|
|
A Growing Library The growth of the library was steady and by December 1910 it contained 1,800 books and pamphlets and periodicals. The reading room was well-lighted and kept well-warmed in the winter. In October 1911, the trustees decided to fix up the basement of the library and employ a lady to maintain a junior library with games and appropriate books. This was to help overcome the lack of recreation for teenagers. It would necessitate increasing the library tax rate from 15 cents to 25 cents on every $100 of assessed valuation in order to pay the $600 annual salary for the junior librarian and have $170 for maintenance. This did not go well with the citizens, and it was decided in July 1912 to delay further action and the necessary tax rate would be only 5 cents. The November Library Report showed 1,900 visitors and 1,535 books issued. In 1912 the juvenile section was moved from the main room to half of the basement. (Much later in 1938 it was moved to the east side and steps were installed.) During these years two of Paso Robles' well-known citizens of today (1996) were enjoying the library. Dan Lewis was born in 1905 and says that he grew up with the Carnegie Library, and it was there that he learned to enjoy reading. He started with the Oz books and went on to The Secret Garden and books by Rex Beach, Mark Twain, Harold Bell Wright and Zane Grey. He remembers that he could check out one book at a time and the librarian insisted on quiet.
Margaret Gates was born in 1910 and cannot remember the first time she entered the library - it was just always there as a part of her life. She learned the Dewey Decimal System and felt very independent, as she found books by herself in the upstairs children's section. Her favorites were the Bobbsie Twins books, stories by Louisa May Alcott and Zane Grey. She remembers Mrs. Phelps, the librarian, as being "small and strict," while her brother John remembers the Saturday morning story hours in the children's library. In 1938, as a WPA project, an additional fourteen feet was added to the thirty-six foot south wing. In 1957 central heating and air conditioning were installed, and the fireplace was rarely used. Book circulation was 55,000 with a membership of 4,397 patrons. In the 1970's, the slate roof was replaced with asphalt shingles, the wooden doors were removed and an aluminum and glass front entrance was installed. The original doors are now in the Pioneer Museum. The Carnegie Library joined the Black Gold Cooperative Library System in 1973, making the resources of the public libraries in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties available to the Paso Robles library users. In 1978 The Daily Press stated that library curb service was started in the form of a bright orange drive-up book return box. Pat Johnson, president of Friends of the Library, appealed to the public for financial support because of the loss of funds due to Proposition 13. This same year Otto Sharp donated $25,000 to the library and the trustees pledged to use the money wisely to purchase items of lasting value. A microfiche reader/printer and reference books and children's books were purchased for the library.
BACK TO PIONEER PAGES |
