Library service in Magnolia dates back to 1943 when residents raised money for a rental space. The Library provided books and part-time librarian help, and eventually took over the other expenses.
The Magnolia Bluff Station moved several times and became a full branch in the late 1940s, but still needed a permanent location.
In 1956, Seattle voters passed a $5 million bond issue to replace the Central Library and to use leftover money to build new branches, including in Magnolia. The branch opened July 17, 1964.
Designed by architect Paul Hayden Kirk, the branch won national recognition after it opened in 1964. Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board has designated it as a landmark building.
The renovated and expanded branch now has: