LA County Library

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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=o7EXAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA5 County Free Library Law], Cal. Stats., 39th reg. sess., 1911, ch. 68, pp. 80-85. This led to the establishment of the Los Angeles County Free Library, later to become the Los Angeles County Public Library system of branches. {{circa|1914}}, the collection was kept on the “10th floor of the Hall of Records, North Broadway and Franklin Streets.”{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ltZCAAAAIAAJ |title=Standard Guide to Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Panama-California Exposition |date=1914 |publisher=Press Association |language=en}}

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.{{cite web

| title=Public Records

| url=http://www.colapublib.org/aboutus/publicinfo.html

| publisher=County of Los Angeles Public Library

| year=2009

| access-date=March 26, 2010

| url-status=dead

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426035707/http://www.colapublib.org/aboutus/publicinfo.html

| archive-date=April 26, 2010

}}

Skye Patrick was appointed County Librarian on February 1, 2016.{{Cite web

| url = http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/146955/

| title = L.A. County chooses new librarian

| website = www.signalscv.com

| access-date = February 25, 2016

}}

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.{{Cite web |title=LA County Library |url=https://lacountylibrary.org/chat-with-skye/ |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=LA County Library |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |title=YOUR GIFT MATTERS {{!}} LA County Library Foundation |url=https://www.lacolibraryfoundation.org/your-gift-matters |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=laclf |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |title=LA County Library Installs Innovative Book Kiosks in Community Housing {{!}} Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl |url=https://supervisorkuehl.com/la-county-library-installs-innovative-book-kiosks-in-community-housing/ |access-date=2023-02-02 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Barbershop Books Encourages Boys of Color to Read |url=https://www.urbanlibraries.org/innovations/barbershop-books-encourages-boys-of-color-to-read |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Urban Libraries Council |language=en}}

In honor of Banned Books Week, LA County Library joined Books Unbanned in October 2023.{{Cite web |last=Community |date=2023-10-02 |title=Two California Library Systems Join in Granting Free Access to Banned Books for Young Readers |url=https://bookriot.com/two-california-library-systems-join-books-unbanned-initiative/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=BOOK RIOT |language=en-US}} This service provides free library cards to all California residents ages 13–18.{{Cite web |title=LA County Library |url=https://lacountylibrary.org/books-unbanned/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=LA County Library |language=en-US}}

LA County Library was a finalist for the IMLS National Medal in 2018 and 2019.{{Cite web |title=2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service |url=http://www.imls.gov/issues/national-initiatives/national-medal-museum-and-library-service/2018-medals |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.imls.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service |url=http://www.imls.gov/issues/national-initiatives/national-medal-museum-and-library-service/2019-medals |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.imls.gov |language=en}}

LA County Library won the 2018 Marketer of the Year Award,{{Cite web |title=Past Winners |url=https://www.libraryjournal.com/page/Past-Winners |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Library Journal}} the 2019 Librarian of the Year Award for Skye Patrick,{{Cite web |last=III |first=John N. Berry |date=December 28, 2018 |title=Skye Patrick, LJ Librarian of the Year |url=https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/LJX190101LOY-SkyePatrick |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Library Journal}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=Equity-and-Education-for-All-Library-of-the-Year-2019|title=LA County Library Is Library of the Year 2019|first=John N. Berry|last=III|website=Library Journal}}

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.{{Cite web |title=IMLS Selects Winners for Nation's Highest Museum and Library Honor |date=May 23, 2023 |url=https://www.imls.gov/news/imls-selects-winners-nations-highest-museum-and-library-honor}}

The library provides many resources, including literacy services and programs for families and children.Murray, Stuart A. P. “The Library: An Illustrated History.” New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012, p. 263.

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

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

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.{{Cite web |title=LA County Library |url=https://lacountylibrary.org/coronavirus/}}

{{Reflist}}

• Woelfel, Roger H. (1987). [http://www.colapublib.org/history/library/index.html Diamond Jubilee: Seventy-Five Years of Public Service]. Glendale, CA: Arthur C. Clark Company. {{ISBN|0-87062-181-5}}

{{Portal|Los Angeles}}

• [https://lacountylibrary.org/ County of Los Angeles Library system]

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{{County of Los Angeles}}

{{Education in Los Angeles County, California}}

{{California public libraries}}

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Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Library

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