When the San Mateo County Library was established in 1915 Branch Libraries were called "stations".
A station was usually a room or space in an existing retail store or office building. In one case a closet housed an entire Branch Library. The libraries were open a few hours a day and staffed by one or two volunteers. Since an entire Branch Library collection consisted of fifty books at a time, the short hours and modest space weren't as limiting as one might think.

Almost 100 years later these stations have become full service outlets, providing each of our communities not only with books but with internet access, meeting rooms, and a wealth of resources and services to meet the information and entertainment needs of diverse populations. As our communities have grown and flourished so have we.

The future promises continued growth and to meet it we and the cities we service are planning new facilities. Currently three communities have begun the task of constructing new facilities designed to serve generations well into the future.
Help us build the future by making a contribution.

Neighbors working together today build communities that look
to the past with pride and to the future with faith.