Coachella

The city of Coachella was originally founded as Woodspur in 1876. The origin of the name Coachella is unclear, but at a town hall meeting in 1901, the citizens voted on a new name for their community. They settled on "Coachella", which some local residents believe is a misspelling of the Spanish word Conchilla, a reference to the small white snail shells found in the valley's sandy soil.

The city was incorporated in 1946 with 1,000 residents and in 1957 the Coachella Library was opened in City Hall. To accommodate growth, the library moved into a converted Catholic church on November 1, 1981, just one block from City Hall.

The library is a source of great pride for the citizens and is a few steps away from the Eleanor Shadowen Senior Center and the Esperanza Youth and Family Center making it the perfect location to serve all segments of the population, 38% of whom are 18 years of age or younger. Its collections and programs reflect the needs of the ever growing population.

The library is near the location of the popular musical festival known as Coachella Fest and each year we welcome snow birds and young adults from a variety of states, including Canada, who are looking for the nearest place to access the internet via our computers or WiFi on their favorite device.

Coachella Library currently utilizes 3,000 square feet that can accommodate 125 people. The collection holds over 65,000 items and has 10 computers available for accessing the internet 5 days a week.

Our motto, Come By, Come Often, beckons residents and visitors to the library with our home town atmosphere and hospitality. We are truly a gem in the East Valley.

January 2015