San Diego Public Library

:"This library serves the city of San Diego. For the library serving the county, see San Diego County Library."Infobox_Library
library_name = San Diego Public Library
library_
established =
num_branches = 37
annual_circulation = 7,200,000
pop_served =
budget =
director = Deborah Barrow
num_employees =
website = http://www.sandiegolibrary.org/

The San Diego Public Library is a public library system serving the city of San Diego, California.

Early History

The San Diego Public Library was established on May 19, 1882, by an elected board of library trustees. The first location was rented space in the Commercial Bank building at Fifth and G streets, and the new library opened its doors to the public for the first time on July 15, 1882. In 1902, the library moved to Eighth and E streets where a new Carnegie Library was constructed. In 1952, the Carnegie Library was demolished and a new Central Library was opened at the same location on June 27, 1954. Over the years, many branch libraries have also been opened throughout the City.

ervices

The San Diego Public Library system currently consists of the Central Library, 35 branch libraries, an adult literacy program office (READ/San Diego), and a special outlet facility (Environmental Services Library).

Library cards are free to applicants who reside within the state of California or own property in the city of San Diego, and to men and women serving in the armed forces who are stationed within San Diego County. Library cards are permanent and must be renewed every two years. There is a $30 annual fee for a non-resident library card.

In fiscal year 2006, the Library system had a circulation of more than 7 million and more than 6 million visits by patrons. [http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/libfactsheetfy06.shtml] The San Diego Public Library was one of the first major library systems in the United States to offer free wireless Internet access at all of its locations, including the Central Library and branch libraries.

Branches

Aside from the Central Library, the system includes the following branches: [http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/index.shtml]
* Allied Gardens/Benjamin
* Balboa
* Carmel Mountain
* Carmel Valley
* City Heights/Weingart Branch Library & Performance Annex
* Clairemont
* College-Rolando
* Kensington-Normal
* La Jolla/Riford
* Linda Vista
* Logan Heights
* Mira Mesa
* Mission Hills
* Mission Valley
* Mountain View/Beckwourth
* North Clairemont
* North Park
* North University Community
* Oak Park
* Ocean Beach
* Otay Mesa-Nestor
* Pacific Beach/Taylor
* Paradise Hills
* Point Loma/Hervey
* Rancho Bernardo
* Rancho Peñasquitos
* San Carlos
* San Ysidro
* Scripps Miramar Ranch
* Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa
* Skyline Hills
* Tierrasanta
* University Community
* University Heights
* Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library & Performing Arts Center

Trivia

* While testing the Spirit of St. Louis airplane in San Diego, Charles Lindbergh used the resources at the San Diego Public Library to plot the course for his historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
* San Diego was the first city west of the Mississippi River to receive a Carnegie Library grant. The grant was received in 1899 and the library built in 1902.
* Renowned American sculptor Donal Hord bequeathed to the San Diego Public Library his lifelong collection of books and several sculptures in appreciation for the assistance he had received from library's staff over the years.

References

External links

* [http://www.sandiegolibrary.org/ Official website] of the San Diego Public Library
* [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/breed/breed.htm Clara Breed] biography by San Diego Historical Society
* [http://www.carnegie-libraries.org/ Carnegie Libraries in California]