1924
Brookings Chamber of Commerce appointed a committee to establish a reading room and to raise money for a library.1927
Harbor Community Club started a library in the Central Building, open one hour a week, staffed by volunteers.1957
A small library building was constructed by volunteer labormwith mostly donated material, on surplus land given by the U.S. Forest Service. As required by the Service, it was then given to the city, but to be funded jointly by the city and county, since many users lived outside the city limits.1964
An adult reading room was added to the original structure.1966
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award of $2,500 for “Outstanding Small Library” was received from the Book of the Month Club. This was one of only six libraries in the U.S. so honored.1973
The will of Louis Eldon Morgan gave 1,882 shares of AT&T stock to the library. This fund was placed in the Oregon State Investment Pool and eventually grew to a sizable sum.1974
A second addition, providing a children’s room and a periodical/exhibit room, was financed by the county, as had been done for other libraries in the county. This brought the building to its final size: 4,950 sq. ft.1982
Funding by the county was sharply reduced, by depletion of O&C monies.1983
Loss of county funds caused the city to close the library temporarily. It was later reopened with reduced hours and staff, and a family fee of $15 per year. This fee was strongly protested by Friends of the Library and was later dropped. Formation of the first Library District in the State, from Pistol River to the California border, was approved by the votersrejection of a tax levy for operation of the library caused the city to continue operation.
1984
A minimal tax base was approved by the voters, providing barely enough for the District to operate the library.1987
A State Library survey requested by the Board showed an urgent need for a larger facility.1989
Another State Library survey of library services showed definite inadequacies for the size of the population served.1990
Election campaign resulted in voter approval for a greatly increased tax base to provide for expanded services and larger quarters.1992
After years of searching, land for a new building was purchased with Morgan Estate Funds.Many volunteers again donated time, labor and materials, and over $100,000 was raised in a special fund drive. Ground breaking for a new building of 17,500 sq. ft. held on October 8th.
1993
The new Chetco Community Public Library building celebrated the grand opening of its new location, 405 Alder Street, on August 28th.1997
Automation of the card catalog is completed.1998
Automation of the circulation and cataloging systems completed. Money provided by the Chetco Community Public Library Endowment fund allows for the purchase of two computer terminals for public access to the Internet.2001
The Endowment Fund provides money for the purchase of two additional Internet access terminals for the public.2002
The Library is awarded a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and adds four more Internet terminals, bringing the library’s total to eight public access internet stations.A donation of labor and materials by local provider, Northwest Technical, allows for an upgrade from multiple telephone lines and dial-up accounts to a single wireless broadband connection for all staff and public PCs.