The first all Irish library in the United States, Patrick J. Dowling Library is entirely devoted to Irish history and culture, with a focus on the Irish in San Francisco and California. The library promotes Irish/Irish American literature, history and culture by preserving and modernizing the collection of books, periodicals, and multimedia by providing public access to these collections. The library is truly a community library. The collection is entirely made of items donated by supporters of the library, beginning from its founding, when Mr. Dowling started the collection by soliciting donations in Ireland and the USA - first storing them in his garage and then finding a home for them at the United Irish Cultural Center when it opened in 1975. The library is located on the ground floor of the United Irish Cultural Center, and contains more than 3,000 titles on a number of subjects regarding Ireland and Irish America, including literature, history, and genealogy.