Siskiyou County Library to Have Large Display at County Fair

The Siskiyou County Library is celebrating over 110 years of service. From August 6th to the 10th a Historical display, activity area and Informational booth will be at the Siskiyou Golden Fair (also celebrating 100 years) But where did it all begin? Books of course! Yreka’s first library was started by the Yreka Ladies’ Library Association in 1857, with a collection of 300 books.

   In 1901 Andrew Carnegie sold his steel company to J.P. Morgan for $480 million, becoming the wealthiest man in the world. As a young man of 24, he took a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad, where he had the opportunity to borrow books from a local citizen, Colonel James Anderson, who opened his library to local working boys. A fun related fact is that in 1890 railroad workers also set up one of the first libraries in Dunsmuir for our area. Carnegie was ambitious and a voracious reader, and years later he would say, “It was from my own early experience that I decided there was no use to which money could be applied so productive… as the founding of a public library.” These books and others through the years provided Carnegie with most of the education for his American dream. Carnegie went on to finance 1,679 libraries in the United States, including Yreka’s Carnegie Library on Miner Street, with financing being approved in 1913 and its grand opening on October 21, 1915. 

   Because the Carnegie charter stated that it could only serve Yreka, the County Free Library was also created in 1915 to serve schools and outlying towns. Many branches popped up over the years, with over 106 distribution points, sometimes occupying a shelf or two in a store or someone’s home. Maybe the smallest library ever was the “T.N.T.” branch, a wooden dynamite box nailed to a tree in the Finley Camp area, along a Salmon River forest trail. An account of the librarian in 1922 tells about a trip to deliver books by horseback. Now that’s dedication. 

Needing more space, the Carnegie library eventually merged with the County library in 1970 bringing the Siskiyou County library to  its current location on Fourth Street. The county currently oversees the remaining branches that each contain their own unique histories. 

     Stop by the historical library display at the fairgrounds from August 6 through the 10th to see and learn more about the Siskiyou County Library. Features of the display include a life sized T.N.T. branch tree and the true story about Riley the cat, who became an official member of the library. The memorabilia will include original artifacts, a timeline and photographs of bygone branches. You’ll also see historic photos of branch librarians and bookmobile school visits, news articles and a few old books will also be showcased.

   Do you know how many library branches there are in Siskiyou County now? Stop by and find out. There will be an activity area with library-themed activities, puzzles, games and more for all ages. Kids Day on Thursday includes story times featuring local author Cora Brownell and reading with the County Librarian. Friday through Sunday will include visits from local authors Irony Sade, Gail Jenner, Mike Grifantini and Melinda Field. On Sunday there’s a chance to read to animals.

   Volunteers and staff will be available to sign people up for library cards and let people know what the library has to offer, including free Wi-Fi and Zip books. It is a “must see in person” event to see how special the library is to Siskiyou County.