Who We Are
ABOUT BAKER COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
MISSION
The Baker County Library provides free public library service through books and other resources, for education, information and recreation to all residents of Baker County.
HISTORY
The library serving Baker County today operates as an independent, county-wide special district governed by a five-member elected board.
Library service in the area began in 1901, when the Alpha Club established a public library to enrich the local community. In 1906, the effort gained momentum with the construction of a Carnegie library building, and the institution became known as the Baker City Public Library.
The library expanded its reach in 1964 by becoming a department of Baker County. In 1971, it moved from the original Carnegie building near City Hall to a new facility next to Geiser-Pollman Park.
During the mid-1980s, the library faced severe budget cuts. In response, a grassroots citizen campaign mobilized to preserve and strengthen library services. Their efforts succeeded in May 1988, when voters approved a permanent tax base to form the Baker County Library District, establishing it as an independent government entity.
In 1998, voters approved a bond measure to renovate the main library and its five branch locations. Continued community support was demonstrated in 2006, when a five-year local option levy for operating costs was first approved. Voters have renewed this levy successfully ever since, ensuring sustainable, county-wide library service.
In recognition of its excellence, Library Journal named Baker County Library District one of the “Best Small Libraries in America” in 2010.
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