Colusa County Library

The Colusa County Library has one Main Library and six branch libraries.  These facilities serve 22,000 residents and visitors to the beautiful rural communities of Colusa County.  The library owns 91,500 books, movies and magazines.  The Local History collection holds over 2500 items on the history and genealogy of the region.

The Library is supervised by the Colusa County Board of Supervisors.

Our History

The County of Colusa Board of Supervisors established the Colusa County Free Library when they unanimously passed a resolution on June 8, 1915. 

1867-1915 City of Colusa

Reading was important in the early years of the county settlement.  A reading room was established in 1867 that met weekly to hear a reading and play games.  For the next 33 years, residents of the City of Colusa undertook serveral efforts to initiate and fund a free Library for the City.  The library was initially housed on the second floor of the Town Hall.  By 1906, the City Library had over 3000 volumes and was housed in the new Carnegie Library building.  The City also offered services to the County residents outside the City limits for a fee.

1899-1909 State of California

In 1899, James L. Gillis was appointed State Librarian.  One of his first acts was to have a law passed opening the State Library to all California residents.  In 1904, he established traveling libraries that were circulated to localities not served by city libraries.  Between 1904 and 1909 the concept of Couty Libraries were discussed and promoted.  In 1911 the law we use today was finally passed.  It specified that Library Headquarters would be located at the county seat; branches would be placed in population centers and the collection would be available for all.

1915 County of Colusa

In June 1915, with enthusiastic support from residents of Williams and Maxwell, the Couty Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution establishing the Colusa County Free Library.

1965 - Present

In 1965, the Colusa City Free Library consolidated with the Colusa County Free Library.  The City provided the building for the current County Library at 738 Market Street. 

The County Library will be celebrating 95 years of service in June 2010.  This event will celebrate the role the Library has played in offering reading and entertainment to the residents of the County.

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