jefullerlbcclib: Review: the new West Hollywood Library

For my LIB 03 class, we were asked to visit a library and present information about it, but I thought some people in the LIB 204 class might be interested as well ...

I chose to visit the West Hollywood Library, the newest branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library. The library opened in October of 2011, and so the building and facility are very forward thinking in terms of design, layout, and patron needs.

The building combines its modern, clean-lined architecture with sustainable, “green” construction practices. The 33,150 square-foot library uses a “photovoltaic” solar panel system to conserve (and generate its own) energy use, and 96% of the construction material wastes were recycled rather than dumped in landfills. The design of the building also incorporates lots of natural light, which also reduces energy costs.

On the ground level floor of the facility is a cafe and small bookstore that sells items from the library collection that have been taken out of circulation. I purchased a trade paperback copy of Jonathan Lethem’s novel Fortress of Solitude that was in perfect, brand-new condition – for only $1.00!

To enter the main building of the library, you have to walk up a curving, external staircase (or take the elevator) to the main lobby. Upon entering, directly in front of you will be the circulation desk. To the right is the DVD section, and to the left and behind the front/circulation desk is a long expanse of seating near the glass wall that overlooks San Vicente Boulevard. The children’s books must have been in this area as well because I did not see them on the upper floor. To the right and behind the front/circulation was the main staircase that leads to the second floor of the library, which held sections that included non-fiction, fiction, videos, design and architecture, and large print books.

One article on the library I read after my visit mentioned that the library has a children’s theater, but I did not see it when I was there.

One of the prominent features that visitors will notice includes the glass wall on the east-facing wall of the library, which provides a view of the Pacific Design Center, which is across the street, and the Hollywood Hills in the background. The second floor also features a beautifully detailed wooden ceiling with a floral design. While doing some homework at the library for a couple of hours, I noticed several people taking pictures of the gorgeous view.

Also the second floor, along the glass wall, are sand-colored chairs and tables for patrons to study or read, as well as lower swivel lounge chairs with smaller tables.

Free wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet access is provided in the library, but requires library membership and a pin number. There are also several computer stations for library members to use. The library website states that there are 44 computer terminals. On my visit, nearly all of the computers were in use, and more than half of the seating areas were occupied as well. There are also separate, private study rooms, and a more formal conference room, all of which were occupied.

On both the first and second floor of the library, approaching the main stairway, are self-checkout stations where patrons can scan and checkout items on their own.

A nice added detail of the shelving units that held the library’s “stacks” were built-in lighting fixtures, making searching for an item that much easier.

Some of the services provided by the library include “Live Homework Help,” which is available online, and covers the following: K-12 math, science, English, social studies, and essay review tutoring; for college level students, math, science, English, and essay review, as well as “assistance with GED preparation, and career services such as resume review, job searching and interview preparation.” (http://www.colapublib.org/children/tutor/index.html)

The online catalog for the County of Los Angeles Public Library, is easy to navigate and was familiar since having used it in depth for LIB 03 Assignment 2. Additional online services include emailing a librarian for information or asking a reference question, access to the library’s collection of research databases, which requires users to be member of the library and provide their membership number, and finally downloading capability to download eBooks, audiobooks, and music (note: uses can only download three songs per week through the library’s online catalog.).

Events that take place at the West Hollywood Library include toddler and family story times on Wednesday, and a “BookPals Storytime” on Saturdays at 11:00am, where “members of the Screen Actors Guild read stories to children and their families.” On the first Tuesday of each month, the library hosts a “Women and Books” book club, where authors and educators discuss new books that cover women’s issues and interests.

One final detail of the library that I really liked was a large mural on the side of the library’s parking structure by the artist Shepard Fairey. Because the parking structure is behind the library, one would not even be aware of the mural from the main entrance on San Vicente Boulevard. While mentioning parking, the library validates parking for three hours free.