Orland Free Library
Stop by and say hello!
Hours of operation:
Monday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Address: 333 Mill Street, Orland CA, 95963
Phone: (530) 865-1640
Our History
“Soon after establishing a reading room in the Bane building in Orland in 1911, the Women’s Improvement Club began measures to secure a Carnegie grant to build a library building. On April 9th, 1913 the Women’s improvement Club made its first payment of $600 to Mr. Clark for lots for the library site. A total of $1,000 was raised through various fund raising events held by the club and the land was deeded to the Town of Orland when final payment was made April 10th 1914. The city bonded itself for the purchase of the remainder of the block, resulting in the creation of Library Park. With Assistance of local citizens, their teams and wagons, the library plot was made ready and the basement dug. An $8,000 Carnegie grants was awarded to the Town pf Orland May 5th, 1919. Construction was began and the library opened to the public in December 1919. In 1971 a new library building, built through community efforts, spearheaded by the Orland Women’s Improvement Club replaced the out-grown Carnegie Building. It should be noted that in May of 1971 Orland also dedicated a new library after four years of work on the part of members of the Orland Women’s Improvement Club, city and county officials and various organizations and individuals. Mr. C. K. Price was master of ceremonies. A band made up of elementary and high school students played the National Anthem. Councilman Louis Johnson, Jr. led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor George Edwards made the dedication address. A California Bear Flag was presented by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, and an American flag by the Orland Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Brief remarks were made by Mrs. Fred Ely, Chairman of the Library Board, and by William C. Reimers, Supervisor. The Women’s Improvement Club arranged for the Open House reception which followed the program. A special guest was Tom Van Roekel who worked as a carpenter on the construction of the Old Carnegie Library building after returning home from service in the army during World War I.”
Information courtesy of the 1973 Wagon Wheels
An inside look at the Orland Free Library 
History of the Carnegie Building that used to be the Orland Free Library 
“In 1880 a huge wooden, four story mill was built on the site of the present Orland Free Library. While Mr. Wigmore states in his “Land of Orland” that the Chamberlain brothers deeded the block of land to Albert Papst, records disclose the building was owned by H. C. Hubbard Nelson. Two huge millstones were installed and the mill under the operation of Mr. Papst began to serve the wheat ranches of the area. The operation was short lived. On October 15th, 1881, the structure was completely destroyed by fire. In addition to the building and machinery 2,000 sacks of wheat and six tons of flour were lost as well as a large quantity of wood on hand to heat the steam boilers. One of the millstones was broken, but the other was saved and moved to the Guilford farm. It was donated by Mrs. Esther Guilford for historical preservation. With the Orland Women’s Improvement Club financing the project and the Kiwanis Club handling the construction work, it was built into a monument placed at the entrance of the Orland Free Library. Dedication ceremonies were held December 15th, 1978.” Picture and information courtesy of the 1979 Wagon Wheels