The Hollister Carnegie Library, designed by San Jose architect William Binder in the Classical style, is constructed of concrete scored to resemble granite block which contributes a sense of stability in an area where earthquakes are not rare. The building is included in the Downtown Hollister Historic District.

Hollister's library history is long but intermittent, dating from an 1874 Hollister Library Association. Subsequent efforts for a Mechanics Library and a WCTU reading room resulted in collections that were the core of the eventual city library. In 1910 a Carnegie grant of $10,000 was received.

The building served as a library until 1959, after which it was used by the Superior Court and Probation Department. It now serves as City Hall, with a large extension for council chambers added to the rear.

Source: Carnegie Libraries of California

Carnegie Free Libraries in Oakland
23rd Avenue, Alden, Golden Gate, Melrose

Some Other Carnegie Free Libraries in California
Alameda, Bayliss, Biggs, Colusa, Corning, Eureka, Ferndale, Gilroy, Grass Valley, Gridley, Hanford, Healdsburg, Hollister, Lincoln. Livermore, Lompoc, Nevada City, Orland, Oroville, Oxnard, Paso Robles, Patterson, Petaluma, Riverbank, Roseville, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo Santa Cruz, Sonoma, South San Francisco, St. Helena, Turlock, Willits, Willows, Woodland, Yolo, Yreka

Some Other Carnegie Free Libraries in the West
Beaver, Utah; Coos Bay, Oregon; Medford, Oregon; Panguitch, Utah

For more information about these and other Carnegie Free Libraries, visit the website Carnegie Libraries of California.