Berkeley Public Library History

In the Beginning - the Early History of BPL

In 1882, when Berkeley was a community of some 2000 souls, the first serious attempt was made to establish a reading room and circulating library in the town.  A hundred dollars…

Diane Cory's Early History of BPL

Here is a well researched history of the Berkeley Public Library's history up to about 1920 researched and written by Diane Cory in 1962.

Diane Cory's early history of Berkeley…

Building the library

By the dawn of the new century - the 20th Century - the young but increasingly popular Berkeley Public Library was outgrowing the old, rented out rooms in Shattuck Building that…