Anaheim Library - Library History: 1960 to 1997

Library History: 1960 to 1997

| 1872-1907 | 1907-1959 | 1960-1997 | 2002-present |

Central Library and the Branches

April 1960	Voters approved Library Bond Issue, Proposition L, authorizing construction of a new Central library and also a branch library.
Nov 1960	City Council desigates the northerly 300 feet of land at Broadway and Harbor Boulevard the site for the new Central Library. Thomas J. Russell selected as architect for branch library to be built on Mattie Lou Maxwell Park in the vicinity of Broadway and Magnolia streets.
July 1961	Joe Jordan, A.I.A. Burbank, was formally selected by the Library Board as the architect for the new million dollar Central Library facility.
Nov 1, 1961	Formal groundbreaking ceremony for West Anaheim branch.
March 1962	Elizabeth J. Schultz designated to formulate plans for a Friends of the Library.
May 21, 1962	Official groundbreaking ceremony for both the library and police facilities.
Aug 27, 1962	Opening day for Elva L. Haskett Branch Library.
May 1963	Library designated a U.S. Government Depository.
Dec 5, 1963	Central Library opens to the public; officially Dedicated on February 23, 1964.
Nov 1964	Grand piano from the Symphony Guild received; program and presention held on December 13.
Jan 1965	Anaheim becomes a charter city, changing library board from administrative to advisory body.
Jan 1966	Arrangements are completed for naming APL a selective depository for state publications.
Mar 2, 1967	Mother Colony History Room officially opened.
Feb 1968	10th anniversary Bookmobile service; 688,473 books have been checked out during this period.
April 1970	Proposition L which would have provided funds for library expansion defeated.
May 1971	Parks and Recreation Commission officially approved placing a library on the south end of Juarez Park.
June 1971	Library designated a Disney Depository, with an emphasis on Disneyland.
May 1972	Anaheim City School District superintendent asks the Library Board to create a library for the Mexican-American community at the George Washington School, soon to be a Community Center.
Feb 1973	George Washington Community Library opens. (Library discontinues staffing in December 1976.)
June 1972	A Resolution authorized purchase of land at 1344 Euclid and three acres at Nohl Ranch Road and Imperial Highway for future library sites.
July 24, 1975	Groundbreaking ceremonies for Euclid and Sunkist Branch Libraries.
June 16, 1976	Dedication and opening of Sunkist and Euclid "twin" branches.
Aug 26, 1980	Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Canyon Hills Branch.
July 11, 1981	Dedication of Canyon Hills Branch. Official opening July 13.
Dec 20, 1988	Formal presentation of $9,000 from the Friends of the Library for the purpose of establishing a videocassette rental program.
Sep 30, 1992	Library begins the Adopt-A-Magazine campaign to replace subscriptions lost to budget cuts.
April 1995	Reception held to honor patron benefactors, featuring Dr. Kevin Starr, noted author and California State Librarian.
June 1995	Anaheim grapples with the effects of the Orange County bankruptcy. City Manager answers questions about the effects of the financial crisis on the Libraries in Anaheim Magazine article.
July 1995	Branch Libraries are reopened on Mondays with new hours.
Summer 1995	Theodore Taylor is featured speaker for the 17th Annual Michael L. Roston Creative Writing Contest. Credit card equipment is installed on coin-operated machines. (First public library installation)
1996	Adopt-a-Magazine campaign underway. Library becomes a division of Community Services. Anaheim Public Library Foundation holds its first Mystery Authors Luncheon with the theme, 'Crime a la Carte'.
Apr 1997	2nd Annual Authors Luncheon sponsored by Anaheim Public Library Foundation, "South by Southwest"

| 1872-1907 | 1907-1959 | 1960-1997 | 2002-present |