The history of the Newport Beach Public Library goes back to 1920 when the first public library was established in Balboa with a collection of 1,100 books. The original Corona del Mar Branch opened in 1947 and was replaced by the current Branch in 1959. Mariners Branch followed in 1963, and the Newport Center Branch opened in 1980.

In 1989, largely due to the determination and will of individuals and small community groups, a vision of great magnitude began to form. It was under the remarkable leadership of Elizabeth and John Stahr, along with the dedicated support of the Board of Library Trustees, that fundraising and consciousness-raising began and the City Council authorized the building of a new Central Library.

On July 10, 1994, the Central Library opened, an $8.2 million state-of-the-art facility designed by the team of Simon Martin-Vegue Winkelstein Moris, San Francisco, in association with James L. Pirdy, Newport Beach. During the past 10 years more than eight million people have walked through the impressive entryway, and circulation of our materials is approaching 13 million.

The Central Library brings more than books to the community. True to its mission, it has become the "cultural, educational, and informational heart of Newport Beach."