LA County Library

County of Los Angeles Public Library
County of Los Angeles Public Library
	File:County of Los Angeles Public Library logo.png
	33°55′40.88″N 118°9′41.67″W / 33.9280222°N 118.1615750°W
Location	Downey, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Type	Public
Established	1912
Reference to legal mandate	County Free Library Act
Branches	85
Collection
Size	6,434,367
Criteria for collection	County residents
Access and use
Circulation	15,368,606
Population served	3,672,882
Members	3,142,419
Other information
Budget	US$153,679,000 (2010)
Director	Skye Patrick, County Librarian
Employees	1,147 (2010)
Website	www.colapublib.org
	References:

The County of Los Angeles Public Library is the 6th largest public library system in the United States^[3] which serves residents living in 49 of the 80 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]

History and Politics

"County Free Library Act" (1912) established and authorized the Los Angeles County Free Library, later to become the County of Los Angeles Public Library system of branches.

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.^[5]

Skye Patrick was appointed County Librarian on February 1, 2016.^[6]

Services and Resources

The mission of the library is to "provide our diverse communities with easy access to the information and knowledge they need to nurture their cultural exploration and lifelong learning." As such, the library provides many resources, including literacy services and programs for families and children.^[7]

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

Visitors

Available to visitors within each library are reference and circulating books, periodicals and audio/visual materials. Catalog terminals query the collection of the entire library system. Information centers offer a collection of pamphlets and community information featuring upcoming events. A payphone may be in the lobby, by the restroom or outside near the entrance. A copier may be available for a fee per copy. Ad hoc productivity software/internet computer access may be limited by reservations and a printer is available for a fee per copy using the pay station to place credit on library card accounts or a visitors temporary account.

Card Holders

Registered Library Card holders in good standing may:

check out up to 50 circulating books, periodicals and audio/visual materials.
place up to 50 items on hold.
order books from other libraries within the county system for local pick-up/check-out.
reserve productivity software/internet terminals for up to one hour.
print 10 pages free per day.
only children may log on in the children's computer center, without reservation.
access free, unlimited wi-fi, using their own equipment.

Website Card Holders

www.colapublib.org patrons in good standing who log in with their library card number and pin may:

renew checked-out materials.
reserve productivity software/internet terminal time.
use Live Homework Help®
download audio books and e-Books.
access all Databases & Online Resources
- Auto Repair, Biographies, Business, Career, Directories, Downloadable Audio & eBooks, Encyclopedias, Español, Genealogy, Health and Medicine, History, Homework, Kids, Languages, Legal, Literature, Magazines & Newspapers, Science, Social Issues, Taxes, Test Prep, Travel, Virtual Reference Library.

Locations

The system operates 85 branch locations, 3 bookmobiles, and 1 institutional library :

A C Bilbrew Library
Acton Agua Dulce Library
Agoura Hills Library
Alondra Library
American Indian Resource Center
Angelo M. Iacoboni Library
Antelope Valley Bookmobile
Anthony Quinn Library
Artesia Library
Asian Pacific Resource Center
Avalon Library
Baldwin Park Library
Bell Gardens Library
Bell Library
Black Resource Center
Carson Library
Castaic Library
Charter Oak Library
Chet Holifield Library
Chicano Resource Center
City Terrace Library
Claremont Library
Clifton M. Brakensiek Library
Compton Library
Cudahy Library
Culver City Julian Dixon Library
Diamond Bar Library
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
Duarte Library
East Los Angeles Library
East Rancho Dominguez Library
El Camino Real Library
El Monte Library
Florence Library
Gardena Mayme Dear Library
George Nye Jr. Library
Graham Library
Hacienda Heights Library
Hawaiian Gardens Library
Hawthorne Library
Hermosa Beach Library
Hollydale Library
Huntington Park Library
La Cañada Flintridge Library
La Crescenta Library
La Mirada Library
La Puente Library
La Verne Library
Lake Los Angeles Library
Lancaster Library
Lawndale Library
Leland R. Weaver Library
Lennox Library
Littlerock Library
Live Oak Library
Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library
Lomita Library
Los Nietos Library
Lynwood Library
Malibu Library
Manhattan Beach Library
Masao W. Satow Library
Maywood César Chávez Library
Montebello Library
Norwalk Library
Norwood Library
Paramount Library
Pico Rivera Library
Quartz Hill Library
Rivera Library
Rosemead Library
Rowland Heights Library
San Dimas Library
San Fernando Library
San Gabriel Library
Santa Clarita Valley Bookmobile
Sorensen Library
South El Monte Library
South Whittier Library
Stevenson Ranch Library
Sunkist Library
Temple City Library
Topanga Library
Urban Outreach Bookmobile
View Park Library
Walnut Library
West Covina Library
West Hollywood Library
Westlake Village Library
Willowbrook Library
Wiseburn Library
Woodcrest Library

References

^ ^a ^b "Assessor" (PDF). County of Los Angeles Annual Report 2009-2010. Public Affairs, Chief Executive Office. p. 60. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
^ Margaret Donnellan Todd (2009). "Statistical Information Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009". County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
^ "ALA Library Fact Sheet 22 - The Nation's Largest Libraries". American Library Association. September 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
^ "Statistics | County of Los Angeles Public Library". www.colapublib.org. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
^ "Public Records". County of Los Angeles Public Library. 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
^ "L.A. County chooses new librarian". www.signalscv.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
^ Murray, Stuart A. P. “The Library: An Illustrated History.” New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012, p. 263.

External links

County of Los Angeles Library system

[annrep-1] "Assessor" (PDF). County of Los Angeles Annual Report 2009-2010. Public Affairs, Chief Executive Office. p. 60. Retrieved 17 October 2012.

[2] Margaret Donnellan Todd (2009). "Statistical Information Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009". County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved 2010-03-26.

[3] "ALA Library Fact Sheet 22 - The Nation's Largest Libraries". American Library Association. September 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-21.

[4] "Statistics | County of Los Angeles Public Library". www.colapublib.org. Retrieved 2016-03-07.

[5] "Public Records". County of Los Angeles Public Library. 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-26.

[6] "L.A. County chooses new librarian". www.signalscv.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.

[Murray,_Stuart_A._P._2012,_p._263-7] Murray, Stuart A. P. “The Library: An Illustrated History.” New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012, p. 263.

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v t e County of Los Angeles
Chair: Lindsey Horvath Chair pro tempore: Kathryn Barger CEO: Fesia Davenport
Board of supervisors	Hilda Solis, 1st district Holly Mitchell, 2nd district Lindsey Horvath, 3rd district Janice Hahn, 4th district Kathryn Barger, 5th district
Departments	Aging & Disabilities Agricultural Commissioner Weights & Measures Alternate Public Defender Animal Care & Control Arts & Culture Assessor Auditor-Controller Beaches & Harbors Chief Executive Office Child Support Services Children & Family Services Consumer & Business Affairs County Counsel District Attorney Economic Opportunity Executive Office, Board of Supervisors Fire Lifeguard Division Health Services Human Resources Internal Services Justice Care & Opportunities Library Medical Examiner Mental Health Military & Veterans Affairs Museum of Art Natural History Museum Parks & Recreation Probation Public Defender Public Health Public Social Services Public Works Regional Planning Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Treasurer & Tax Collector Sheriff Youth Development
Agencies	Office of Education Grand Park Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association Local Agency Formation Commission Los Angeles County Law Library Metropolitan Transportation Authority Music Center Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Superior Court First 5 Los Angeles FilmLA Los Angeles County Development Authority
Airports	Brackett Field Compton/Woodley Airport Fox Field San Gabriel Valley Airport (El Monte) Whiteman Airport
County hospitals	Los Angeles General Medical Center Harbor–UCLA Medical Center High Desert Regional Health Center Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center Olive View–UCLA Medical Center Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Culture	Ahmanson Theatre Arboretum and Botanic Garden Bob Hope Patriotic Hall Descanso Gardens Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Grand Park John Anson Ford Amphitheatre Hollywood Bowl La Brea Tar Pits Mark Taper Forum Museum of Art Music Center Natural History Museum South Coast Botanic Garden Walt Disney Concert Hall Whittier Narrows
Others	Seal Hall of Records