The Wrightwood Library has had a rich history of providing books and knowledge to our small mountain community. Back in the 1940s, a station wagon would haul books on a regular basis to Wrightwood Elementary for residents to check out. This Bookmobile service continued for many years and was an integral part of the community that promoted learning and reading. It wasn’t until 1981 that a group of citizens, the Wrightwood Area Cultural Organization, helped to establish a more permanent library in the old firehouse, now the Wrightwood Museum located on Cedar next to Mile High Pizza. At that time, San Bernardino County was able to offer a wider selection of books and appointed a librarian, Linda Felgar, to help run the branch. Linda will be sharing more of the history of the Wrightwood Library on Saturday, October 7th at the Wrightwood Museum. Contact the Wrightwood Historical Society for more info about the event (www.wwhistory.org) The popularity and support for the library grew rapidly, and the small space inside the old firehouse was no longer sufficient.
In 1985, the San Bernardino County Library leased a larger building for their Wrightwood Branch at the top of Park Drive, where a former indoor swimming pool once was, and Zip Lines at Pacific Crest is currently located. With a larger space of approximately 1600 sq. ft., the library was able to hold a lot more books and even more patrons. The Wrightwood Friends of the Library was also established around this time of the library’s growth and expansion, where they were instrumental in helping to promote the new site by continuing to raise funds for more activities, educational materials, state-of-the-art equipment, and updated furnishings.
Once again, the library continued to be supported by the WW Friends of the Library as well as the community. In May of 2005, the branch moved to an even bigger location where it’s currently located on the corner of Apple Ave. and Pine Street. The larger 3700 sq. ft. space is now able to house a computer lab and a small used bookstore that the Friends of the Library runs.
Today the Wrightwood Friends of the Library is committed to helping the library continue to grow and provide our community with books, activities, and services. This month they are holding their annual Parking Lot Book Sale and Make & Take Craft event on Saturday, September 16th, from 10 am to 3 pm. Visit the Wrightwood Branch library to fill a grocery bag with a wide selection of used books for only $5. The event is sponsored by the Wrightwood Friends of the Library, and a craft activity will also be offered at the event, where all the money raised will help fund the wonderful library programs and amazing kids’ activities scheduled throughout the year. The “Library Adventures” section in Tri-Community NewsPlus also lists all library events and programs taking place this month, from children’s craft corners to story-times.
In addition to hosting their annual Parking Lot Book Sale, they also hold Silent Book Auctions every month where you can bid on specialty-themed books or rare editions. The silent auction books are on display in a glass case in the library and are always a treat to view. The WW Friends of the Library organization meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 3:30 pm in the library, and their book club meets on the first Wednesday of the month. The book selection for September is “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which is loosely based on famed actress Elizabeth Taylor and is being adapted into a movie by Netflix which announced the project last year. Anyone is welcome to come and discuss the book on Wednesday, October 4th, at 3:30 in the library. The full list of 2023 book club selections can be found on their website at www.wrightwoodfriendsofthelibrary.org.
History of the library was provided by the Wrightwood Friends of the Library Cookbook (circa 2005)
