UPDATE August 11 2025: As per advice of Francis Herbert, the Library Manager: ‘We’ll be marking a different milestone this year: the birthday of the very first library in San Carlos, established on August 28, 1910. Plans are already underway for a special celebration on August 28, which will also serve as another opportunity to honor the city’s Centennial.’
It was August 8, 1999, when the current San Carlos Library first opened its doors to the public, replacing the 1963 building that had once been the busiest library per square foot in the San Mateo county. In its place rose a 41,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, six times larger than its predecessor. It debuted with space for 70,000 books (up from 56,000) and a range of new amenities. John Durkin from the Museum of San Carlos History recalls the 1999 “Red Wagon Brigade,” when local children wheeled books from the temporary modular buildings on Walnut Street to their new home at the San Carlos Library (Many thanks to John Durkin for the photos and the information in this article!)
The Busiest Library in San Mateo County
The library’s roots go back to 1910, when Kate and Mary Farnham set up a small reading room inside the San Carlos Southern Pacific Railroad depot. By 1916, it became the first branch of the San Mateo County Library Association. Come 1963, a dedicated building finally opened: a 6,400 sq. ft. structure that, despite its modest size, was beloved and heavily used. That tiny building was packed with more books and visitors than any other of comparable size.
Former Branch Manager Chet Mulawka recalled that even in temporary quarters before the new library opened, more than 1,000 people came through the doors each day. This popularity fueled the push for expansion, and in 1997, voters overwhelmingly approved an $8 million bond (Measure A), setting the stage for the modern facility we know today.
The Dome: When Architecture Meets the Cosmos
Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by the library’s signature feature: a soaring two-story perforated dome that scatters shifting, star-like patterns of light across the lobby floor. Designed by architect George Miers of Swatt Miers Architects and inspired by a kitchen colander, it brings in natural light in a soft, dappled way that changes with the sun.
During the annular solar eclipse in May 2012, and again during eclipses in 2017 and 2023–24, the dome’s hundreds of tiny holes projected a galaxy of crescent-shaped suns onto the rotunda’s walls and floor, drawing dozens of residents—eclipse glasses in hand—to watch the celestial show unfold around them. Acting as a giant camera obscura, the dome delivered a spectacular display that Miers himself once joked “worked just like a colander.” The next eclipse visible here won’t be until 2121, but some say they’re already planning to watch it from under this remarkable skylight.
The Mural: Stories in Paint at the Library’s Front Door
Framing the main entrance are two vibrant 6×11 ft murals created in 2000 by San Carlos artist Deborah Goss. One depicts early 20th-century life, featuring the old Victorian depot and sweeping farmland, while the other captures the city’s present-day spirit, from Hometown Days festivities to the Hiller Aviation Museum.
Over the years, these murals have become a favorite stop for library visitors, who often pause to take in Goss’s many intricate details. Locals say they spot something new each time they look—and even teens have been seen studying the artwork with interest. Today, the murals stand as one of the library’s most distinctive and beloved features.
Special Display for the Birthday
To celebrate, library historian Francis Herbert will curate a special birthday display in the main lobby. Visitors are invited to linger, explore, and reflect on how the library has shaped the people of San Carlos over the decades.
Here’s to 26 years of stories, sunlight, and inspiration in the heart of San Carlos, and to many more chapters ahead.
Sources
The Rich History of San Carlos, California | San Carlos Life
Friends of the San Carlos Library » About Us
$8 Million Library Bond on San Carlos Ballot – San Francisco Chronicle
New Library – San Francisco Chronicle
San Carlos Library, The Best Place to See a Solar Eclipse | The Architect’s Newspaper
Total Eclipse of the Sun | San Mateo County Libraries
Among Friends – Fall 2011 (PDF)
Project Hits Home for Muralist – San Francisco Chronicle
2013 SCL Newsletter – Fall No. 3 (PDF)
Art-o-mat at the San Carlos Library | San Mateo County Libraries
Good Living & Spotlight Newsletters – January (PDF)
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