The newest branch of the Madera County Library System, the
Ranchos Branch Library, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2000.
In August 1990, the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved
the request of Ranchos area residents for a public library, and
on "Flatlanders Day," October 27, 1990 a dedication
ceremony was held. In November 1990 the library opened in its
one-room location in the Maywood Center with ten volunteers,
one part-time staff person, and approximately 3,000 books. The
first books were donated by the community along with other libraries.
Books were checked out by handwriting the number of each book
on 3x5 index cards; overdue fines were calculated by hand on
each patron's index card. Due to the small number of books available,
checkouts were limited to three books per person.
In 1997, a wing devoted to children's materials and activities
was added to the library. Also in 1997, the Ranchos Library went
online with the San Joaquin Valley Library System, giving patrons
easier access to books, tapes and videos in the six-county area.
The following year, a $5,000 grant from the state InFoPeople
Project provided two public Internet stations and training in
Internet use. In 2000, a Gates Grant helped make available two
additional online computers.
Today the Ranchos Branch offers a collection of approximately
20,000 books, a wide selection of books on tape, videos, and
a fledgling CD collection. Weekly story times are offered for
preschool children, and special summer programs are presented
for children of all ages. Friends of the Ranchos Library hosts
a huge book sale each fall in conjunction with the Flatlanders
Festival, and a smaller, ongoing book sale is held in the library.
Supporting The Library
If you would like to support the Madera County Madera Ranchos
Branch Library, please contact: Friends of Madera Ranchos
Library, P.O. BOX 428, North Fork, CA 93643.
