History
The Clifton M. Brakensiek Library has served the community of Bellflower
for more than 80 years. The first branch was opened on March 11, 1914.
The library moved four times until its present facility was dedicated on
August 16, 1975, and named in honor of Clifton M. Brakensiek, MD, who donated
the land on which the library is built. It served as the Automated Circulation
System pilot site and was the first County library to implement the new online
circulation system in 1989. In 1915 there were 213 library cardholders and
412 books on the shelves. The circulation for 1915 was 3,433. Today's
circulation is approximately 200,000 with 40,000 registered borrowers.
The Library has an active Friends of the
Library group.
On December 19, 2002, the Brakensiek Library reopened for service following
several months of renovation. The project was a joint effort of Fourth
District Supervisor Don Knabe, the City of Bellflower, The Friends of the
Library and the County of Los Angeles Public Library. The remodeled library
has a new look with a redesign of the interior, technology upgrades and two
new public service desks.
Collection
The library is comprised of 141,177 books for adults and children, 6,491 audio
recordings, 7,550 video recordings and 188 magazine and newspaper
subscriptions including English and Spanish language magazines, and
local and national newspapers. Special collections include the R. D.
Boggs Sheet Music Collection, circulating historical American flags,
and a complete set of California Deerings' Codes.
Services
The Brakensiek Library offers a full range of services including general reference assistance, online library catalogs that provide access to the entire County Library collection and to online reference databases; public access Internet computers. Children's programs include a Homework Center for children in grades 2-6, weekly storytimes, and a Grandparents and Books program. Other available services are: a photocopier; a Friends of the Library DVD rental collection and a public meeting room (available on a rental basis).
Facilities
Located in the Bellflower Civic Center, this 21,240 square foot building features a section designated for the Homework Centers with computer workstations, a large picture book area, a Family Place area with child-size furniture, a magazine and newspaper reading area, a meeting room with capacity of 95, and 4 locked display cases.
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