Folsom Public Library

Folsom Public Library is the public library for Folsom, California. The library has over 73,000 items, and you can view a catalog [http://www.saclibrarycatalog.org/search~S13 here] . The Folsom Public Library is partnered with the Sacramento Public Library, Sutter County Library, Colusa County Free Library, and the Woodland City Library (which is a separate library from the Yolo County Library).The library provides many services, including children's storytimes, teen movie nights, and book discussions.

History

Folsom’s earliest residents rented books from local merchants before the Sacramento County Library opened a branch library on Sutter Street. Later, the library moved to Market Street, next to what was the city's courthouse. By the time the County closed the branch in 1992 due to budget cuts, the tiny library was in a strip mall off East Bidwell Street. The community rallied behind the need for a local library.

The City successfully applied to have the residents' library taxes reallocated from the County Library to a new City Library. The Marvin May building on Persifer Street, which had been a fire station and later a City Hall annex was vacant and the city offered the property as a library site.

Local residents formed the Friends of the Library, raised funds and refurbished the 7,000 square foot building. The new Library Commission hired the city’s first library director, and the Folsom Public Library opened in 1993.

In the 14 years since the library opened at its Persifer Street location, Folsom’s population has grown dramatically and so has the demand for library services. A 2001 community survey indicated that 81% of residents surveyed listed library services as a high priority for the City.

In 2003, the library circulated more that 288,000 items, compared to 97,000 items in 1993. More than 227,000 people visited the library last year, over four times the 55,000 who went to the library during its first year of operation. It’s clear that Folsom has outgrown the present library facility. The age, design and limited space of the building no longer sustain the needs of our city’s growing community.

In June 2003, the Folsom City Council approved construction of two new libraries -- a main library to be located adjacent to City Hall opening February 2007, and a joint-use branch library on the future site of the city’s second high school in Empire Ranch opening March 2008. Together the new libraries will have 33,000 square feet to library space and state-of-the-art library services to meet the needs of Folsom residents for many years to come.

Links

* [http://www.folsomlibrary.com Folsom Public library]