About the Oxnard Public Library
In 1907, the Oxnard Public Library opened its doors on what is now the corner of C and Fourth Streets in a building funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. In 1909, the library opened deposit stations, which later became branches, in the areas of Port Hueneme, Moorpark, Saticoy, Camarillo, Somis, and Santa Susana. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors dissolved this arrangement in 1915 with the establishment of the Ventura County Library System which provided service to the aforementioned cities. The City of Oxnard leaders at that time decided to maintain the Oxnard Public Library as a city library, separate from the County Library System.
Several building expansions occurred over the years. Bookmobile service was introduced in 1956 and served as the library’s first extension. The Main Library moved to its second location on the corner of C and Second Streets in 1963 and to its current 72,000 square-foot location at 251 South A Street in 1992. The new building provided space for additional books and audio-visual materials, meeting rooms, an amphitheater, and study rooms. During the year 2000, the library added public computers, a computer lab, and an automated book return system.
The South Oxnard Center Branch Library opened in 1989, replacing the bookmobile. In 2007, the branch was replaced by a state-of-the-art 23,000 square-foot building. The new South Oxnard Branch Library provides expanded services including a homework center, study rooms, Children’s, Teen, and Spanish-language sections, public computers, a computer lab, and a self check-in and check-out system.
The Colonia Branch Library opened in 1978. This 560 square-foot neighborhood branch provides public computers, class visits, and special programs for all ages.
Oxnard Public Library Local History Room
The Oxnard Public Library is dedicated to the preservation of local history and culture. Oxnard has a rich cultural history dating back to the days of the California ranchos.
The Local History Collection is housed in the Special Collection Room in the Main Library. All related materials may be viewed by appointment with a reference librarian.
Please visit our Oxnard’s Mayors Gallery for digital photos of Oxnard’s mayors from 1903 to the present, including their years of incumbency.
Please note that there is $0.10 charge for each photocopy and printed page made in the Local History room.
In 1998, Oxnard was one of nine libraries chosen from across the state to conduct a photo history project as part of the “Shades of California” program. Library patrons were invited to bring in collections of their family photos, and project volunteers made selections as well as gathered information about the individual photographs. W. P. Photographic Services duplicated the images for the project and added them to the library existing digital collection as well as sponsoring an Open House and Exhibit at the library in August 1998.
You can access Oxnard digital images online anytime on the University of California’s Calisphere website:
Image Licensing
If you are interested in using images from our collection and accessible through the website above, please contact Library Administration at 805-385-7528, or write to [email protected].
There is a one-time-use license fee of $150.00 and recovery fee of $7.00 per digital photo use for commercial use and public performance. Prices are subject to change.
For more information, please contact Library Administration with the title and any identifying information of the image you are interested in.