Centennial

Library Beginnings

In the earliest years, private reading rooms were the only collections available to booklovers residing in Tulare County. These were stocked with books donated by citizens and were staffed by ladies who volunteered for the task. In 1879 the first formally organized reading room was established in Good Templars Hall at Center and Court Streets in Visalia. By 1892 the Women's Christian Temperance Union realized that a true library had to be formed. Space was rented in the Botsford Building on South Court. Funds for the new library were raised by public subscription. In 1893 the Visalia Public Reading Room and Library Society was organized.

In 1903 an ordinance established the Visalia Free Library. The library, located at the corner of Main and Cottonwood (now Encina), first opened to the public in 1904.

The building on Main and Encina was replaced in 1936 with the Visalia Public Library, which was built on the site of Visalia's first school.

The Tulare County Libraries Are Established

The fourth County Library in California was established by the Board of Supervisors on June 10, 1910. The Trustees of the Visalia City Library offered Jennie Herrman, the County Librarian, administrative workspace in their facility. She established twelve branches her first year and outgrew her borrowed space. The administrative offices moved frequently between 1911 and 1919, when the old Masonic Building on North Church was rented. The offices stayed there until 1931, when they moved to the old Courthouse, and from there to the AAUW Building on Locust, where they stayed until 1957 when the new Tulare County Courthouse was completed. During this time many new branches were established, spreading from Dinuba, the first, south to Earlimart, as well as east to Johnsondale and west to Alpaugh.

Eventually, many small branches were consolidated and Bookmobile service was substituted for other areas,and Visalia residents were given access to the Central Services collection in the Courthouse. With this new limited service branch, the County Library had 26 public service outlets.

In 1973 Visalia suggested that both public service libraries could be consolidated in a new building from revenue sharing funds allocated to the County and to the City. The City Library staff became County Library staff in July, 1976, and the new library building opened to the public on November 22, 1976.

The 1936 library building served as a storage facility since the 1976 library was opened. Over the past three decades, the condition of the 1936 building had gradually deteriorated. Because of its historic nature and architectural features, there was a strong desire within the community to preserve the 1936 building. It was further proposed that the renovation of this building serve as the new children's wing of the Visalia Library. Through state grants, Tulare County and City of Visalia funding, as well as private-party contributions acquired through Tulare County Library Foundation fund-raising drives, the 1936 library building was renovated, and a new lobby connecting the two library buildings was constructed. Additional renovation of the 1976 building was done to provide improved services, increased safety, and better access.

County Librarians, Past to Present

1910 - 1912: Miss Jennie Herman

1912 - 1921: Miss Bessie Herman Twaddle

1922 - 1940: Miss Gretchen Flower

1941 - 1943: Miss Eleanor Wilson

1943 - 1955: Miss Edith Taylor

1955 - 1968: Mrs. Hilda Collins

1968 - 1972: Mrs. Joan Kasten

1973 - 1983: Mrs. Oloanne Palen

1983 - Present: Mr. Brian G. Lewis