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All LA County Library locations will be closed on Monday, January 20 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Additionally, we will be performing server maintenance on January 20. My Account, the Catalog, the Mobile App, and our Digital Library will be unavailable.
Special collections are unique library materials that are available to the public throughout LA County Library. To find out more about these collections, contact the Libraries listed below.
LA County Library’s Digital Collections contain images, documents, and audiovisual materials that document the history and culture of Los Angeles County. The library digitizes rare and unique materials from its own collections, partners with other county departments to provide access to county materials of historical interest, and collaborates with the communities it serves to create local history materials that reflect the historical experiences of Los Angeles County residents.
Collected by Ruth and Arkel Erb over a twenty-year period, the collection consists of nonfiction and some fiction books, videos, magazines and maps and is one of the most complete mountaineering collections in the U.S. It includes materials on mountaineering in countries throughout the world, as well as on related subjects such as caving, canoeing, backpacking, cooking, wilderness travel and survival techniques.
This collection consists of over 24,000 books and over 200 magazine and newspaper titles in paper and on microfilm as well as a collection of state documents including state and county budgets. The goal of this collection is to present a complete picture of the history, culture, environment and artistic expression of the people of California and to some extent, the western United States.
As part of the Consumer Health Information Program, this collection consists of books, magazines, videos, and online databases related to health topics. Individualized research services are also provided.
Established in 1994, this collection includes materials on public policy in local government and the private sector. The collection is named in honor of Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman in recognition of his more than 20 years of service to Los Angeles County.
The Environmental Collection was established along with the Topanga Library, and opened with the library in 2012. The Environmental Collection contains books, magazines, and DVDs related to environmental activism, sustainable living, and ecology.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Collection contains fiction and nonfiction books that explore the issues and culture of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Judaica Collection contains materials on the history and culture of the Jewish people with a focus on the Holocaust, including works of fiction and nonfiction by Jewish authors.
The Nautical Collection which began in 1976 includes materials on boating, boat repair, navigation, and materials donated by the Department of Beaches and Harbors and the Department of Regional Planning. It has been cited in LA Weekly as the “best nautical library.”
The Ron Shipton HIV Information Center was established in 1989 as a joint venture between LA County Library and the City of West Hollywood. It provides current books and videos on AIDS education, transmission, prevention, treatment , and legal issues.
The Surfing, Oceans, and Sustainability Collection (S.O.S.) contains more than 200 nonfiction books relating to surfing, oceans, and the environment. They speak to Malibu’s unique history as a surfing destination as well as its commitment to environmental stewardship and a healthy lifestyle.
The Bruce’s Beach Commemorative Collection, located at Manhattan Beach Library, consists of materials on African and African-American History. The collection was established in 2022 thanks to a donation of materials by Dr. Anthony Lee, a Manhattan Beach resident and retired professor of History at UCLA and West Los Angeles College.
Many of our libraries offer enhanced resources, computers, and online services to support your homework needs. Check with your local library!
Kindle Paperwhite eReader
Welcome to a New Way to Read...
Have you walked into a library and wished you could check out more books than you could possibly carry? Check out a Kindle Paperwhite at participating libraries with a collection of titles that you are sure to enjoy. Each Kindle has been loaded with expert-selected books.
You don’t need internet access - all the books are pre-loaded onto the Kindle so you are ready to read.
Three week checkout
Renew up to 3 times, as long as no one else is waiting
Must be 18 or older (or under 18 with parent permission)
eBooks cannot be added to this device by user
How do I get one?
Visit a participating library to check out or place a hold on a Kindle Paperwhite. Kindles are not sent to other libraries for pick up.
Note: Selection of genres varies per library. Click on a library below to see the list of genres.
Library Locations with eReaders
Click on the library to view list of genres available.
Terms of Service and Laptop Library Locations
Laptops in this kiosk can be checked out by customers with a LA County Library card in good standing. The laptop is due back in the kiosk before the library closes on the same day it is checked out.
If you do not return the laptop to the kiosk on the same day you check it out, your library account will be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop.
When you check out a laptop from this kiosk, you agree to use it within the library only. If you remove the laptop from the library, you may held criminally responsible for theft of the laptop and/or be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop.
You are responsible for the laptop and you agree that you will reimburse the LA County Library for any damages if the laptop is damaged, lost or stolen while checked out to you.
If you check out a laptop and it is damaged, you will give it to library staff immediately.
You must save to a removable storage device (such as a USB drive) since your work will not be saved to the laptop beyond your current checkout.
LA County Library will not be held responsible for any damage or loss of data or media due to any cause while you are using a laptop from this kiosk.
By using this laptop, you must adhere to the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy. Laptops are available at the following libraries:
With your LA County Library card, you can download or stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, music, and movies on your computer, tablet, or phone. It's free and you'll never have to worry about overdue fines!
You'll need a library card in good standing and a PIN to access most downloadable & streaming content.
Consumer Health Information Program
The Consumer Health Information Program assists the public with medical research by providing information from reliable sources. Customers are invited to use the Norwalk Library collection which consists of books, magazines, videos, and online databases related to health topics. We also provide individualized research services.
Please be aware, we do not provide medical advice, nor are the materials we provide a substitute for a professional medical opinion.
What Can We Do for You?
We can provide you with information on topics such as:
Medical conditions or diseases
Prescription medications
Surgical procedures
General physician and hospital information
Book and website recommendations for further reading
A Family Place Library is a center for early childhood information, parent education, emergent literacy, socialization, and family support. Family Place builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children's growth and development. Each Family Place Library features the following core elements:
A bright, colorful, and welcoming space for young children and their parents.
A collection of books, toys, videos, music, and other materials for babies, toddlers, parents, and service providers
Access to resources that emphasize emergent literacy, reading readiness, and parent education.
Developmentally appropriate programming, such as baby and toddler storytimes for younger children and their parents.
Outreach to new and underserved populations.
The Parent-Child Workshop is a five-week workshop featuring local professionals, such as nutritionists, speech and language therapists, and child development experts, who serve as resources for parents.
The first three years of a child's life lay the foundation for learning. Get the tools and resources you need to give your child the best possible start.
Great! Thank you for sharing your photos with Catalina PhotoShare, a community history project of LA County Library.
Your photos will be reviewed and if they meet the criteria, they will be added to the Catalina PhotoShare online collection.
If you have any questions, please contact: digitalprojects@library.lacounty.gov
LA County Library Californiana Collection
Accessing the Collection
The Californiana Collection is in closed stacks at the Norwalk Library located at 12350 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650.
About the Collection
The Californiana Collection consists of over 24,000 books and over 200 magazine and newspaper titles in paper and on microfilm as well as a collection of state documents including state and county budgets. The goal of this collection is to present a complete picture of the history, culture, environment and artistic expression of the people of California and to some extent, the western United States.
Collection Highlights
California Census Schedules from 1850 to 1910
Copies of The Alta California newspaper 1849-1891, as well as dozens of other 19th century newspapers from Gold Rush boomtowns, the Owens Valley and San Francisco
Official city and county histories from the 19th and 20th centuries
Materials on the Donner Party, California water projects, famous California crimes, Hollywood culture, biographies of Californians, pioneer narratives of the early days of California, and histories of the state written over the course of 150 years
