The Franklin Templeton Investments Business Resource Center

A gift of $500,000 by Franklin Templeton Investments was instrumental in setting up the Business Resource Center. As stated on the website, it has "the largest public library collection of business materials on the Peninsula". Some of the features include a selection of books with an emphasis on small businesses, investors, and job seekers. In addition there are 100 business and trade journals available for the use of patrons. A professional business librarian is available as well. The library website has a listing of a few of the resources that can be found in the center.

Foundation Center Cooperating Collection

The Foundation Center is a great asset for nonprofit organizations. It provides them with online resources and numerous other printed materials that are useful. As the website states, they are "a rich resource of information for nonprofits". They provide tools that can be used for grant seekers, a life blood for any nonprofit organization.

California Collection

The California Collection of the Library is a good resource for information on California history. It offers several rows of shelves with reference books on local history and files with newspaper clippings on various topics of local interest. However, the collection is not as extensive as other libraries. Also, it would be useful for it to offer digital images of historic significance. The image above shows the San Mateo Railroad Station in the early 1900s.

Going Green Center

The Going Green Center offers information on sustainability. It is located in a visible location adjacent to the mezzanine periodicals section. In the photo to the right is an architectural drawing of an inside view of the Library. Each of the "green" features are highlighted in the drawing. It is displayed, along with a scale model of the Library. There are display racks on one wall that offer free information on different aspects of sustainability to patrons.

Marina Branch

The need for a second branch library became evident to city officials and the new branch, East Branch, opened in 1954. It was located in rented facilities until it was replaced by the Marina Branch in 1966. This new facility was built at a cost of $100,000 and was located at 1530 Susan Court. In 1985 it became the first library in the city to implement an automated circulation system. Not only did it provide a better way to track library materials, but it also allowed for better coordination between libraries in the system (the other two branches quickly followed with automating their systems). A remodel of this branch library took place in 2003. It was closed for a year while the work was being completed.

The photo to the right shows that the library has the typical type of 1960s public building architecture, with its one story structure and simple lines.

Hillsdale Branch

With the growth of the city, the San Mateo Public Library was outgrowing its facilities. It became apparent that there was a need for a second library. In 1949 it was decided to open the first branch library, it was called South Branch. Originally, it was located at Beresford School. The total collection was only 200 circulating books. A couple of years later, in 1951, the branch was moved to a new location in rented facilities. As the area continued to grow a bond was passed to build a brand new facility. The new facility opened in 1957 and was named the Hillsdale Branch. It is located at 205 W. Hillsdale Blvd.

The Hillsdale Branch was closed for remodeling in 2003, along with the other branch library. They both reopened in 2004.

First Librarian

The first city librarian was Inez Mabel Crawford. She was the city's librarian from 1911-1937. Her family came from Kansas originally and they settled in San Mateo. In the photo to the right is the main room of the Carnegie Library built in 1907. Inez Crawford can be seen standing behind the circulation desk with her assistant librarian Eugenia McLellan. The total salary, according to the 1912 Annual Report, for both library workers was $1,270.80. This was over 1/3 of the total library expenses of $3,074.27. So, the salary expenses back in 1912 were a much smaller percentage of the budget than in the present time. Since no other library workers were mentioned Inez and Eugenia probably performed custodial duties as well, unless volunteers were available to help out. Judging by literature on librarianship during this time period their duties usually went beyond just being a librarian as we know it today.

Aside from her obvious competence, evidenced by her successful stewardship of the library for so many years, she had a genuine commitment to the library. Contributions made by Inez included her efforts on behalf of a bond issue that funded an expansion tripling the size of the library. She left a legacy behind when she died as well, leaving the Crawford Trust Account. A photo taken of Inez in 1915 shows a dark haired attractive woman with a serious expression on her face. She does not fit the old stereotype of a stern, spinsterish figure. However, she does convey an air of no-nonsense capability.

Given the fact that most of the library schools were located back East, Inez would probably not have had a library degree or specialized training. In California, the Los Angeles Public Library offered a course equivalent to other library schools, but it only trained assistants from their system. This policy did not change until 1914, several years after her beginning tenure at SMPL.

Between the years of 1911-1920, when Inez was librarian, the library had sections for adults and children. Aside from lectures, various events were probably held here. One such event was a Dahlia Show in 1915.

Inez was librarian at the SMPL for almost 30 years, so she very devoted to the library. In most records she is listed as the first librarian (she started in 1911). The new library building itself opened several years before in 1907. Any other individuals serving before her must have been temporarily in the position because their names did not appear in any documentation.