Fairbanks Branch Library

The Fairbanks Library was started in 1922 or 1923 by a handful of residents of the community, using space in the local post office.  After the post office burned down in 1925, the local ladies raised $146 to buy building materials and the local men built a 224 square foot “cracker box” (with no water supply) at Fairbanks-N. Houston Road and Hempstead Highway.  That building continued to serve as the Fairbanks community library until the present building opened in 1971.  It was originally 5,000 square feet, but in 1990, it was expanded to 7,247 square feet.  Part of the cost of the expansion was funded by a bequest from the estate of Elfreida C. Letz.

The library currently has 48,300 books, 5,700 non-book items, 21 desktop computers and 15 laptops for public use and three self-checkout machines.  We currently have a staff of 3 Librarians, 3 Circulation Assistants, 1 Technology Training Assistant, and 1 half-time Shelving Assistant.  The library has one meeting room, which seats up to 34 people.  It is used for the library’s free programs, such as children’s activities and story times, computer classes, ESL classes, literacy tutoring, career workshops, and the AARP income tax preparation program and may also be reserved for use by the public.

The Friends of the Fairbanks Public Library sponsor an ongoing book sale just inside the library’s entrance and one or two major book sales per year.   All money raised by the Friends helps provide funding for library programs and materials.  They accept donated books and audiovisual materials that are in good condition.  Donations to the Friends of the Library can be reported as charitable contributions.