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| Using the Library | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Welcome!
The Humboldt County Library is a vital community institution providing library service to all County residents through a main library in Eureka, ten branches and a bookmobile. Everyone is welcome to visit and use the library. If you are a Humboldt County resident, please ask for a library card. With your card, you can take books, music, videos and magazines home. Your library card is also the easiest way to use our free internet terminals! See the menu on the left of this screen to learn how to get your library card. Library History Humboldt County has a long and distinguished history of public library service. In 1878, Eureka became the first city in California to support a free public library with public funds. Arcata followed soon after, and in 1910, Ferndale opened its new Carnegie library. In 1915, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors established
the County Free Library to serve county residents outside the cities of Eureka,
Ferndale and Arcata. Five branches were established: Blue Lake, Fortuna,
Garberville, Trinidad, and Willow Creek. Additional branch libraries were
opened at McKinleyville (1916), Rio Dell (1919), and Hoopa (1927). The older libraries in Arcata and Ferndale became affiliated with the county system and in 1972, Eureka’s public library and the Humboldt County Libraries were consolidated into one system. Today, the Humboldt County Library, in cooperation with local jurisdictions, serves all County residents through a networked structure of ten branches, a bookmobile, and a central library facility.
The Library works in cooperation with local jurisdictions to provide library services. Branch library communities provide and maintain the library facility, while the County supplies the staffing, collections and services. Some cities provide supplemental funding for enhanced services. The Library is a Special District for taxing purposes. Although the Library is governed by the County Supervisors and functions as a County department, it is not part of the County General Fund. Library revenues come primarily from property taxes, State and Federal funds, and some fees, fines and gifts. Additionally, the library actively seeks grants to support basic and enhanced operations and services. The Humboldt Library Foundation and the Friends of the Redwood Libraries are the two main support organizations for the Library. Additionally, most branch libraries have separate "Friends" groups dedicated to raising supplementary funds for their specific branch location. Money raised by the Friends book sales, Internet sales and the Serendipity Bookstore is a significant source of revenue for books and materials.
Humboldt County Library
Strategic Plan 2004-2009
If you want to communicate with us about library service, please address your comment to:
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