The North Clairemont Library opened in 1962 as one of three libraries serving residents of Clairemont and the surrounding communities. The building was designed by renowned local architect Robert Platt in the Googie architectural style, which gained popularity from the 1940s to the mid-1960s and was influenced by car culture and the Space Age. Regarded as a landmark of mid-century modern design, the library is included in the self-guided driving tour of Clairemont provided by Save Our Heritage Organization, funded through the City of San Diego's Culture Affairs Department.