Histories · May 5, 1980

Tentative early-library history draft

Gazin draft on Mothers' Reading Circle, St. Cross and pier expressly labels its sources unreliable.

Text

Transcribed from the scans and checked against them by Claude. Typed text comes first; handwritten notes follow it. [illegible] marks words that cannot be read and [?] an uncertain reading.

5/5/ 80 GAZIN from various sources none reliable.! The history of the library of Hermosa Beach is as diverse as that of the city. First seeds for a library were planted early by the formation of a Mothers' Reading Circle This was a group of women who met regularly to share reading of stories to an aseemblage of their collective children. Years of function are now uncertain, and the names of participants have also faded into mists of the past. It was an informal group who probably kept no records.. [illegible] If there were records... they have long disappeared. Marge Russell, formerly of Hermosa Beach now in her late 80s may be the lone survivor. Mary Hagen of Simi Valley Later on, a group of women readers started to share their accumulation of books and placed them in the old St. Cross church, to chare them with the community. This led by a series to turn and contributions to [illegible] organization of a formal library at the church. Eventually the library thus pulled together [illegible] joined the the library system of Los Angeles County which itself was a fairly informal [illegible] grouping at the time. Later the library under the auspices of the county system, was moved to the Pier building. In the 40s the municipal pier features a building with office and auditorium facilities at the east end, near the Strand. These facilities were shared in [illegible] varying degree by the Hermosa Beach Chmaber of Commerce and the library.

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5/5/ 80
GAZIN from various sources none reliable.!
The history of the library of Hermosa Beach
is as diverse as that of the city.
First seeds for a library were planted early by the formation
of a Mothers' Reading Circle This was a group of women who
met regularlv to share reading of stories to an aseemblage of
their collective children. Years of function are now uncertain,
and the names of participants have also faded into mists of the
past. It was an informal group who probably kept no records..
fixm*heyxmanx If there were records... they have long disappeared. Marge
Russel1, formerly of Hermosa Beach now in her late 80s may be the
lone survivor. Mary Hagen of Simi Valley
Later on, a group of women readers started to share their
accumulation of books and placed them in the old St. Cross
church, to chare them with the community. This led by a series to
turn and contributions to Rumingmx organization of a formal library
at the church. Eventually the library thus pulled together jm*hamm
joined the the library system of Los Angeles County which itself
was a fairly informal gmmmamaxiax grouping at the time.
Later the library under the auspices of the county system, was
moved to the Pier building. In the 40s the municipal pier features
a building with office and auditorium facilities at the east
end, near the Strand. These facilities were shared in xaxyammx
varying degree by the Hermosa Beach Chmaber of Commerce and
the library.