All LA County Library locations will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 and January 1, 2025 in observance of Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Our digital library is open 24/7.
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Mark Bradford is a LA based visual artist known for his large-scale abstract paintings using mixed media. Join us & Artsy Kids as we learn about Bradford and his art style and create your own work inspired by Bradford. For ages 5 - 12.
Attendance is limited, and advance registration is required. Please register every individual in your party, including kids. This will be used to save your spots in the program. We cannot guarantee availability for any unregistered attendees.
AGE GROUP: | Children |
EVENT TYPE: | History, Society, & Culture | Arts, Crafts, & Hobbies |
TAGS: | African American & Black History Month |
Willowbrook Library occupies a very special place in the history of the County of Los Angeles Public Library. The Los Angeles County Free Library, as it was then called, was founded September 5, 1912.
On Christmas Eve Day, 1912, the County Librarian received a petition from the residents of the Willowbrook Community, requesting that Willowbrook have the first County branch library. This petition was followed up with a long distance call from Mrs. Belle Jenks offering her services and her home for the purpose.
Both offers were accepted and on April 23, 1913, Willowbrook opened as the first branch library of the Los Angeles County Public Library with an initial shipment of 50 books. The library was open for 2 days in April 1913 and circulated 18 books.
In July 1919, the library was moved to a room in the Post Office at rental of $20.00 a month (later reduced during the Depression to $15.00 a month).
In 1950, a library was built on El Segundo Boulevard but was damaged by fire during the 1965 Watts riots. Rebuilt with community donations and dedicated in June 1966, Willowbrook Library served the community at the El Segundo location until the library was relocated to the Kenneth Hahn Plaza in 1987.
On July 28, 2018, Willowbrook Library opened to the public at its new location: 11737 Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, 90059.
