Shortly after the city of Oxnard incorporated in 1903, city leaders applied to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for funds to build a local library. In 1906, Carnegie agreed to supply $10,000 to build the library; he later increased his donation to $12,000 after shortages in supplies and labor due to the San Francisco earthquake caused all bids for the Oxnard Library to come in significantly over budget. Local donations and city funds covered the rest of the cost of the land, building, furnishings, and books, which totaled, according to local press, $20,918.11. Architect Franklin Pierce Burnham of Los Angeles designed the building in a Neo-Classical style featuring pedimented porticos supported by Doric columns. The building was open to the public on May 15, 1907. From 1907-1950, the building operated as a combined library and city hall, with the library on the main floor and city offices in the basement. In 1923, an extension was added on the library's east side, doubling its capacity. From 1909 to 1915, the Oxnard Public Library supported deposit stations in neighboring communities. This arrangement was dissolved by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors when the county library system was established and took over responsibility for supplying library service to those communities. Oxnard opted not to join the new county library system but maintain service as a separate city library. The original library building, vacated by the library in 1963, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and became the Carnegie Art Museum in 1986.
Expansions
The main downtown library moved from the Carnegie building to a larger facility in 1963 and again in 1992. Through the mid-to-late 20th century the library also expanded its service throughout the city of Oxnard beyond the main building, first by offering bookmobile service and then by opening additional branch locations. The South Oxnard Branch opened in 1989 and moved into a new facility in 2007. Colonia Branch, a small neighborhood branch adjacent to Del Sol Park, opened in 1978.
