The Lassen County Free Library was established in 1915, through the efforts of Susanville’s Monticola Club, with Charlotte C. Cahlan, one of the leading figures.
In 1917, Lenala A. Martin was hired as the county librarian a position she would hold for forty years! Under her guidance by the early 1920s she had an ambitious campaign to establish branch libraries in every known outpost in Lassen County. During the summer months, even the logging camps had library branch. Where ever a library branch was established, a distinctive metal sign with an orange background with white lettering was placed on the outside entrance. She even made sure that books were available at the county jail for those incarcerated.
In future we will explore the many facets of the library over the years, until its demise by the County of Lassen, who deemed it not worthy.
I wonder if Lassen, not among the top ten of least populated, is now the only county in the state with just one public library location.