A Story from the Library – Aarron and Erica
A second grader named Aarron Coleman once walked across the street from his school to the Burnett Neighborhood Library for the first time. After school, the library buzzes with young students looking for a safe place to go in a neighborhood where the poverty rate is nearly double the city average. Aarron was looking to […]
16th of November 2017
Sherriff McDonnell: Libraries are essential to our community
“Did you know that 70% of the people in our prisons never finished high school? In my nearly 4 decades in law enforcement, I see first-hand the impact that a lack of education has on the crime in our county. That’s why I support the Long Beach Public Library Foundation as a member of its […]
Library Studio Innovation Showcased at Long Beach Civic Innovation Awards
This week’s Long Beach Civic Innovation Awards featured a winning design by the Library’s Studio makerspace. Awards presented to the event’s honorees were designed by Studio Guides at the Library using the technology and software available for free to library patrons. The Studio Guide team utilized Adobe Creative suite, 3D design software, and 3D printers to make […]
9th of November 2017
The Role of Libraries in the Defense of Our Nation
“I got orders today!” This announcement – usually made at the end of the day when your spouse walks in from work – is one that is anticipated with both dread and excitement. Everything in the household stops … the TV is turned off, the stove put on simmer … as the family gathers to find […]
1st of November 2017
Bridging Long Beach’s Digital Divide
Like many, we were dismayed to learn that 1 in 4 Long Beach households still lacks an adequate portal to the Internet. According to the Long Beach Media Collaborative‘s recent report, 1 in 6 Long Beach residents are not connected to the Internet at all. “And proportionately fewer households are connected in Long Beach than […]
3rd of October 2017
Students Get a Second Chance and Earn their High School Diploma at the Library
At the podium in his cap and gown, Samrith recalled his teen years acknowledging, “I did not get my high school diploma back then, but I didn’t quit. I never gave up on my education.” Now, 18 years after he left high school, Samrith earned his high school diploma at the Long Beach Public Library […]
New Main Library Starts Steel and Celebrates Centennial Year Donation from the Rotary Club of Long Beach
“There is nothing more exciting than celebrating a center for learning,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia as he addressed the crowd at the New Main Library Start of Steel Celebration. On September 19, Long Beach librarians, library supporters, and our city leaders gathered to celebrate and sign the first steel beam bolted in place at […]
11th of September 2017
The Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library One Year Later
On September 10, 2016, nearly 5,000 patrons showed up for the grand-opening of the new branch library in north Long Beach. Excitement and interest in the library has continued as thousands of patrons visited the Library during its first year. By the end of September, the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library will have received an estimated […]
7th of July 2017
It’s summertime! Let’s talk about school…
Our librarians are always advocates for education at every stage of life. But did you know that the Long Beach Public Library actually offers the opportunity to get a high school diploma? The Career Online High School is a free, accredited program for adult learners looking to expand their opportunities by furthering their education. Students […]
26th of June 2017
Stories of the Library: Guest blog by LBPLF Board Director John Arcos
My stint as a volunteer computer guru at the Main Library has turned out to be both an opportunity to help folks navigate the Internet, as well as a quick refresher in Personal Interactions 101. The EIC, or Electronic Information Center, sits next to the Information Center for People with Disabilities (ICPD). Together they include […]