In 1915, the Lassen County Free Library was established. In 1917, Lenala Martin was hired as County Librarian, a post she would hold for four decades.
Lenala was bound and determined to make the library and its branches accessible to all Lassen County residents. Besides the main library in Susanville in 1921 there were a total 76 branches—42 in elementary schools and 34 community branches. The community branches were held in individual homes, such as the A.J. Hall family in Doyle. The custodians of these branches received a salary of $2.50 a month. The library had a total of 17, 171 bound volumes.
Love this post! It’s fascinating to know that someone had such a passion for literacy.
I recall the Susanville library was across the street from the Post Office. The children’s books were to the right of the door, under a window. There was only two or three shelves and about five feet long. No chairs or table for the kids. We sat on the floor and if you were alone your could not go any further back in the room.