History of the Hermosa Beach Library — retyped version

Source scan page 77

HISTORY OF THE HERMOSA BEACH LIBRARY
The Hermosa Beach Public Library has a proud history of
public service to the community, now covering a period of
more than 50 years. The existence of the library is a tri-
bute to the civic dedication and hard work of early day
residents of Hermosa Beach. One of the pioneer branches
Of the Los Angeles County Libtary system, The Hermosa Beach
Library has through the years played an important role in
the development of public library service in Southern
California, due in large measure to the strong support ac-
corded the Library by the citizens and the City of Hermosa
Beach.
The Hermosa Beach Public Library was officially established
as a menber of the Los Angeles County Public Library System
in June, 1913. Prior to that a pay circulating library Womans Club
sponsored by a committee of club womenserved the community
from the Ocean View School Building with Mrs Mary Montgomery
as "custodian".
Early records of the Los Angeles County Library show that
the inital shipment of County Library books to the Hermosa
Beach Library consisted of 54 volumes and that Alice MeDonald
was the first "custodian" or librarian there. The library
was located in the Walker Building on Hermosa Avenue.
During the first year the library was open from 2 to 5 p.m.
and from 7 to 8:30 P.M. each day, Monday through Saturdays.
By the end of the first year's operation the book collection
had been increased to 632, there were 392 registered borrowers
and 12 magazines were recieved regularly. Circulation the

Source scan page 78

History Repaose ?? - page 2
By 1916-17 circlatton had increased to 13,194; There wer
1,653 borrowers and the book collection had incred ed to 1,71.
Included among the 21 magazines received regularly at the
Ilbrary were Etude, Good Housekeeping, Home Needlework, Ladies
Home Journal, Literary Digest, Nation Geographic, Populat
Mechanics and Sunset.
Some of the pioneer staff menbers of the library were Mary
Montgomery, Alice McWilliams, Alice McDonald, Mary Ransom,
Ruth Anderson, Mrs. Evalyn S. Morris and Mrs Fern Rhein, Who
became Librarian in 1923. In 1925 the Library opened its
doors to the public on the south side of the pier in the former
dance pavilion.
Growth of liberary services continued in Hermosa Beach for
the next few years and it was necessary for the Library to be
located in larger quarters, also on the pier, in 1927.
By this time, the Hermosa Beach Library ranked 6th in circulation
among the 160 community branches of the County Public Library
System. Circulation that year was 50,859.
The Library remained on the pier until 1957 when it was
moved to the former post office at 1106 Hermosa Ave.
During the years the Library was on the pier it rendered
strong service to the public, despite several operating
difficulties, the most vividly recalled being the pigeons
which decorated the building. Quite often bathers would
want to wander in and read books while still in their wet
suits and it became necessary eventually to prohibit this.
One of the most exciting events occured in January, 1938.
On January 13, about seven o'clock in the evening, thelibrarian
Miss Kathyrn Kerber, noticed a heavy pall of smoke in the

Source scan page 79

History Hermosa Beach Library - 3
high ceiling. Investigating a storage room in the rear of
the building she found it filled with smoke. The only patron
in the library at the moment was a twelve year old browsing
in the stacks. He ran to the Fire Station about two blocks
away and gave the alarm. (We had no telephone in the branch
in those days) Within thirty minutes the fire was extinguished
without any damage to our collection of books or furnishings.
We were and are proud of our fire department.
While the building was being repaired, and a restroom
added, a minimum of books were moved once more to a saall
room on the north side of the pier, where two stagg members
kept the residents content with mysteries and westerns, a set
Of Engyelopedias and the Almanac, and a potpourri collection
for children.
In 1951 Mrs. Dorothy 0lney was appointed Librarian, in
charge of the Hermosa Beach Branch, and a few years later
the building was redecorated. This time with a light cream
ceiling, well lighted, and soft yellow and grey-green walls.
The dark brown furniture and book stacks took on a new lease
and the library conscious people in the community along with
the staff were proud of their library.
Sometime later a new neighbor moved next door. We no longer
had the silver sand and gaily colored bathers to glance upon
wgen a moment of leisure permitted, but we had a huge tank in
which seals and porpoises cavorted and chortled for prizes of
glistening herring.
In September, 1957 once more the Hermose Library packed Its
multi-colored volumes and moved again. This time to the former
Post Office building at 1106 Hermosa Avenue.

Source scan page 80

HISTORY HER
In the meantime the dity of Hermosa Beach was anning the
construction of a new civio center and negotiatics were
conducted between the County Library and the City for the
civic center to include a permenent library building.
Subsequently the City appointed Mr. Savo Stoshitch, Architect,
to design the new Library, and negotistions were carried out
for financing and construction of the facility on a lease-option
basis.
Contract for the new library was awarded by the Hermosa
Beach City Council in November, 1961, and the groungbreaking
was held that month. Contractor was Jack K. Tanner. Cost
of the new Library was $131,000 including parking for 44 cars.
The new Library was designed with a book capacity of 20,000
volumes and contains 6,400 square feet. The new Library opened with
a book collection of more than 17,000 volumes. New furnishings
and shelving were provided by the County.
On August 10, 1962 after forty-nine years of growing with
the community, the doors off the handsome building at 550
Pier Avenue opened to the public.