Huntington City-Township Public Library history

Founded in 1867 by D. A. Sanborn, the Sanborn Map Company was the primary American publisher of fire insurance maps for nearly 100 years, repeatedly mapping towns and cities as they changed.

The first effort to organize a library in the City of Huntington occurred in 1874, and was called the Public School Library Association.

In 1889, the Library was reorganized according to Indiana state law, which transformed the Library into a free library, thus reaching more people in the community.

Miss Maggie C. Dailey was the first Librarian to serve under the new law, holding her position until 1898.

In March, 1900, the association gave a "grand entertainment and supper" in the Opera House to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary.

In January of 1902, the Board formally accepted Mr.

The Carnegie building was opened to the public on February 21, 1903.

The MaryLou and George Boone Gallery was designed by Hunt and Grey as the Huntingtons’ garage and built in 1911.

A copy of the front page of a periodical called the “Huntington Beach” from 1914, showing some of the current and planned buildings and homes in Huntington Beach.

That was thrilling…and in the summer with the windows open, you’d get a little soot once in a while.” (1920-30’s)

The Huntington opened publicly to visitors in 1928 and has grown over the past century to become an internationally renowned collections-based nonprofit institution that supports and promotes the humanities, the arts, and botanical science.

On August 29, 1929, the Huntington Public Library was created when a vote by the taxpayers approved "a tax upon the taxable property of Union School District No.

In 1930, Doctor Frost began to conduct, single handedly, a course of studies covering all phases of library study for his stafff.

1937 Doctor Frost prepared the program and offered the words of welcome at the Long Island Regional Institute of the Univ. of the State of New York.

1938 A committee was established to reconcile the needs of the schools with the holdings of the library

1939 Duplicate books were sent to the Huntington Hospital Library

That summer, the library was served a notice of eviction and in August 1946, Doctor Frost issued his letter of resignation.

In 1949, Charles F. McDonald became Library Director.

The branch library, under Doctor Frost's supervision grew faster than the Village Branch until the late 1950's.

On June 30, 1958, the new library building was open to the public after a move and dedication that involved the patrons in unusual and delightfully innovative ways.

The South Huntington Public Library was founded in 1961.

A formal opening ceremony for the library was held on March 11, 1962.

The Friends of the South Huntington Library, a group of volunteers who support library programs and services, was founded in April, 1963.

It didn’t take long for the library to outgrow its space, and ground was broken for the Melville Road building on April 6, 1968.

A dedication and open house was held on December 14, 1969 for the new 24,500-square-foot library, which housed 181,000 materials in its collection.

A flyer for the dedication program from April 5, 1975 for the Huntington Beach Library Information and Cultural Resource Center.

An article from the Orange County Chronicle of May 9, 1976 discussing the new Huntington Beach Central Library built in Central Park in 1976.

Begun with a major gift from the Virginia Steele Scott Foundation in 1979, the American art holdings number about 270 paintings, 80 works of sculpture, 1,000 decorative art objects, 9,500 prints and drawings, and 1,800 photographs.

An article from the Huntington Beach Independent of October 2, 1982 talking about a proposal to charge a $10 fee for a city library card.

An article from the Los Angeles Times of April 13, 1986 talking about Dione Neutra, her life and family, and the house that she lives in, in Silver Lake and how she makes it available to the interested public.

An article from the Huntington Beach Independent of June 11, 1987 talking about the Huntington Beach Public Library's Summer Reading Program.

An article from the Huntington Beach Independent of January 7, 1988 describing a glowing report on the Huntington Beach Central Library which led to the City Council voting to approve the Library's expansion, including the addition of a children's wing.

An article from the Huntington Beach Independent of July 27, 1989 describing the Main Street Library branch of the Huntington Beach Library System.

An article from the Orange County Register of June 11, 1990 talking about the Fifth Annual Concours d'Elegance Auto Show at the Huntington Beach Central Park.

An article from the Los Angeles Times of March 29, 1991 discusses the Huntington Beach City Council approval of the $8.4 million, 41,000 square foot expansion of the Huntington Central Library.

A Program for the groundbreaking ceremony on February 21, 1992, for the expansion of the Central Huntington Beach Library. “Building a Foundation of Knowledge”.

A synopsis of an article from the Orange County Register of January 13, 1994 describing the January 8, 1994 opening of the new Children’s wing at the Huntington Beach Library.

An article from the Huntington Beach Independent of August 10, 1995 discussing how Huntington Beach residents are asking the City Council to step in and fill the funding void and keep the Huntington Beach adult literacy program going.

An article from the Huntington Beach Independent of June 20, 1996 describing how the Huntington Beach Central Library changes from a mild-mannered book archive by day to a pulsing concert hall at night.

A table from May 7, 1997 showing by branch, the Square Feet, Volumes, and Circulation of the Huntington Beach Library System.

A report from December 22, 1998 providing primarily financial data and drawings regarding the Huntington Beach Central Library and Cultural Center expansion.

A 49,000-square-foot building was constructed on the site of the former Pidgeon Hill Elementary School and on July, 24, 2004, a festive grand opening was held.

Wireless Internet access at the Central Library 2007 Renovation of Central Library building returning to the original Neutra earth tones

A 2008 renovation and adaptive reuse was led by Earl Corp. and Architectural Resources Group.

2009 Centennial year, new Library Director hired, mission statement & strategic plan revised

The Young Adult Library on the lower level was expanded in 2012 to create areas for teens to gather, socialize and study as well as a performance space.

In 2013, the Friends of the Library celebrated 50 years of supporting the community with brunch and an appearance by local author Alyson Richman, who discussed her latest release, The Lost Wife.

The Jonathan and Karin Fielding Wing, a new addition also designed by Fisher, opened in 2016, adding 8,600 square feet.

The Library continued to keep pace with changes in the way library materials and services are provided and in 2017 built a Technology Center, which is used for technology and library literacy classes.

Another new feature was established in the spring of 2019: A Learning Garden was planted just off the reading patio behind the library.

Although 2021 opened amid a COVID-19 surge, there was much promise for vaccines, yet uncertainty as to when they would become widely available.