Background

Along with the history, this blog also includes a great deal of information about the present San Mateo Public Library. Although the focus of this research project was supposed to be from the inception of the library until 1920, it did not seem complete without the more recent updates.

Public libraries and the library profession might have had a slower start in California compared to other states, particularly back East, but that is no longer the case. Early innovators and trained librarians in the state might have come from the East. However, the largest library school is now located in California. The SJSU Library School is an innovator, with a unique online program accessible to almost anyone in the world. The first ALA meeting held in the state only had 30 attendees from outside California. Circumstances have changed and the innovative libraries that can be found, both in California and other parts of the West, are able to compete with any public libraries in the world.

The original reading room at SMPL started out in a small town and was founded by White middle and upper class individuals. There was some diversity in the town during the initial development period of the library, but the town was run by and for its White residents. They were all fairly well educated individuals, with a strong commitment to learning. The town did have some residents of Asian, Black, and Hispanic descent, but they played no part in how the town was run and lived separate lives from the White inhabitants.

Original goals for the library were to provide a place that would encourage good morals and discourage bad habits that might flourish without a proper distraction for young adults in particular. This is not surprising given the fact that it was a woman's church group that founded the original reading room. When the transition from reading room to public library took place its mission expanded.

San Mateo was a town that grew as a result of two things, the fact that there was a stagecoach route from the town to the coast (Half Moon Bay and Pescadero) and the building of the Crystal Springs Dam. The latter event allowed for the growth of the town, especially a middle class. It was no longer just a community of large estates for wealthy individuals. Almost all of the large estates have disappeared, but it is still mostly a middle class and affluent community. However, in keeping with the times, it is much more diverse. Much effort is made to reach out to less fortunate members of the community. The City Librarian is Hispanic and the SMPL Board Members are quite an ethnically diverse group.

The old, small Carnegie Library, with limited facilities and space, has evolved into a building very much in keeping with its times. In place of a traditional building there is a modern energy efficient one. Efforts have been made to include all members of the community. For example, there are large foreign language sections reflecting the more diverse population. It is not just a library, but a true community center.

The community continues to be one that offers strong support for its library system. This is evidenced by the existence of a new $65 million main library and two other branches. These facilities were built with both tax dollars and private contributions, much as the original library was built. Support is also provided by local businesses. Two collections were funded by them for a total of almost three million dollars.

A message from the current City Librarian, Ben Ocon, clearly states their current position:

The public library as a “safety net” aptly describes the San Mateo Public Library. Every day just before opening time, a diverse community eagerly awaits the opening of San Mateo’s libraries to enter and make use of the Library’s resources. The Library has become a destination to many who seek a “normality” in their lives—a resource to someone out of work; a place to volunteer and be a part of a valued community service; a vehicle for community engagement; a resource for gaining much needed literacy skills; a place to go after school to complete homework.

He goes on to say, "The current downturn in the economy has brought to focus that the Library is indeed a safety net to those most vulnerable in our community". These words emphasize the evolutionary process that has taken place at the San Mateo Public Library, enabling it to stay abreast of the changes occurring in public libraries. By these actions, the SMPL will have a strong chance of surviving for another one hundred years.

The photo above shows a eucalyptus tree. This is a quite appropriate image for the SMPL because it was one of the trees used to landscape the original Carnegie Library grounds in 1907. It is also a tree that adapts well to different environments and has multiple uses, much as libraries such as SMPL have done from their more stringent beginnings.