Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley & Bessie Knox Library
🏢 San Diego Public Library · Mission Hills, San Diego
Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley & Bessie Knox Library
Opened on what would have been Mayor Harley Knox's 120th birthday, this LEED Gold landmark — four times larger than the 1961 branch it replaced — anchors the heart of Hillcrest with craftsman architecture, an IDEA Lab makerspace, and one of SDPL's most vibrant LGBTQ+ collections.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11:30am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 215 W. Washington Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 692-4910
Website: sandiego.gov
Plus Code: 8544PRXM+VW (San Diego, CA)
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📖 About Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley & Bessie Knox Library
The Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley & Bessie Knox Library opened January 26, 2019 — the 120th birthday of Harley Eugene Knox himself — replacing a cramped 3,850-square-foot branch that had served the neighborhood since 1961. The new 15,000-square-foot, LEED Gold–certified building at the corner of Washington and Front Streets was designed by Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects and Manuel Oncina Architects in a craftsman style, with 25-foot ceilings, earth-toned wood detailing in the adult reading zones, and vibrant colors in the children's wing. The $21 million project was made possible in part by a $10 million philanthropic gift from the Hervey family and the family of Donna Knox Sefton — daughter of Harley and Bessie Knox — channeled through The San Diego Foundation. Named for Harley E. Knox (1899–1956), San Diego's 25th mayor who championed Mission Bay Park, the city's aqueduct, and post-war housing, the library serves the communities of Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Middletown, Mission Hills, and Old Town. Notably, on opening day roughly 2,000 residents formed a human relay line and passed books from the old building to the new one six blocks away.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened January 26, 2019 on Mayor Harley Knox's 120th birthday; 15,000 sq ft LEED Gold building with 28 kW rooftop solar and drought-tolerant landscaping
- IDEA Lab makerspace with 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter, and Cameo die cutter — free for cardholders, drop-in Tuesdays 5–7 PM
- Dedicated LGBTQ+ special collection serving Hillcrest; Gay Men's Book Club (1st Monday) and LGBTQ+ Teen Graphic Novel Book Club (4th Wednesday) meet monthly
- 84-space underground parking garage (first 2 hours free with library validation); accessible via MTS Bus Routes 3 and 10
- Named for Harley & Bessie Knox through a $10 million private gift; the branch itself was built in part on the former IBEW union hall site
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
SDPL cardholders stream, borrow and research free with San Diego's digital collection:
📚 Services
- IDEA Lab makerspace: 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter, Cameo die cutter (drop-in Tuesdays 5–7 PM)
- Dedicated LGBTQ+ special collection
- Community meeting room with A/V and attached 1,400 sq ft outdoor patio (reservable)
- Four individual study rooms
- Children's wing with themed storytime space and dedicated computer lab
- Teen area with separate programming space
- 14 adult computers and 10 children's computers, free Wi-Fi
- 84-space underground parking (first 2 hours validated free)
- Friends of the Library bookstore
🎸 Programs
- Gay Men's Book Club — 1st Monday, 6 PM
- LGBTQ+ Teen Graphic Novel Book Club — 4th Wednesday, 4:30 PM
- Baby Sign Language Storytime — Thursdays, 10 AM
- Tinker: IDEA Lab drop-in — Tuesdays, 5–7 PM
- Mystery Book Group — 4th Wednesday, 3 PM
- Family Friendly Friday Flicks — 1st & 3rd Fridays, 3:30 PM
- Dance Pants Bash! (family storytime) — Saturdays, 10 AM
📍 Other San Diego Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in San Diego · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the library named after Harley and Bessie Knox?
Harley Eugene Knox (1899–1956) served as San Diego's 25th mayor from 1943 to 1951, championing Mission Bay Park, the Colorado River Aqueduct, and post-war veterans' housing. The library was named for him and his wife Bessie through a $10 million philanthropic gift from the Hervey family and the family of Donna Knox Sefton — one of their daughters — contributed via The San Diego Foundation. The building opened on January 26, 2019: what would have been Mayor Knox's 120th birthday.
What happened to the original 1961 Mission Hills-Hillcrest branch?
The old 3,850-square-foot branch at 925 W. Washington Street had only nine parking spaces and had outgrown the neighborhood by the 2000s. The City acquired the former IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) hall site at 215 W. Washington Street, demolished it in 2017, and constructed the new 15,000-square-foot building there. On opening day — January 26, 2019 — roughly 2,000 residents formed a human relay line and passed books from the old branch to the new one six blocks away.
Does the Knox Library serve Hillcrest's LGBTQ+ community specifically?
Yes. The library maintains a dedicated LGBTQ+ special collection and hosts recurring community programs including a Gay Men's Book Club (1st Monday at 6 PM) and an LGBTQ+ Teen Graphic Novel Book Club (4th Wednesday at 4:30 PM). Hillcrest is one of San Diego's historic LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, and the branch was designed as a central gathering and resource hub for that community.
Is parking available, and is the IDEA Lab free?
The building includes an 84-space two-level underground parking garage; the first two hours are free with validation at the library desk. The IDEA Lab makerspace — with 3D printers, a Glowforge laser cutter, and a Cameo die cutter — is free for cardholders. Drop-in Tinker sessions run Tuesdays 5–7 PM, and staff can orient first-time users to the equipment.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
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