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All over America in the early 1900's, people and communities were talking about Andrew Carnegie's offer to fund the construction of local public libraries. The idea to establish a library in Dixon was first proposed by the Women's Improvement Club. Although interest stayed strong, the town government could not provide the resources to erect a library building or operate it.
As a result, three club members requested legislative action from Sacramento to create a special independent library district in Dixon and the surrounding areas served by the high school district to provide library service; in 1910 the sought-for bill was signed by the Governor, and in 1911 the voters approved a tax measure to provide support for ongoing library services. (Dixon's solution was eventually copied by more than 15 other small, rural communities wanting to provide library service to their citizens.) With that vote, the Dixon Union High School District Library District of Solano County, California came into existence. The District served residents in a 196 square mile area of eastern Solano County.
Mrs. O.C. Schulze donated a parcel of land on B Street for a new building; in addition to providing a location for a new civic institution, it was also Mrs. Schulze's intent to force out the houses-of-ill-repute in the vicinity of the B Street location! The Women's Improvement Club and the Library District then petitioned philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for a grant to construct a building, and showed that Dixon met all of his stated requirements: civic determination, ongoing financial support and a place to put the building. Mr. Carnegie's reply came in the form of a check for $10,000 (about $250,000 in 2008 dollars).
An architect was secured, and the new building was designed with a careful eye to meeting the basic Carnegie guidelines: a children's room, a community meeting room, and a private office for the Librarian! Taking a cue from the neighboring Post Office building, the Mission Revival style was used for the exterior. The building was 4000 square feet on two levels. Construction began early in 1912, and finished in December 1912; it proudly carried the words "CARNEGIE LIBRARY" over the front door.
A grand ceremonial event — including the town band! — dedicated the new building in February 1913, and the Dixon Library opened its doors and has served ever since as the community's library. The original Carnegie building, to which two additions have been added in 1958 and 1990, is one of the few original Carnegie buildings still operating as a library in the United States.
From 1913 to 1957, the town of Dixon as well as the surrounding farms and ranches in the District were well served by the Carnegie building. By the mid-fifties it became obvious that additional space was needed to better serve the expanding community. In 1957, the Trustees agreed that a new wing which would provided separate areas for Children's and Reference services should be added onto the original Carnegie building; a bond measure was subsequently approved at the ballot box. Construction work was completed in 1958, and library space grew to about 5700 square feet.
By mid-1987, the Library Commission had to once again evaluate library service needs and funding levels. Library space was at a premium, and funds were not adequate to provide for facility maintenance, expansion, and increases in library service levels. In November of 1987, a ballot measure with a five-year limit was offered to the people of Dixon which would enable the library to rehabilitate and expand the facility as well as to increase library services. The measure passed, and construction on the new wing, which now serves as the library's entrance, was completed in April of 1990; in 1992, the original Carnegie Library renovation effort was completed. As a result of the expansion program, about 8,000 square feet of was provided (although changes in federal law later meant that the lower Carnegie level could not be used by the public).
At the end of the 20th Century, it was clear that Dixon (even with its growth limit) had far out-stripped the capacity of the existing library facility. A building needs assessment indicated that, in 2001, the community should be enjoying an 18,000 square foot facility and that by 2020, it would need a 32,000 square foot facility. A determined effort was initiated to find a suitable location in town to build a new library building. While there was great sentiment for keeping the Library in downtown Dixon, it was clear that this might not be possible. Several efforts were made to purchase land, but they did not succeed.
But a second effort in 2008 to secure land adjacent to the existing library succeeded, and the Library District now owns 5 parcels on 1st Street, B Street, and 2nd Street (essentially, the west border of Women's Improvement Club Park). This property (which includes the existing building) will allow the community to build the 32,000 square foot facility in historic downtown Dixon. It may be that a new library opens its doors in 2013 — marking the 100th Anniversary of the start of library service in a Carnegie on B Street.
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