Timeline
1878
The Blue Ribbon Temperance League opens a reading room establishing the first book services in Gilroy.
1880
With help from a second temperance group, the reading room circulates books from a downtown gallery while serving ice cream and coffee.
1883
YMCA reading room opens.
1895
Gilroy Ladies Reading Circle opens.
1898
FRFG (Freely Received, Freely Given) Reading Club opens. It is still active today!
1906
Gilroy city council adopts a resolution to formally establish a public library.
1907
Mary Briggs Benn appointed Gilroy's first Community Librarian (1907-1915). Library Trustees apply for $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation for library construction. Philanthropist Caroline Hoxett donates $1,000 for library land purchase. Until the new library is completed, the temporary Gilroy Library is in City Hall filled with books provided by the Gilroy Ladies Reading Circle.
1910
Gilroy Library opens at 195 Fifth Street with a collection of 1,700 books.
1915
Irma Whitney (Kilgore) appointed Community Librarian (1915-1917).
1917
Pearl Lavin appointed Community Librarian (1917-1943).
1943
Marjorie Grodhaus appointed Community Librarian (1943-1965).
1966
Gilroy residents pass a $600,000 bond measure for construction of a new library. Mary Groshert appointed Community Librarian (1966-1969).
1968
July 1st: Gilroy Library joins Santa Clara County Free Library.
1969
Alice Dawson appointed Community Librarian (1969-1970).
1970
June Hopper appointed Community Librarian (1970-1983).
1975
February 1st: The new Gilroy Library opens at 7387 Rosanna Street with 57,000 volumes.
1984
Lani Yoshimura appointed Community Librarian (1984-today).
2008
Citizens of Gilroy pass a $37 million bond for construction of a new library.
2009
Gilroy Library moves to a temporary location at 7652 Monterey Street until new library construction is completed.
Today
The new Gilroy Library opens as the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building in Santa Clara County Library. Gilroy has grown to 150,000 volumes including over 400 periodicals and the largest Spanish Language collection in the Santa Clara County Library. A unique 200 phono-record collection from the KFAT radio station are stored at Gilroy library.
