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Burlingame Public Library

The Burlingame Public Library was established as a free public library by city ordinance October 11, 1909 by a group of public spirited citizens. The first books were supplied by the Burlingame Women’s Club, Burlingame Improvement Club, and the Burlingame Board of Trade. The Library opened in September 11, 1911 in a local Bank building. By July 1912, the library moved to the old Congregational Church, located at the corner of Bellevue and Primrose Avenues. The brown shingled building held almost 1,600 volumes, largely donated by residents, and served 785 card holders.

By 1929, a larger space was needed. Following an unsuccessful attempt to build a Carnegie Library, and an unsuccessful bond issue in 1929 for $75,000, a successful bond issue was passed for $65,000 in 1930. The new building was designed in a unique Mission style, combining elements of Tuscan and Spanish architecture popular at the time. The design was completed by prominent San Francisco architect Col. E. L. Norberg, who was also a Burlingame resident. The new library building opened May 3, 1931.

Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the City again approved a bond issue to reconstruct a new main library. The original children’s room and reference room, including the original furnishings were restored and reused in the reconstructed library. The library grew from 27,000 square feet to 48,000 square feet and maintained much of its original charm and period appeal. On October 4, 1997, the library was rededicated on the Bellevue and Primrose Roads site. The library was opened to much acclaim by then California State Librarian Kevin Starr and seven term Congressman Tom Lantos. The awarding winning architecture was featured in Library Journal in December 1997 and was a cover story in American Libraries in April 1998.

Hours:

Mon-Thurs: 10 am - 9 pm
Friday: 10 am - 7 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 1 pm - 5 pm

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• Contact Info

  Burlingame Public Library

  480 Primrose Road
  Burlingame, CA 94010

  Phone: 650-638-0399

  Website

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• Parking Info

• Accessibility Info

  • Wheelchair Access

• NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate, however it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.

• Upcoming Events

  12/20/08	Holiday Puppet Show
  03/15/09	Romeo and Juliet
  06/09/09	Dad and Me at the Library

• Member Reviews

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• Past Events

  10/27/08	Halloween Story Time
  10/06/08	Art of the African Diaspora
  09/19/08	Fun Family Films on Fridays - Nim's Island
  09/12/08	Fun Family Films on Fridays - Spiderwick Chronicles
  09/10/08	Chihuly at the de Young - Docent SlideTalk
  09/01/08- 10/31/08	Black Sheep Handweavers Guild Textile Arts
  05/13/08	Mysterious California - Author Panel with Laurie R. King, Kirk Russell, and Nadia Gordon
  05/02/08	Just Baby and Me
  04/18/08	4 Fun Family Films on Fridays - Enchanted
  04/16/08	Mysterious California - A Documentary Film
  04/15/08	Germaine Greer - Shakespeare's Wife
  04/11/08	4 Fun Family Films on Fridays - Bee Movie
  04/04/08	4 Fun Family Films on Fridays - Nancy Drew
  04/04/08	Just Baby and Me
  03/30/08	Ron Rebholz - Sex, Lies, and the Theatre: Shakespeare for Today
  03/28/08	4 Fun Family Films on Fridays - Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
  03/25/08	Kelly Corrigan - The Middle Place
  03/16/08	San Francisco Shakespeare On Tour's Twelfth Night
  10/29/07	Chilean Music and Dance with Lichi Fuentes
  10/26/07	The Gold Rush Sisters - The Music of the 49ers
  10/23/07	John Felstiner - The Life and Times of Pablo Neruda
  10/18/07	Wayne Bernhardson - Adventures in Chile
  10/15/07	Rose Castillo Guilbault - Farmworker's Daughter
  10/09/07	Documentary Filmmaker Rachel Antell - Death On A Friendly Border
  12/05/06	Holiday Celebration