless another donor had come along.