El Dorado County Library - Main Branch

History

The first public library in El Dorado County was a small Placerville City Library established in 1906 on the upper floor of Confidence Hall. The City Clerk's office was in the front portion of the room and when a patron wanted a book, he waited until the Clerk's duties permitted him to come through the gate separating the library area from his office to check out the book.

The library remained in the City Hall until 1947 when a group of citizens began the work of establishing a county library. With the help of the State Library, this early Friends of the Library group raised funds and bought the old A.S. Fox House on Sacramento Street. The library was moved into these new quarters in 1948.

In December of 1968, the library was moved into the old Purity grocery market on Main Street to make room for the new Post Office on Sacramento Street. Although bigger, the market still was not adequate for the growing use of the collection. The county librarian's office was situated in the old meat locker.

A federal grant and county support enabled the library to be included in the plans for a new Government Center on Fair Lane. In 1978 the present facility was proudly opened to the public. Consisting of 23,000 square feet, our present home continues to thrive as the library center of the county.