New Library Building

The Yolo Branch Library opened on December 1, 1918 and was dedicated in January 1919 in ceremonies planned by the Yolo Farm Bureau Center members. In 1990 the Yolo Library building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It continued to serve the Yolo community for nearly 100 years before it was declared unsafe in 2018 due to structural issues.

The new 4,000 square feet Yolo Branch Library offers expanded book and media collections, more public use computer stations, robust Wi-Fi available 24/7, dedicated study rooms and distinct user group areas for children, family, teens and adults. A highlight of the new library is a community room for meetings, classes and community services. The Yolo Branch Library will strengthen the library’s role as a community gathering place and hub of civic engagement and education in this rural region of the County.

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in September 2021; construction was completed in October 2022.
View a video of the event on YouTube.

Sue Alves

President of the Friends of the Yolo Branch Library

Mark Fink

Yolo County Librarian

Board members of the
Friends of the Yolo Branch Library

Yolo County Supervisors and members of the construction crew

GRAND OPENING

The Grand Opening ceremony was held in October 2022.
View a video of the event on YouTube.

Grand Opening crowd

Fireplace

The fireplace in the original reading room had an oak mantel and was lined with these glazed tiles. The acanthus leaf-shaped medallions provided a minimal yet elegant decorative touch. Fireplaces were usually discouraged in Carnegie libraries, since they took up space that could be used for bookcases. However, they were common in many Craftsman style buildings, which often had lower ceilings and open floor plans to help contain the heat with decorative vents circulating air throughout the building.

Community Room

A highlight of the new library is a community room for meetings, classes and community services. The Yolo Branch Library will strengthen the library’s role as a community gathering place and hub of civic engagement and education in this rural region of the County.

Public Art

On behalf of the County of Yolo, using one percent of the construction cost, Yolo Arts facilitated a community-based effort to solicit and select public art for the new Yolo Branch Library. The results are two murals.

Still Here
by Shayne Oseguera

The Pronghorn Antelope, California Condor, and Chinook Salmon represent the land, wind, and sea. Pine trees, blue wildrye, and a black oak tree speak for the indigenous people who supported this land. All of these native species were chosen to serve as a reminder to be kind to wildlife and be environmentally conscious as these species face many dangers today.

The Awakening
by Ana Volentine

In this optical illusion mural, birds gracefully fly in at dawn to hear a story read by a hatchling sitting in a nest made of daisies. Together, they form a glowing sunflower inspired by the beautiful fields of Yolo County. The baby’s book shows a heart with a tiny fracture, representing a collective effort to heal the community.

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