Contra Costa County Library
Encyclopedia
Contra Costa County Library is a public library
that is part of Contra Costa County, California
, United States. There are 26 community libraries, access to electronic information via a website, over 455,000 cardholders and more than 7 million items borrowed annually. Its headquarters are in Pleasant Hill
.
By the 1920s, there were over 40 branches and the Contra Costa County Library also provided service to 64 public schools. During the years following World War II, the Library began to reflect the newly developing suburban nature of the county it served. In the mid-1950s, the Library began an ambitious program to construct much larger branch buildings. This eventually led to the construction of most of the buildings that the Library uses today. Between 1958 and 1974, 15 of the 21 library buildings now in use were opened. Among these were the County's first central library and the adjacent administrative and technical services center, which opened in 1961. At the present time, there are 26 community libraries and an online service available anywhere.
Approximate figures for service use in the year 2009–2010 include 455,000 cardholders, and over 7 million items borrowed; 400,000 online subscription database searches, 600,000 items renewed online, 700,000 holds placed using the online catalog, 30,000 eBooks circulated, and 150,000 program attendees.
Contra Costa County Library's Business Connection web site is intended to help local entrepreneurs and the small business communities connect more easily with the information they need and with each other.
Project Second Chance
Project Second Chance (PSC)], the Contra Costa County Library's adult literacy program, was founded in 1984. PSC offers basic literacy instruction by volunteers to adults. Since it began, the program has helped more than 4,000 people improve their reading, writing, and spelling skills.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
that is part of Contra Costa County, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States. There are 26 community libraries, access to electronic information via a website, over 455,000 cardholders and more than 7 million items borrowed annually. Its headquarters are in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 33,152 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1961...
.
History
Founded in 1913, the Contra Costa County Library brought a commitment to widespread, county-wide service. Prior to this time, libraries for the public included the Martinez Free Reading Room and Library Association established in 1896 and the Richmond Public Library established in 1909.By the 1920s, there were over 40 branches and the Contra Costa County Library also provided service to 64 public schools. During the years following World War II, the Library began to reflect the newly developing suburban nature of the county it served. In the mid-1950s, the Library began an ambitious program to construct much larger branch buildings. This eventually led to the construction of most of the buildings that the Library uses today. Between 1958 and 1974, 15 of the 21 library buildings now in use were opened. Among these were the County's first central library and the adjacent administrative and technical services center, which opened in 1961. At the present time, there are 26 community libraries and an online service available anywhere.
Branches
There are 26 community library locations:- AntiochAntioch, CaliforniaAntioch is a city in Contra Costa County, California. Located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, it is a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland. The city's population was 102,372 at the U.S...
(501 West 18th Street) - Bay PointBay Point, CaliforniaBay Point, formerly West Pittsburg, is a suburb and census-designated place located in eastern Contra Costa County, California, just west of the city of Pittsburg and northeast over a low range of hills from Concord...
(205 Pacifica Avenue, Unincorporated areaUnincorporated areaIn law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
) - BrentwoodBrentwood, CaliforniaBrentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 51,481 as of 2010....
(751 Third Street) - ClaytonClayton, CaliforniaClayton is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 10,897 as of the 2010 census.- Geography :...
(6125 Clayton Road) - ConcordConcord, CaliforniaConcord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
(2900 Salvio Street) - CrockettCrockett, CaliforniaCrockett is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 3,094 at the 2010 census...
(991 Loring Avenue) - DanvilleDanville, CaliforniaThe Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
(400 Front Street) - Dougherty Station (17017 Bollinger Canyon Road, Unincorporated area)
- El CerritoEl Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
(6510 Stockton Avenue) - El SobranteEl Sobrante, CaliforniaEl Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
(4191 Appian Way, Unincorporated area) - HerculesHercules, CaliforniaHercules is a city in western Contra Costa County, California. Situated along the coast of San Pablo Bay, it is located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about northeast of San Francisco. The city has a 2010 population of 24,060 according to the U.S...
(109 Civic Drive) - KensingtonKensington, CaliforniaKensington is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 5,077 at the 2010 census.- Law and government :Kensington is an unincorporated area of Contra...
(61 Arlington Avenue, Unincorporated area) - LafayetteLafayette, CaliforniaLafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
(3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) - Library-a-Go-Go (Pittsburg/Bay Point BART StationPittsburg/Bay Point (BART station)Pittsburg/Bay Point is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in the town of Bay Point, California. As the terminal station of the Pittsburg/Bay Point - SFO Line, it serves all of northern and eastern Contra Costa County, including the cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, as well as the...
, Discovery Bay: Sandy Cove Shopping Center, and El Cerrito Del Norte BART StationEl Cerrito del Norte (BART station)El Cerrito del Norte, frequenly shorterned to del Norte, is one of two BART stations in El Cerrito, California, just east of the Cutting Boulevard interchange of Interstate 80 parallel to San Pablo Avenue and the Ohlone Greenway straddling the Richmond border. Del Norte opened to revenue service on...
) - MartinezMartinez, CaliforniaMartinez is a city and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,824 at the 2010 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings...
(740 Court Street, under renovation through 2011. Interim library is located at the Old Train Depot, 401 Ferry Street) - Michael Chavez Center (2699 Monument Boulevard Suite G, Concord)
- MoragaMoraga, CaliforniaMoraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was José Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza...
(1500 Saint Mary's Road) - OakleyOakley, CaliforniaOakley is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,432 at the 2010 U.S. Census. Oakley is part of the East Contra Costa Bicycle Plan, which has existing facilities in Oakley as well as plans for further expansion....
(1050 Neroly Road) - OrindaOrinda, California-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
(26 Orinda Way) - PinolePinole, CaliforniaPinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
(2935 Pinole Valley Road) - PittsburgPittsburg, CaliforniaPittsburg is a city located in eastern Contra Costa County, California, the outer portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 63,264 at the 2010 census....
(80 Power Avenue) - Pleasant HillPleasant Hill, CaliforniaPleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 33,152 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1961...
(1750 Oak Park Boulevard) - Prewett (4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch)
- RodeoRodeo, CaliforniaRodeo is a census-designated place located in Contra Costa County, California on the shore of San Pablo Bay. The population was 8,679 at the 2010 census. The town is named for the livestock roundups common in the late 19th century...
(220 Pacific Avenue) - San PabloSan Pablo, CaliforniaSan Pablo is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M....
(2300 El Portal Drive; inside Abella Shopping CenterAbella CenterAbella Center formerly International Marketplace and originally El Portal Shopping Center is a mixed-use city services, business, shopping center and housing village transit-oriented development that was formerly a mall in San Pablo, California....
) - San RamonSan Ramon, California-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
(100 Montgomery Street) - Walnut CreekWalnut Creek, CaliforniaWalnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
(1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek) - Ygnacio Valley (2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek)
Service
The library provides both physical and online collections. Users require a free library card to access most services.Approximate figures for service use in the year 2009–2010 include 455,000 cardholders, and over 7 million items borrowed; 400,000 online subscription database searches, 600,000 items renewed online, 700,000 holds placed using the online catalog, 30,000 eBooks circulated, and 150,000 program attendees.
Other programs
Business ConnectionContra Costa County Library's Business Connection web site is intended to help local entrepreneurs and the small business communities connect more easily with the information they need and with each other.
Project Second Chance
Project Second Chance (PSC)], the Contra Costa County Library's adult literacy program, was founded in 1984. PSC offers basic literacy instruction by volunteers to adults. Since it began, the program has helped more than 4,000 people improve their reading, writing, and spelling skills.
External links
- Official website of the Contra Costa County Library