Grass Valley Public Library, Neoclassical Carnegie library in Grass Valley, California.

Grass Valley Public Library is a red brick building with white pilasters and classical architectural details located at the corner of Mill and Neal Streets in downtown Grass Valley. The upper floor houses adult services and computers while the lower floor offers dedicated spaces for children and teenagers.

Grass Valley's first library attempts, in 1860 and 1869, did not survive. The non-denominational Emmanuel Church Library opened in 1901, and a decade later the city took over its governance. In 1914 the city requested a Carnegie grant and received $15,000 the following year. The chosen site at 207 Mill Street was the birthplace and early home of philosopher Josiah Royce.

The library was renamed in 2005 to honor philosopher Josiah Royce, who was born at 207 Mill Street, the site the building now occupies. The Emmanuel Episcopal Church ran a non-denominational library from 1901 that served, in its own words, "the Atheist and the Buddhist if such there be."

The building sits at the intersection of two main streets downtown, making it easy to reach on foot from surrounding areas. Visitors should expect to find different levels organized clearly for different age groups.

The site at 207 Mill Street was the birthplace and early home of philosopher Josiah Royce, after whom the library was renamed in 2005. San Francisco architect William Sebastian Mooser won the commission over William Weeks, and the Oakland firm Welch Bros. and Hannemann, which also built the Gridley Carnegie Library, constructed it.