Santa Monica Public Library – Fairview Branch

History

Established in 1956.

The first Fairview Branch was opened in 1931 on 20^th Street and was only 15 feet wide. In 1942, this store front library was replaced by a new building located at 2030 Pico Boulevard.

In 1956, the Fairview Branch Library moved to its present location. During the war years, the population of the southeastern area of Santa Monica had grown dramatically due to the defense industry boom at Douglas Aircraft. The influx remained in Santa Monica following the war’s end and the return of servicemen and women eager to start families.

Designed by architect Weldon Fulton, it is a classic mid-​century modern building. The original furnishings came from Eames, Knoll Associates, and Remington Rand.

A community room was added in 1978 and other facility improvements were made in 2002. The current building size is 7,735 square feet.