All LA County Library locations will be closed on January 1, 2025 in observance of New Year's Day. Libraries will close at 5 pm on January 31. Our digital library is open 24/7.
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Join us for a special book party where we will read "Keith Haring: The Boy Who Kept on Drawing". Learn about this prolific artist and his contributions to the community. Then recreate one of his iconic paintings on canvas. For ages 5 - 12.
AGE GROUP: | Children |
EVENT TYPE: | Storytime | History, Society, & Culture | Arts, Crafts, & Hobbies |
Gardena Library was born under the sponsorship of the Wednesday Progressive Club before the Los Angeles County Free Library was founded in 1912.
In 1914, Gardena Library became a branch of the new County System. Only a few months later, the library was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles City Library Board due to annexation. It was not until August 1951 that Gardena Library came back to the County System.
The present building was dedicated on December 5, 1964 and re-named Gardena Mayme Dear Memorial Library on May 30, 1992 in honor of the late Mrs. Mayme Dear for her many years of dedicated volunteer services to the library.
The Gardena Mayme Dear Library features an enclosed Japanese Garden designed by Takuma P. Tono, professor of landscape design at Tokyo Agriculture University. The 150-year-old stone lantern in the garden was a gift of Gardena's sister city, Ichikawa. A mosaic mural above the main entrance depicts the development of books and printing.
The library was closed for refurbishment in 2008 and reopened in January 2009 with a fresh contemporary interior and new furniture. The Teen Space was dedicated in February 2011.
