Conclusion

     The earliest libraries in Sacramento were designed for subscription lending. The transition from private libraries to a free public library system broadened access immeasurably, and transformed the institution into a major civic facility. "Far more than just repositories for resources, the buildings themselves have come to symbolize the concept of free and open access to learning" (Martin, 2002, para. 2). These first libraries reflected the ideas of what their founders felt a library should contain, how it should be organized, and how it should look. This often translated into segregated reading rooms, limited or no minority access, and poor services for children. The introduction of a Carnegie library into a community changed this.

     Through the years 1902-1921, Carnegie funded 142 public libraries in California. Of these only 85 are still standing, with 36 operating as libraries (Kortum, 2009). The reluctance of voters to fund public expenditures is a major threat to the remaining Carnegie libraries. Sacramento's Central Library is a testament to the ability of the library to change to meet the needs of its users, and also of the willingness of Sacramento's citizens to finance an expansion that managed to retain the venerable old building. The conversion of the original reference room into what is now the Sacramento Room restores the charm of a Carnegie reading room, and attests to the value the people of Sacramento place on their library's history.

Sacramento Room, 1996: Set in the original Reference Room of the 1918 Library.

 

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