The El Paso Journal of April 8, 1905 contained editorial comment on the proposed acceptance of a Carnegie gift for a library building and printed several letters from former El Pasoans who then lived in cities that had received Carnegie gifts. Rumors had been rampant in town that Mr. Andrew Carnegie held strings to his gifts by reserving the right to claim the site on which the library was built, as well as the building which his contribution to the community involved. These letters refuted the rumors and showed that the only thing Mr. Carnegie demanded was that the buildings which he donated must be put to library use and that the community had to agree to a tax levy to assure the maintenance of a public library in the building which he donated for that purpose. In the April 3, 1905 session of the city council, Mayor S. M. Ferrell and Aldermen Shreve, Adams, Hankey, Kyser, Render and Nethercott resolved that the "City Council recommend to the incoming council that a levy of two mills be made on all property of the city to support a free public library." There was less and less objection as citizens had time to discuss and think over the question. The new council, under Mayor Peter Donner, unanimously voted to establish a public library.
The site selected was on the south side of Jefferson Park, and the grey stone structure which followed the lines of a medieval castle was dedicated in 1906. Today the library has over 8,000 volumes and is open each afternoon except Thursday and Sunday, plus two evenings each week. In 1953 it had an average monthly circulation of 1,296 books and magazines and operated on approximately $3,000 per year. It serves not only those living within the city limits, who enjoy the free use of it, but also a far-reaching rural area to whom full privileges are extended for the membership fee of only one dollar per year.
Librarians who served for many faithful years include Mrs. S. H. Worthington, Mrs. S. T. Curtiss, Mrs. W. G. Johnson, Miss Sarah Gough, Mrs. Carrie Tucker, Miss Hortense Ferrell, Miss Katharine Jenkins and many others. The present library board consists of the following: Ralph A. Burster, President; Mrs. Tresa Fitzgerald, Vice President; Miss Katharine Jenkins, Secretary; Mesdames James A.