Martinez Library

Martinez Library is a historic library located in downtown Martinez, California that is part of the Contra Costa County Library system.[1]

Martinez City Library
Martinez Historic Society Marker No. 18
Library as viewed from front
Martinez Library
Martinez Library
Martinez Library
Location740 Court St., Martinez, California
Coordinates38°01′05″N 122°08′04″W[1]
Area0.16 acres (0.065 ha)
Built1941 (1941)
ArchitectBangs, E. Geoffrey; Teigland, C.M.
Architectural styleArt Deco
Restored2011
Visitation88702 (2016)[2]
Websiteccclib.org/locations/martinez.html
NRHP reference No.07001467[3]
MHSM No.18
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 31, 2008
Designated MHSMOctober 4, 2003

History

Starting in the Fall of 1883, the Esse Quam Videre Club organized to establish a free reading room.[4]

Two years later in 1885 the Martinez Free Reading Room and Library Association was formed, operating out of a building owned by Dr. John Strentzel who charged nothing to the Association. Reading at the location was free, but the Association charged dues of 25 cents a month for the privilege to borrow books.[5]

In 1896 Mrs. John Strentzel and her daughter Louisa Strentzel Muir, wife of John Muir, donated land and a new library was built by popular subscription for US$6,371 (equivalent to about $196,000 in 2019).[6]

After more than 40 years at that location, voters passed a US$18,000 (equivalent to about $313,000 in 2019) bond issue to fund a new library building. The new building was designed in an Art Deco style and completed in 1941.[3]

In November 2008 Measure H was passed narrowly by voters in the city of Martinez to renovate and expand the library. The bond specified a designated children's area, youth recreational opportunities, and improving disabled access.[7]

The US$2,000,000 (equivalent to about $2,345,000 in 2019) renovation work started in November 2010 and the library continued operating for 25 hours per week in a temporary location in the old train depot near Martinez station.[8] The library continued operating in the interim Depot Library until August 13, 2011 (2011-08-13) when it closed to transition back to the renovated building.[9]

The Martinez Library held the Grand Reopening on Saturday August 20, 2011 with over 1000 visitors entering the library that day. New self-service stations were installed along with new furniture and additional computers.[10]

Modern

The Martinez Library offers a variety of activities and resources for their patrons. Activities vary from story time and lego workshops for children to book clubs for adults.[11][12]

The library actively seeks to expose patrons to other cultures and has been hosting Chinese Lunar New Year celebration since 2009 (2009). Lion dance and other Chinese cultural traditions have been showcased along with crafts.[13]

Lunches were provided to children and teens three days a week in the summer as part of the California Summer Meal Coalition. Many of the families that visited for the program had not been to the library before and had been unaware of the services offered beyond book lending. Library usage increased with the implementation of the program.[14]

  • Historic Society Plaque
  • Free Reading Room and Library Association 1885
  • View of Art Deco Architecture style
  • Front entrance of library

See also

References
  1. "Martinez Branch Contra Costa County Library". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 22 November 1996. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  2. "Martinez Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Contra Costa County Library. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  3. "National Register Information System – Martinez City Library (#07001467)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. "Kiwanians learn history of Martinez Library". Martinez News-Gazette. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  5. "Martinez Walking Tour - Martinez Library". Martinez Historical Society. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  6. "Martinez Public Library". The Historical Marker Database. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  7. "Measure H: Bond Measure". Smart Voter. 24 January 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  8. White, Lisa P. (31 May 2011). "Renovated Martinez library will open this summer". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  9. White, Lisa P. (9 August 2011). "Martinez library reopens Aug. 20". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  10. "Recent Highlights". Contra Costa County Library. January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  11. Pleasant Hill Wine Marchants (6 January 2015). "Library Corner: Martinez Library, Story Time". East Bay Times. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  12. "Martinez Library 2015 Summary" (PDF). Contra Costa County Library. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  13. Scholz, David (21 January 2016). "Martinez Library to host Leung's White Crane Lion Dancers". Martinez Tribune. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  14. Weilenman, Donna Beth (27 July 2016). "Martinez Library open for lunch – for kids". Martinez News-Gazette. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
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