The Paso Robles Carnegie Library, built in 1908, served as the town’s public library until 1995, when a larger facility was constructed across the street. Following a major earthquake in 2003, the historic Carnegie building was retrofitted and preserved as a central feature of the city park. Today, it houses the Historical Society. Ben Franklin and Andrew Carnegie inspired a young Boy Scout, who in 1998 chose to build a library for his hometown of Templeton—just seven miles south—as his Eagle Scout project.
From Josh’s vision, the Templeton Community Library Association (TCLA) nonprofit was born and worked to continue his dream. San Luis Obispo County closed Templeton’s original branch in 1979 following the passage of California’s Proposition 13. For two decades, TCLA fundraised to construct a new library. When the modular building was completed, donations continued, providing shelving and books.
Today, the Templeton Library has operated all donor funded for two years, managed by a team of trained volunteers and an all-volunteer board of nine directors. One part-time paid coordinator oversees daily operations and programs, including weekly story times, student-led clubs, and workshops. Our collection of 14,150 cataloged materials serves 1,729 library card holders who, over the past two years, borrowed more than 14,980 items.
The Summer Reading Program motivates young readers with tiered prizes and a grand drawing, sponsored by donors. Each year, over 30 Templeton teachers bring students from Kindergarten through Middle School for engaging library tours.
Templeton Library upholds the California Freedom to Read Act (2025), welcoming patron-recommended titles and inclusion procedures. Book donations are accepted to either add to the collection, be sold in our Book Shop, or repurposed.
From a scout’s dream to a thriving community hub, the all donor funded Templeton Library is a testament to the power of perseverance and local support to serve future generations.
