The Healdsburg Carnegie Library is significant both for its architecture and its history.

Designed by Brainerd Jones, it is one of only a handful of buildings in Healdsburg in the Classical Revival style, and it retains a high degree of integrity. It was the first permanent home of the city's library collection, and for more than seventy years it was Healdsburg's only public library.

This library is one of five constructed in Sonoma County between 1904 and 1916. By the time that Healdsburg sought funding in 1908, the Carnegie Foundation had reacted to examples of elaborate buildings and non-library functions by requiring greater economy of design. The Sonoma County Carnegie Libraries designed by Brainerd Jones for Petaluma, Healdsburg, and Sebastopol (demolished in 1976) demonstrate increased simplicity while reflecting community desire for significant public buildings stimulated by the City Beautiful movement, often expressed in the Classical Revival style.

In Healdsburg, the Carnegie Library is the only remaining example of a civic building of impressive architectural style.

Adapted from the NRHP nomination.

Some Other Carnegie Free Libraries in the West

The website Carnegie Libraries of California contains much information about these libraries.