All LA County Library locations will be closed Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day. Our Digital Library is available 24/7.
Avalon Library welcomes back local Catalina historian Chuck Liddell for his twice monthly appearance to discuss and explore the history, legends, and culture of Catalina Island!
AGE GROUP: | Teens | Older Adults | Children | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Lectures & Conversations | History, Society, & Culture | Education & Literacy | Books, Poetry, & Writing |
Avalon Library was established in February of 1914.
Led by the Mary Williams Club (now the Santa Catalina Woman's Club), and the Avalon Chamber of Commerce the townspeople came together to meet the offer that Los Angeles County presented to them "if the citizens could provide furniture, shelves, a space and volunteers to run it", Los Angeles County would furnish the books.
In February 1914, the first L.A. County Public Library "overseas branch", opened at the Grandview Hotel with 196 books, courtesy of the County, the number doubled by that summer.
In November 1915, a raging fire destroyed most of the town, including the library. H.W. Allen managed to salvage 100 books which he stored in his home until a new quarters could be found for the library.
The Sophia yacht club was the first in a series of locations which included City Hall, Kassar Building, Hotel Atwater Arcade, 211 Metropole Ave, and 208 Metropole Ave.
In the Spring of 1962 the Avalon Library found a home in the new County Center at 215 Summer Ave.
