History of the Hermosa Beach Library — pamphlet-file version

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HERMOSA BEACH 314
HISTORY OF THE HERVOSA BEACH LIBRARY
The Hermosa Beach Public Library has a proud history of public service to
the community, now covering a period of 50 years. The existence of the Library
is a tribute to the civic dedication and hard work of early day residents of
Hermosa Beach. One of the pioneer branches of the Los Angeles County Library
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 accorded the Library by the citizens
and the City of Hermosa Beach.
The Herinosa Beach Public Library was officially established as a meinber of
the Los Angeles County Public Library System in June, 1913. Prior to that a
pay circulating library sponsored by a committee of club women served the
comnunity from the Ocean View School Building with Mrs. Mary Montgomery as
"custodian."
Early records of the Los Angeles County Library show that the initial
shipment of County Library books to the Hermosa Beach Library consisted of 54
volumes and that Alice McDonald 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, mondays 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 received regularly. Circulation the first year
was 4,247.
In fiscal 1914-15 the library was moved to the Tower Room of the Pier
Auditorium. By this time the book collection haa been increased to 1,117,
there were 809 registered borrowers, circulation® for the year was 11,256. The
library was later moved downstairs into the north room of the building.

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BERMOSA BEACH 314,
?tory Hermosa Beach Library page 2
By 1916-17 circulation had increased to 13,194; there were 1,653 borrowers
and the book collection had increased to 1,777. Included among the 21 magazines
, received recularlv at the library were Etude, Good Housekeeping. Home Needlework.
Ladies Home Journal, Literary Digest, National Geographic, Popular Mechanics
and Sunset.
Some of the pioneer staff members of the Library were wary Montgomery,
Alice mcwilliams, Alice McDonald, Mary Ransom, Ruth Anderson, Mrs. Evalyn S. morris,
and wirs. 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 library 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: hen it was moved to the former
post office at 1106 Hermosa Avenue.
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. Some bathers also wanted to use the
Library restroomsfor dressing rooms.
One of the most exciting events occurred in January, 1938. On January 13,
abut seven o'clock in the evening, the librarian on duty, miss Kathryn Kerber,
noticed a heavy pall of smoke in the high ceiling. Investigating a storage room

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History of Hermosa Beach - page 3
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 branchin 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.
lihile the building was being repaired, and a restroom added, a minimum
of books were moved once more to a small room on the north side of the pier,
where two staff members kept the residents content with mysteries and westerns,
a set of Encvolopedias and the Almanac, and a potpourri collection for children.
In 1951 mrs. Dorothy Olney 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 when a moment of leisure permitted,
but we had a huge tank in which seals and purpoises cavorted and chortled for
prizes of glistening herring!
In September, 1957 once more the Hermosa Library packed its multi-colored
volumes and moved again. This time to the former Post Office building at 1106
HermosaAvenue.

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POTRA CEL 51%
story of Hermosa Beach - page 4
In the meantime the City of Hermosa Beach was planning the construction
of a new civic center and negotiations were conducted between the County Library
and the City for the civic centerto include a permanent Library building.
Subsequently the City appointed ir. Sovo Stoshitch, Architect, to design
the nev. Library, and negotiations 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 groundbreaking was held later 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 opens with a book collection of
,more than 17,000 volumes. New furnishings and shelving have been provided by
the County.
Cn August 10, 1962 after forty-nine years of growing with the community,
the doors of a handsome building at 5550 Pier Avenue opened to the public.
THE HERMOSA BEACH LIBRARY, CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES.
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