Escondido Public Library

Escondido Public Library Let's talk about books, library services, free family events, literacy, and the Internet! Pioneer Room Hours
Thursday:
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Friday-Saturday:
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Friends' Book Shop Hours
Monday-Tuesday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.​

06/19/2026

Celebrate National Immigrant Heritage Month through stories that inspire, educate, and connect.

From powerful memoirs to bestselling fiction, Libby offers eBooks and audiobooks that highlight the diverse experiences, traditions, and contributions of immigrants.

Borrow instantly with your library card and start exploring today, free from the Library!

Access here: https://libbyapp.com/library/serra/curated-1813712/page-1

Hello Escondido! A school, a library, and now home to the Julian Historical Society, the Sant Ysabel School at Witch Cre...
06/19/2026

Hello Escondido! A school, a library, and now home to the Julian Historical Society, the Sant Ysabel School at Witch Creek has seen a lot of history. It was built in 1880 on Sawday Family land and was a school until 1954. Grades first through eighth were taught here until 1952. Then the middle schoolers were sent to school in Julian, and then two years later the remaining first through sixth graders followed. The last teacher of the school was Mrs. Rosemary Dewitt. After its close the school and land passed through the Lightner Family and then onto the Starr Family.

In a state of disrepair, the school was offered to the Julian Historical Society – if they would move it. They secured the necessary funds to move the historically significant building into Julian. It was picked up and placed on a truck to slowly make its way up the mountain. It was placed in Pioneer Park and was restored, opening it doors as a public library in 1971. In 2004, the library moved to a new building and the school became home to the Julian Historical Society. It resides at 2133 4th Street.

This photo, showing the Witch Creek Schoolhouse in 1967, exhibits some damage to the building which had then been abandoned for 13 years. Perkins also took a picture of the school restored which can be viewed here: https://cdm17446.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/eloiseperkins/id/134/rec/2

Sources: Historic Julian, Julian Chamber of Commerce, https://visitjulian.com/historic-julian/

(Photo Source: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt658036v5/)

The Pioneer Room is open on Thursdays 4-8pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We're located at 247 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California, 92025.
Questions? Give us a call at 760-839-4315 or email us at [email protected]

Roar into creativity this week! 🦖As part of our Unearth a Story Summer Reading Challenge, kids are invited to sculpt the...
06/17/2026

Roar into creativity this week! 🦖

As part of our Unearth a Story Summer Reading Challenge, kids are invited to sculpt their very own dinosaurs using air-dry clay. From towering T-Rexes to spiky Stegosauruses, imagination is the only limit!

Join us for this hands-on craft and bring your prehistoric creation to life. While supplies last!

Beginning Monday, June 29, library services will operate from the Pioneer Room while we transition back to the Main Libr...
06/17/2026

Beginning Monday, June 29, library services will operate from the Pioneer Room while we transition back to the Main Library. While July will bring temporary service adjustments, it also marks the beginning of our return to the space many in our community have been eagerly awaiting. We will reopen the Main Library on Monday, August 3rd.

Thank you for your flexibility and continued support. We can't wait to welcome everyone back to the Main Library soon!

A partir del lunes 29 de junio, los servicios de la biblioteca se ofrecerán desde el Pioneer Room mientras volvemos a la Biblioteca Principal. Aunque julio traerá algunos temporales en los servicios, también marca el inicio de nuestro regreso al espacio que muchos miembros de nuestra comunidad han estado esperando con entusiasmo. Reabriremos la Biblioteca Principal el lunes 3 de agosto.

Gracias por su flexibilidad y continuo apoyo. ¡Estamos felicies por darles la bienvenida nuevamente a la Biblioteca Principal muy pronto!

06/12/2026

Hello Escondido! Out with the old, in with the...prehistoric? Watch our archives staff swap out the photo gallery just in time for Unearth A Story, this year's summer reading challenge theme. We're highlighting 12 photos from the Peter Bashta Collection featuring lots of prehistoric creatures. Stop by during our June open hours to learn more!

About the Exhibit
Unearth A Story: Photography of Peter Bashta invites you to step back into 1992 through photographs from the Peter Bashta Collection. Taken at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park, near the Condor exhibit in the conifer forest, these images document Wild Woods, an imaginative exhibit filled with robotic dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals that moved, roared, squealed, and surprised visitors of all ages.

P.S. Did you find the hidden Digby? He's a little blue triceratops and the mascot of this year's SRC.

Add a little sparkle to your summer ✨Celebrate the Summer Reading Challenge with a relaxing, hands-on craft designed for...
06/09/2026

Add a little sparkle to your summer ✨

Celebrate the Summer Reading Challenge with a relaxing, hands-on craft designed for adults! Create your own beaded plant suncatcher and enjoy a creative afternoon while making a unique piece of décor that will shine in the sunlight.

Learn more: https://escondido.libcal.com/event/16862928

Can you build a dinosaur? 🦕Kids are invited to create their own dinosaur-inspired structures using straws, toothpicks, a...
06/07/2026

Can you build a dinosaur? 🦕

Kids are invited to create their own dinosaur-inspired structures using straws, toothpicks, and marshmallows. It’s a fun way to explore creativity, teamwork, and hands-on learning!

Our kids craft time starts Thursday, June 11 from 2-3 PM at the Center Court Level 1, we can't wait to see you then!

06/06/2026

Your next favorite book is waiting on Libby 🌈📚

This Pride Month, dive into stories that celebrate love, identity, courage, and self-discovery. Browse LGBTQ+ eBooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere whether you're reading at home, listening on a walk, or relaxing by the pool!

Free with your library card and just a tap away!

Access here: https://libbyapp.com/library/serra/curated-1806683/page-1

Hello Escondido! This month we will be visiting Julian with Eloise Perkins. Main street, often described as having the m...
06/05/2026

Hello Escondido! This month we will be visiting Julian with Eloise Perkins.

Main street, often described as having the movie set quality of a pioneer town, lies at 4,500 elevation, between the Cuyamaca Mountain range and the southern side of Volcan Mountain.

The city was named after Michael S. Julian, a Georgia-born Confederate soldier who came out West after the Civil War. Brothers, Mike and Webb Julian and their cousins Frank, James, and Drury (Drue) Bailey arrived in the newly forming mining town in 1869, which would produce $5 million worth of gold. Drury Bailey named and homesteaded the 160-acre site that is Julian City today.

Julian is now famous for its apples, among other fruit like pears, peaches, and grapes. James Madison and Thomas Brady are thought to be the first to bring back apples trees to Julian in the early 1870's. In 1889, when the San Diego County District Fair was approved through California legislature and $2000 was provided to fund it, Escondido hosted the Fair. Julian won the best community display banner, a new cultivator, and 88 first and second place prizes for their fruit

Sources: "Julian City and Cuyamaca Country." Charles R. LeMenager. 1992. "North County Nuggets." Eloise Perkins, Daily Times-Advocate. August 16th, 1965, Page 3.

(Photo Source: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt4199r8m4/)

The Pioneer Room is open on Thursdays 4-8pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We're located at 247 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California, 92025.
Questions? Give us a call at 760-839-4315 or email us at [email protected]

Address

272 E Via Rancho Pkwy
Escondido, CA
92025

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 8pm

Telephone

+17608394683

Website

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