About the Library:
On December 10, 1910, at the written request of ten Three Rivers residents,
a County Library deposit station was set up in the River Inn Hotel with
Mr. Ernest McAdams in charge. The entire library collection was lost when
the Inn was destroyed by fire in September, 1911.
In 1912, the Three Rivers Branch reopened in the home of Mrs. J. S. Silverton.
The same year, the Kaweah Branch opened in the home of Mrs. Laura Hopping
who was paid $2.50 per month, the going rate for library custodians at
that time. And in December 1918, the Hammond Branch was established with
Mr. Lawrence Hough as custodian.
All three branches moved into the homes of succeeding custodians. In 1928
the Hammond Powerhouse was shut down and the Hammond Branch was closed.
The Kaweah and Three Rivers Branches continued in the homes of successive
custodians.
In June, 1959 the Three Rivers Branch was moved to the Wylie Building
on Highway 198 and in August, Frankie Welch retired, having been branch
librarian for 46 years. The Kaweah and Three Rivers Branches were consolidated
at this location in 1960.
The present library building was built by the County and opened to the
public on August 1, 1977.