LA County Library

LA County Library is one of the largest public library systems in the United States^[3] which serves residents living in 49 of the 88 incorporated cities of Los Angeles County, California. United States, and those living in unincorporated areas resulting in a service area extending over 3,000 square miles (7,800 km²).^[4] The LA County Library system provides local libraries to several unincorporated areas and cities across Los Angeles County, and is not to be confused with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) system, which serves areas within the city of Los Angeles.

For the city library system, see Los Angeles Public Library.

LA County Library
33°55′40″N 118°09′41″W
Location	Downey, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Type	Public
Established	1912
Reference to legal mandate	County Free Library Act
Branches	86
Collection
Size	4,799,808
Criteria for collection	County residents
Access and use
Circulation	13,026,434
Population served	3,375,417
Members	3,045,433
Other information
Budget	US$131,063,244 (2015/16)[1]
Director	Skye Patrick, County Librarian
Employees	1,483 (2010)[1]
Website	www.lacountylibrary.org
References: [2]

Reading areas at West Hollywood Library

History

On February 25, 1911, California enacted the County Free Library Law, by which all county governments were authorized to establish a "county free library" to serve all areas of the county where cities and towns had not already established free public libraries.^[5] This led to the establishment of the Los Angeles County Free Library, later to become the Los Angeles County Public Library system of branches. c. 1914, the collection was kept on the “10th floor of the Hall of Records, North Broadway and Franklin Streets.”^[6]

The library system, headquartered in Downey, California, is overseen by the Library Commission of 20 appointed members who report on administration, operation, and service to the County Board of Supervisors who operate County Library as a special fund department.^[7]

Skye Patrick was appointed County Librarian on February 1, 2016.^[8]

Partnerships and community outreach

LA County Library initiated a partnership with the Los Angeles County Probation Department to serve systems-involved youth with an institutional library at Central Juvenile Hall. It offers collections and trained librarians to help improve literacy, teach parenting skills, and encourage respectful interactions. Programming at five Probation Juvenile Day Reporting Centers teaches life skills, builds self-confidence, and introduces potential career paths.^[9]

LA County Library also partnered with County of Los Angeles departments to implement lived experience programs aimed at redirecting youth from engaging in at-risk behaviors. The My Brother's Keeper Peer Advocate program hires young adults of color with lived experience as advisors and liaisons. These Peer Advocates build community relationships, develop programming, and raise awareness of Library services.^[10]

LA County Library launched three book kiosks located at County housing sites: Cedar Springs Housing in La Verne serving transition age youth, tenants with mental health disorders, and low-income families; Carmelitos in Long Beach; and Nueva Maravilla Senior Housing in East Los Angeles.^[11] The Library installed bookshelves at 10 barbershops across South Los Angeles to encourage reading for boys ages 4 – 8 to help minimize the literacy gap between young men of color and their peers.^[12]

In honor of Banned Books Week, LA County Library joined Books Unbanned in October 2023.^[13] This service provides free library cards to all California residents ages 13-18.^[14]

Awards and accolades

LA County Library was a finalist for the IMLS National Medal in 2018 and 2019.^[15][16]

LA County Library won the 2018 Marketer of the Year Award,^[17] the 2019 Librarian of the Year Award for Skye Patrick,^[18] and the 2019 Library of the Year Award. All three awards were from Library Journal, and this was the first time a single organization held all three awards at the same time.^[19]

In 2023, LA County Library was selected as one of eight recipients of the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.^[20]

Services and resources

The library provides many resources, including literacy services and programs for families and children.^[21]

The library system offers consumer health information under CHIPS (Consumer Health Information Program and Services).

Branches

Name	Photograph	Address	Community	Notes
A.C. Bilbrew Library		150 E El Segundo Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061	Willowbrook	Named for A. C. Bilbrew
Acton Agua Dulce Library		33792 Crown Valley Rd, Acton, CA 93510	Acton
Alondra Library		11949 Alondra Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650	Norwalk
Agoura Hills Library		29901 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills, CA 91301	Agoura Hills
Angelo M. Iacoboni Library		4990 Clark Ave, Lakewood, CA 90712	Lakewood
Anthony Quinn Library		3965 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90063	East Los Angeles
Artesia Library		18801 Elaine Ave, Artesia, CA 90701	Artesia
Avalon Library		215 Sumner Ave, Avalon, CA 90704	Avalon
Carson Library		151 E Carson St, Carson, CA 90745	Carson
Castaic Library		27971 Sloan Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 91384	Castaic
Charter Oak Library		20540 E Arrow Highway Suite K, Covina, CA 91724	Charter Oak
Chet Holifield Library		1060 S Greenwood Ave, Montebello, CA 90640	Montebello
City Terrace Library		4025 E City Terrace Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90063	City Terrace
Claremont Helen Renwick Library		208 N Harvard Ave, Claremont, CA 91711	Claremont
Clifton M. Brakensiek Library		9945 E Flower St, Bellflower, CA 90706	Bellflower
Compton Library		240 W Compton Blvd, Compton, CA 90220	Compton
Cudahy Library		5218 Santa Ana St, Cudahy, CA 90201	Cudahy
Culver City Julian Dixon Library		4975 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230	Culver City	Named for Julian Dixon
Diamond Bar Library		21800 Copley Dr, Diamond Bar, CA	Diamond Bar
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library		17906 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746	Carson	Named after Martin Luther King, Jr.
Duarte Library		1301 Buena Vista St, Duarte, CA 91010	Duarte
East Los Angeles Library		4837 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90022	East Los Angeles
El Camino Real Library		4264 E Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023	East Los Angeles
El Monte Library		3224 Tyler Ave, El Monte, CA 91731	El Monte
Florence Library		7807 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001	Florence-Graham
Gardena Mayme Dear Library		1731 W Gardena Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247	Gardena
George Nye Jr. Library		16600 Del Amo Blvd, Lakewood, CA 90713	Cerritos
Graham Library		1900 E Firestone Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90001	Firestone Park
Hacienda Heights Library		16010 La Monde St, Hacienda Heights, CA	Hacienda Heights
Hawaiian Gardens Library		11940 Carson St, Hawaiian Gardens, CA	Hawaiian Gardens
Hawthorne Library		12700 Grevillea Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250	Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach Library		550 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA	Hermosa Beach
Hollydale Library		12000 Garfield Ave, South Gate, CA 90280	South Gate
Huntington Park Library		6518 Miles Ave, Huntington Park, CA	Huntington Park
La Cañada Flintridge Library		4545 N Oakwood Ave, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011	La Cañada Flintridge
La Crescenta Library		2809 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta, CA 91214	La Crescenta
La Mirada Library		13800 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada, CA 90638	La Mirada
La Puente Library		15920 E Central Ave, La Puente, CA 91744	La Puente
La Verne Library		3640 D St, La Verne, CA 91750	La Verne
Lake Los Angeles Library		16921 E Avenue O, #A, Palmdale, CA 93591	Lake Los Angeles
Lancaster Library		601 W Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA 93534	Lancaster
Lawndale Library		14615 Burin Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260	Lawndale
Leland R. Weaver Library		4035 Tweedy Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280	South Gate
Lennox Library		4359 Lennox Blvd, Lennox, CA 90304	Lennox
Littlerock Library		35119 80th St East, Littlerock, CA 93543	Littlerock
Live Oak Library		22 W Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007	Arcadia
Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library		4533 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA	Marina del Rey
Lomita Library		24200 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717	Lomita
Los Nietos Library		8511 Duchess Drive, Whittier, CA 90606	West Whittier-Los Nietos
Lynwood Library		11320 Bullis Rd, Lynwood, CA 90262	Lynwood
Malibu Library		23519 W Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA 90265	Malibu
Manhattan Beach Library		1320 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA	Manhattan Beach
Masao W. Satow Library		14433 Crenshaw Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249	Gardena
Maywood César Chávez Library		4323 E Slauson Ave, Maywood, CA 90270	Maywood	Named for Cesar Chavez
Montebello Library		1550 W Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640	Montebello
Norwalk Library		12350 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650	Norwalk
Norwood Library		4550 N Peck Rd, El Monte, CA 91732	El Monte
Paramount Express Library		13451 Merkel Ave, Paramount, CA 90723	Paramount
Pico Rivera Library		9001 Mines Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660	Pico Rivera
Quartz Hill Library		5040 West Avenue M-2, Quartz Hill, CA 93536	Quartz Hill
Rivera Library		7828 S Serapis Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660	Pico Rivera
Rosemead Library		8800 Valley Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770	Rosemead
Rowland Heights Library		1850 Nogales Street, Rowland Heights, CA 91748	Rowland Heights
San Dimas Library		145 N Walnut Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773	San Dimas
San Fernando Library		217 N Maclay Ave, San Fernando, CA	San Fernando
San Gabriel Library		500 S Del Mar Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91776	San Gabriel
Sorensen Library		6934 Broadway Ave, Whittier, CA 90606	Whittier
South El Monte Library		1430 North Central Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733	South El Monte
South Whittier Library		11543 Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90604	Whittier
Stevenson Ranch Library		25950 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381	Stevenson Ranch
Sunkist Library		840 N Puente Ave, La Puente, CA 91746	La Puente
Temple City Library		5939 Golden West Ave., Temple City, CA 91780	Temple City
Topanga Library		122 N Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290	Topanga
View Park Bebe Moore Campbell Library		3854 W 54th St, Los Angeles, CA 90043	View Park	Named for Bebe Moore Campbell
Walnut Library		21155 La Puente Rd, Walnut, CA 91789	Walnut
West Covina Library		1601 W West Covina Pkwy, West Covina, CA 91790	West Covina
West Hollywood Library		625 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069	West Hollywood
Westlake Village Library		31220 Oak Crest Dr, Westlake Village, CA 91361	Westlake Village
Willowbrook Library		11737 Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059	Willowbrook
Wiseburn Library		5335 W 135th St, Hawthorne, CA 90250	Hawthorne
Woodcrest Library		1340 W 106th St, Los Angeles, CA 90044	Westmont

Bookmobiles

• Antelope Valley West Bookmobile
• Antelope Valley East Bookmobile
• East Bookmobile
• Gateway Bookmobile

COVID-19 response

When LA County Library was forced to close its doors in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Library established a Laptop & Hotspot Loan service, expanded Wi-Fi service to Library parking lots with Park & Connect, and developed virtual programs on YouTube and Webex Events for all ages and interests, such as programs about distance learning and workforce development.^[22]

References

1. "Statistics County of Los Angeles Public Library". Retrieved July 24, 2017.
2. Skye Patrick (2017). "Statistical Information Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2016". LA County Library. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
3. "ALA Library Fact Sheet 22 - The Nation's Largest Libraries". American Library Association. September 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
4. "Statistics | County of Los Angeles Public Library". lacountylibrary.org. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
5. County Free Library Law, Cal. Stats., 39th reg. sess., 1911, ch. 68, pp. 80-85.
6. Standard Guide to Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Panama-California Exposition. Press Association. 1914.
7. "Public Records". County of Los Angeles Public Library. 2009. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
8. "L.A. County chooses new librarian". www.signalscv.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
9. "LA County Library". LA County Library. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
10. "YOUR GIFT MATTERS | LA County Library Foundation". laclf. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
11. "LA County Library Installs Innovative Book Kiosks in Community Housing | Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl". Retrieved February 2, 2023.
12. "Barbershop Books Encourages Boys of Color to Read". Urban Libraries Council. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
13. Community (October 2, 2023). "Two California Library Systems Join in Granting Free Access to Banned Books for Young Readers". BOOK RIOT. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
14. "LA County Library". LA County Library. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
15. "2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service". www.imls.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
16. "2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service". www.imls.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
17. "Past Winners". Library Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
18. III, John N. Berry (December 28, 2018). "Skye Patrick, LJ Librarian of the Year". Library Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
19. III, John N. Berry. "LA County Library Is Library of the Year 2019". Library Journal.
20. "IMLS Selects Winners for Nation's Highest Museum and Library Honor".
21. Murray, Stuart A. P. “The Library: An Illustrated History.” New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012, p. 263.
22. "LA County Library".

Further reading

• Woelfel, Roger H. (1987). Diamond Jubilee: Seventy-Five Years of Public Service. Glendale, CA: Arthur C. Clark Company. ISBN 0-87062-181-5

External links

• Los Angeles portal

• County of Los Angeles Library system

Media related to Los Angeles County Library at Wikimedia Commons

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