Seaside Branch Services
  • Books, talking books on CD, DVDs and magazines for all ages
  • Newspapers: Salinas Californian, Monterey County Herald, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Barron's
  • Materials in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese
  • E-Books and E-Audio
  • Public computers with Internet, Microsoft Office, scan, fax, print, and copy
  • Free wireless Internet 
  • Microfilms of local newspapers:  Salinas Californian, Monterey County Herald
  • Local history and genealogy research. Obituary searches for a charge of $5 per name
  • Funding Information Network partner with access to grant seeking resources for nonprofits and individuals
  • Home to System Reference, Email us at 611-seaside-ref@co.monterey.ca.us
  • To text a Librarian at 831-869-2960
  • Telescope is now available to borrow
  • Specialized services:  Book Club to Go 
  • Programs and events for children and adults, and much more
  • Homework Center
  • Local Friends group: Friends of the Seaside Library

About Seaside Branch

Seaside is a city of 9.4 square miles, incorporated October 13, 1954. The city’s beginnings trace back to 1887 when Dr. John L. D. Roberts purchased 150 acres of the former Rancho Noche Buena owned by his uncle, David Houghton for $5,000. It had been at the suggestion of his uncle that he move to California after he’d obtained his medical degree at the University of New York City.

The Seaside Library started in 1930. The Emerson Library Club was a social club formed in 1931 whose members pooled all their books together and enabled other people in the area to borrow books. The eventual need for more books and a space to house the books was answered by the Monterey County Library system in Seaside on October 15, 1931. On August 25, 1975, the doors opened at the current 10,000 square foot library building at 550 Harcourt Avenue with seating capacity for 81, a meeting room with a seating capacity of 75, large enough to hold 50,000 volumes. The name was changed to Gordon R. Forrest, after a former City Manager.

The Library celebrated its 90th anniversary  Saturday, Feb 15, 2020

Statistics for Fiscal Year 2022-2023:

Circulation: 51,771
Estimated population: 32,085

Building:

Seaside Branch became affiliated with MCFL in 1931. It was moved to its present location in 1975.
Square Footage: 10,000