Main Library
101 Pacific Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90822
562-570-7500
www.lbpl.org
The library I chose to visit was Long Beach Public Library’s Main Library, located in downtown Long Beach. The largest of all twelve of Long Beach’s public libraries, the Main Library is one of my favorites to visit.
The Main Library’s collection uses the Dewey Decimal system for classification and features books, government publications, an online catalog along with online databases, media such as DVDs, CDs, playaways, and audio books, along with periodicals such as encyclopedias and magazines. One of the newest additions to the general collection of all twelve locations is the Overdrive Media Console. Library users are just a few clicks away from checking out and downloading audio books directly to their computers from the library’s website.
Aside from the general collection is the special collections the Main Library has. Located on the second floor of the library, the Loraine and Earl Burns Miller Special Collections room features rare texts, works of art, and manuscripts, newspapers, and more chronicling the life of Marilyn Horne, who once lived in Long Beach. The special collections room is only opened several days a week, for a few hours a day. Sad to say I’ve never made a visit to the room.
One of the services the library has is a reading time for toddlers and preschoolers on Thursdays or Fridays, depending on the age group, for an hour. A service that I’ve used and enjoyed has been the online reference desk. Opened 24 hours a day, if you have a reference question you can go to the library’s website and get answers to any questions you have from a librarian. The librarian will also show you how to find the information you need after your questions have been answered. The last service that’s available from the library and its branches is the annual summer reading program. The Main library and its branch libraries host three summer reading programs, one for children, another for teens, and one for adults. Lasting most of the summer the goal is to get more books into the hands of residents. After the goal of reading for five days for twenty minutes each day, kids and teens are awarded a prize of a free book that they can take home. Adults only have to read any three books or listen to any three audio books, write a short review, and they too will receive a free book.
Besides the AskNow system, there are other ways of using the library’s reference section. The library has online reference databases that users can use to find the information they need. The only thing that’s needed is a library card. An example of some of the reference databases available to users is ProQuest, used to find newspaper and magazine articles; CQ Researcher which is a great tool for students loooking to find information; and NoveList which helps users find recommendations for books. You can also find information in the library about possibile colleges you may want to attend or information on job openings in Long Beach.
I think one of the things I like best about the Main Library is that since it’s the biggest of the public libraries, it has a huge selection of books. Whether you’re looking for a children’s book, an adult graphic novel, non-fiction, or fiction, most likely what you’re looking for is at the Main branch. I also loved that they were opened on Sundays when its branches were closed. Due to budget cuts, the Main Library is now closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The only thing about the Main Library that I don’t care for is that it’s so far away. I live about an hour away so sometimes it’s inconvenient to go down there just to pick up a book and come home.
Overall the Main Library is a great place of books and information.