The Beginning of the Friends of Encinitas Library
In 1979, Elena Countryman, parent of three children and Volunteer Coordinator at Capri Elementary School, arranged a meeting at her home in order to discuss setting up a Friends of the Encinitas Library group for the small local San Diego County Library. Elena had researched how Friends’ groups work and the benefits they bring to the local library and community. She shared the information with those present, and we all agreed it would be a wonderful group to begin and establish to help the Library.
Those present were enthusiastic, and under the leadership of Elena, we developed letters of Incorporation with the aid of an admirable community-minded attorney. We submitted the documents to the state, became a legal 501c3 group in April 1980, and the work of building the organization began.
The group put on bi-annual book sales, dragging out heavy tables, carrying boxes of books donated by members of the community, and for one day, encouraging people to come and buy books, learn where the library was located, get some great deals and become a Friend, too.
At this time, the County library sat on a dirt lot and it was a little difficult to get into the library with dry shoes on rainy days. The library itself was a small, round building with a tiny office on the ocean side, and a limited collection of books along the walls and on bookshelves sticking out towards the middle of the room. The Friends set up a shed in the back and solicited donations. The books were sorted and stored for the book sales, and the sale would be on the dirt parking lot area. It was not ideal, but it was what we became accustomed to.
Elena next suggested that the Friends pay to have the parking lot next to the library paved. She was the liaison with the County Library and the contractors who leveled the dirt, poured the asphalt, built the curbs, and painted the lines. More people could now park and use the library as we had two parking lanes. It was still a very small library.
As the years passed, the area incorporated and became the City of Encinitas. After many meetings, discussions, staff reports and appearances at Council meetings, the City agreed to build a new library on the site. The San Dieguito Water District offices were moved to another site, the entire lot was dedicated to the project and the City took on a $22 million debt in order to build the new library.
In 2008 it finally opened, and we all continue to enjoy the huge space and gorgeous site and building today. It all began with an idea that Elena Countryman Pitt had. Many thanks to her and to everyone who worked during those years to be good “Friends” of the Encinitas Library.
Anne Omsted, founding member of the Friends of Encinitas Library
