The desire for a public library in Yorba Linda reached a peak requiring action in April 1913. Mr. Graves, pastor of the Friends Church, was much interested in the work and after many days of planning developed a scheme for starting a library on the subscription plan. It met with general approval, and as a first step toward the accomplishment of this end the Chamber of Commerce. Parent-Teachers Association and the Woman's Federation each appointed a member to the Board of Trustees.

Magazines and books were solicited from the residents, and about 40 books and 20 monthly magazines were obtained. Several subscriptions of money were received, the first one of $5.00 coming the Woman's Federation. This sum paid for a few necessary supplies and several volumes of recent fiction.

On May 2 the Yorba Linda Public Library was opened in the new school building: Hours, Tuesdays and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. till dark.

Mr. Plummer Stuart, Mr. Graves, Mrs. H. Compton and Mrs. E. N. Gage were the first trustees. Miss Gertrude Welch, who had offered her services for the work free of charge for six months, was appointed librarian.

The committee took a real interest in the work and the library had a fair start at the end of five months. During this time the number of volumes was increased to 145 and the magazines to 20 issues each month. The librarian's report for May, 1913, was as follows:

Days open for lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Total circulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

New cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Readers in reading room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Fines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

About this time information was obtained from the county authorities on the free public library and efforts were made to establish a library district in Yorba Linda. A petition was circulated for this purpose by a committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, and 68 signatures were obtained. A special election was called by the Board of supervisors of Orange County and the district was approved by the voters.

Former librarians of the Yorba Linda Library are Gertrude Welch, Clara Amstutz Shook, Elizabeth Calvert, Esther Milhouse, Savrina A. Dool, Mrs. Theo. Theis, Bertha Hole, Blanche Beaming, Margaret McFadden, Clara Janeway Stephens, Mrs. Vera Smalley, Mrs. Ellen Cochran and Nancy Martin. The present members of the board, by popular election, are Valdo Smith, president, Ruth Munger, secretary, and Olive Crist. One former trustee still lives in Yorba Linda, Mr. W. G. Cannon.

There are now 10,123 volumes available, 3,300 of which are juveniles. The library subscribes to 49 magazines and four newspapers. Last year a total of 22,032 volumes were loaned to readers.