Today I went to the Long Beach Public Library located at 101 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA, 90822 in downtown Long Beach. The library is open even days a week 10am-6pm Monday and Wednesday, 10am-8pm Tuesday and Thursday, and 10am-5pm Friday thru Sunday. A drop box is provided for after hours to drop off books and returned any items previous checked out. The entrance to the library is located off Pacific St. and enters into the upstairs portion of the library. The library is two stories broken up by Non-Fiction up stairs and Fiction down stairs. In addition to the large volumes of non fiction books upstairs, are the check-out counter, information desk, children’s books section, self help books, auto manuals section, foreign language books and learning materials, periodicals and journals, and computers with online access.
The facility offers up to 28 computers with online access. You are allowed to browse the internet at your leisure or use the internet for research, job hunting, etc. The user is offered one free hour of access to the computer and printing services are provided in case you find something on the internet you would like to print. Free wireless internet is also offered for those that have laptops with wireless internet capabilities.
Downstairs in addition to the fiction books, are additional computers that are used as a computer training area. These computers can be used to learn the various Microsoft applications or other software, instructions on how to use a computer, and information on how to surf the internet. There is also a section devoted to government reference materials and publications, with a clerk to assist you with finding what you need. Caddy corner to the Government references are DVD’s, VHS’s, and CD's available for check out for a small fee. This includes new release DVD's and CD's out of Hollywood, independent films and music, educational media, historical media, and a decent library of Hollywood classics. These can be checked out for two days and cost from $1.08 for educational and all classic DVD's/CD's to $3.25 for new releases.
When checking out books, the library allows you to keep the book for up to three weeks, and then charges .25 a day for each additional day the book is kept if not renewed. The library offers numerous ways to renew your checkout such as in person, via phone (562) 570-7500, or even online. The catalog system is all electronic. There are numerous kiosks conveniently located in every section of the library that allows you to search for the book or item you are searching for. The books are categorized by non fiction/fiction and then broken down into subcategories, such as US history or Science Fiction, and then by title which allows one to find the book very easily. The library maintains an original paper catalog system with 3x5 index cards, but this catalog system only covers books that were in the library prior to 1996. The public also has the ability to use the catalog system from their home computer via internet to see if they have the book you are looking for, making it very convenient.
The library is a public library that receives federal, state, and city funding as well as funding from charitable donations. The library has its own non profit organization with the goal of fundraising to promote literacy, education and the joy of reading. Numerous services such as technology and internet classes, kids and teens reading programs, genealogy research, and numerous services for the disabled such as large print, reading machine, Braille, etc. The library is easily available for all citizens of Long Beach.
What I like the most about this library is how helpful everyone is and how organized everything appeared to be. There are plenty of instructions around to help assist you with your experience. I didn’t like the outside atmosphere of the location of the library, it made it un-inviting and unwelcoming. Of course once inside everything was completely different. The array of options for reading, researching, and web navigation makes your experience very welcoming. I also truly enjoyed the quietness and space this library offers.