[2] Starting in the Fall of 1883, the Esse Quam Videre Club organized to establish a free reading room.

Reading at the location was free, but the Association charged dues of 25 cents a month for the privilege to borrow books.

[1] In November 2008 Measure H was passed narrowly by voters in the city of Martinez to renovate and expand the library.

[7] The US$2,000,000 (equivalent to about $2,794,000 in 2023) renovation work started in November 2010 and the library continued operating for 25 hours per week in a temporary location in the old train depot near Martinez station.

[11][12] The library actively seeks to expose patrons to other cultures and has been hosting Chinese Lunar New Year celebration since 2009 (2009).