Modoc County Library: Your Community Hub
Serving Alturas, Adin, Cedarville, and Lookout since 1906
The Modoc County Library is more than a building for books; it is a vital community center that evolves to meet our changing needs. Whether you are here for literacy, technology, or community support, we are here for you.
Our Core Resources
- Collections: Use our online catalog to access over 67,000 physical volumes. Can’t find it? Use our Zip Books program to have titles delivered directly to you at no cost.
- Digital Access: Explore our "Libby/Library-to-Go" partnership for over 100,000 e-books, audiobooks, and current magazines downloadable to your personal devices.
- Media: We house over 2,000 audiobooks and 1,000+ DVDs.
Modern Services & The "Business Center"
We bridge the digital divide by providing essential services to everyone:
- Business Tools: Wi-Fi, printing, scanning, faxing, and laminating.
- Tech Support: We assist with computer tasks, email setup, and online forms. We are the community’s go-to for navigating online-only requirements, including "new DMV" services.
- The Zoom Room: Reserve our semi-private space for tele-health appointments, proctored exams, interviews, and virtual meetings.
- Legal Resources: A dedicated law library computer, legal code books, and private access to court fee payments and legal forms.
Fees for Library Services:
- Photocopies: .25/page.
- Color copies: $1.00 each
- Printing from public computers .10/page
- Faxing: $1.00 per page (sending or receiving)
- Proctoring Exams: $10.00 per exam
- Microfilm Search (by staff): $5.00 per request. Microfilm searches done by patron are free, printing microfilm pages: .10/page.
- Document scanning $.50 per page
Community & Heritage
- Programming: From weekly preschool story times to summer reading programs, we foster literacy for all ages.
- Meeting Space: Our conference room hosts local art classes, story-time crafts, and community events.
- Local Archives: We preserve our history through Modoc High School yearbooks (dating to 1908), microfilm newspapers (dating to 1887), the Modoc County Record archives, an extensive obituary file, and a large collection of books about Modoc County which can be found in the library's catalog. To request a copy of a newspaper article or have an obituary looked up on microfilm, please send a check or money order, made payable to the Modoc County Library, in the amount of $5.00 per item requested, plus publication date (or date of death for obituary) to: Modoc County Library, 212 W. 3rd St., Alturas, CA 96101. Please include your contact information: mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number. The Modoc County Library regrets it is not able to do genealogical research for individuals, but welcomes visitors to explore local history resources at the Alturas library.
Sustainability & Support
The library has been self-sustaining without County funding for 38 years. Our operations rely on the 1988 "Save our Library" tax assessment and, crucially, the Friends of the Library.
- Friends of the Library: This dedicated group funds improvements, new materials, and utility costs through special events and the "Book Worm" used bookstore. We welcome new members who wish to support this indispensable asset.