🏢 San Diego Public Library — San Diego, California

Pacific Beach/Earl & Birdie Taylor Library

Designed in the shape of a nautilus shell, the Pacific Beach/Earl & Birdie Taylor Library carries a coastal community's love of the ocean into its very architecture, continuing library service that began in Pacific Beach back in 1914.

📖 About Pacific Beach/Earl & Birdie Taylor Library

Library service in Pacific Beach dates to 1914, when it operated out of the lobby of the Pacific Beach Women's Club. The neighborhood's modern branch, the Pacific Beach/Earl & Birdie Taylor Library, opened in 1997 thanks to a generous donation from the Taylor family, longtime library supporters and early real estate developers in Pacific Beach. Architect Manuel Oncina designed the 12,484-square-foot building to echo the spiraling form of a nautilus shell, a nod to the natural beauty of the surrounding coast. The branch is a genuine community hub, with a large meeting room that seats up to 95 people, a grand piano, and a projection screen for programs and performances. Outside, an ample 50-space parking lot and an outdoor patio make it easy for beachgoers and families to stop in. Inside, 19 public computers, Wi-Fi, and world-language collections round out the offerings.

⭐ What makes this branch special

• Building is architecturally shaped like a nautilus shell to reflect the coast (architect Manuel Oncina, 1997)
• Named for the Taylor family, whose donation helped fund the branch
• Library service in Pacific Beach dates back to 1914 at the Pacific Beach Women's Club
• Meeting room for up to 95 people with a grand piano and outdoor patio

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