South Pasadena’s original Carnegie Library was built in 1907. That building was expanded in 1916, with the aid of Carnegie funds, and in 1930 remodeled in Mediterranean Revival style with classic elements, without Carnegie funding. Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Corporation provided funding for 1,681 public library buildings in 1,412 U.S communities between 1889 and 1923. This internationally famous celebrity chose libraries as one of the primary sources for his philanthropy. He also attached two conditions to his offer of money for a public library building–the local community had to provide a suitable site and formally agree to continuously support the library through local tax funds. The South Pasadena Library was one of the few visited by Carnegie on his 1910 trip to California. The 1930 remodeling, changing it to Mediterranean style, was by Norman Marsh, the original architect.
A grand entrance to a magnificent library!
Several plaques are inset into the brick on both sides of the entrance.
The details on the façade bring the library to life.
This gorgeous tile is inset into the concrete outside the entrance.
A fantastic column detail.
This massive tree is set beautifully next to the library.
This entrance to the library is now used as a Community Room, which is a setting for many cultural events including a poll location. The exterior is continually utilized for film, commercial and tv shoots. This library is a vital part of our community and will continue to be so.
A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life. -Henry Ward Beecher
*Tina