Carnegie Libraries of California California Carnegie Libraries at the end of the twentieth century Whether remaining in library use or serving in other functions, many California Carnegies have expanded and many of those are again short of space. A 1985 California conference for librarians, on the planning of both new buildings and renovations, included several workshops on preplanning and working with architects. The most emphasized renovation problem was space and the expense of achieving it, to accommodate more books, more users, more services, more technical equipment, and usually more than one librarian. Closely related is the serious problem of providing for modern electrical needs.
Vacancy always poses a potential threat to the future of a building.
Among publicly owned Carnegies, shaky municipal budgets may delay projected plans for future use but commitment is a potent force in their favor. Several privately owned Carnegies have had recent occupancy problems but the quality of construction, careful renovation, and current interest in historical buildings has worked in their favor. With the exception of the branches, most Carnegies were located proximate to downtown. Among the many examples of Carnegies located in towns which have been able to retain a viable downtown, or where an active preservation movement is restoring the downtown, are San Rafael, San Luis Obispo, Petaluma, Pacific Grove, and Santa Barbara. Some Carnegies that were located in residential areas and parks, such as Clovis, Turlock and Exeter, have been converted to community use.