I'm so lucky to have this library just a few minutes from home. It's become one of my favorite…read moreplaces to pop into, whether I'm looking for a new book, browsing the shelves, or checking out a movie. One thing that really surprised me was their huge DVD collection. They have rows and rows of movies and TV shows you can check out for free. It's a great reminder that you don't need another streaming subscription to find something to watch. The children's section is absolutely adorable. They have plush animals perched on top of the bookshelves that make the perfect little reading buddies for kids. It's such a sweet touch that makes the space feel welcoming and fun for young readers. Every librarian I've interacted with has been incredibly kind and helpful. If you have a question or need help finding something, they're always happy to point you in the right direction. This library is clean, well organized, and a wonderful community resource. If you live nearby and haven't stopped in, I definitely recommend paying it a visit.

The library recently added a way to get into the library before their usual opening on Monday thru…read moreThursday at 11 am. If you're in good standing with the library, you can apply to enter between 9 am to 11 am. The back entrance near the parking lot has a new device which scans your library card and requests your password. I'm told that there will not be staff to assist, but it's a convenient new service which will allow us to pick up holds and to use self checkout before they formally open. This is a useful new service!

Toddler space is good, and there's a very accessible space for activitiy in the back. Parking is…read moredifficult, otherwise, good library for toddler.

This was my first time ever stopping here, and boy was I impressed for a public facility! For those…read moreof you who are ever in the area and need to print out a few forms or documents, you can't beat this library. Your first 10 printouts are free. And while my home public library in Culver City is up to the task and gets the job done, the environment here is on another level all together. Perhaps it has something to do with looking out on the mighty Pacific right? Lol Leslie and Ann were super helpful immediately upon entry as my guest and I had never been here before. In addition to their great customer service, the cleanliness of the facility also stands out. Would highly recommend to anyone.

I enjoy browsing this library since they have a larger inventory than the smaller branch on Artesia…read moreBlvd. in North Redondo. There's adequate parking in their covered lot, and I've never had a problem finding a space. They have convenient Monday thru Saturday hours. A benefit of the Redondo Beach library system is being able to reserve items online and have them available for pick up at the branch of your choice. It's easy to see due dates online and to renew items. It's also great to have the option of returning to either branch. The employees seem to alternate between branches, and for the most part, are courteous and efficient. There's not usually a long wait for checking out materials, and there's an option for self-check out too. The only downside is that this branch is dated and could use some refreshing.

Dear Lord. If you're sick, don't come to the library hacking and spreading Covid. Also, I will give…read moreprops to the librarian who shut it down with the rude dude who couldn't shut up on his phone. First time I've actually seen a librarian regulate. They should do that more. I gave the guy the stank eye like it should have been common sense and courtesy to keep it shut.

More Than Just a Library…read more Peninsula Center Library was the very first library I visited when I moved to the Los Angeles South Bay, and over the years, this place has been through a LOT with me. I've used it during periods of unemployment, for booking study rooms while interviewing for jobs, and simply as a quiet place to sit, read, think, or get some work done. It has become one of those places that holds a lot of memories for me. First, the building itself deserves some appreciation. The modern design and huge windows that let in so much natural light are a must for me. Walking into a bright library just makes my day better. There's also an underground parking structure, although it's limited, and I especially appreciate it on those hot South Bay days when having my car parked in the shade makes a difference. I also LOVE the Friends of the Library sales. They have highly discounted books, CDs, DVDs, and -- my personal favorite -- PUZZLES! The larger monthly book sales are especially fun because they open up the big room and have a much bigger selection. I've bought countless books and puzzles here over the years. I've participated in their reading program, too, and the staff have always been helpful. More recently, work has made this location less convenient for me, so I don't get here nearly as often as I used to. I now visit Katy Geissert Civic Center Library more often simply because of convenience. I used to come here 2-3 times a week, and now I'm probably here around 2-4 times a month. It honestly makes me a little sad because I still love this library. The library's online/app services have also been incredibly useful. I've used them to reserve study rooms and place holds on books without having to make an extra trip. And speaking of study rooms -- these have been a lifesaver. Whether I need somewhere quiet and private to focus on work or a reliable place to take a virtual job interview, being able to reserve a room has been incredibly valuable to me. I also love the bookmark contests! I get to see the creativity of local kids, and some of their artwork is seriously impressive -- sometimes downright jaw-dropping. I love grabbing a free bookmark on my way out. At this point, my typical library visit feels like: walk in for a book, walk out with a book AND a bookmark. The kids' area also looks like such a fun space, even though I don't personally use it. Overall, I love the staff, programs, resources, architecture, and just the general vibe of Peninsula Center Library. It has been much more than a place to check out books for me. It has been a quiet refuge, a workspace, an interview space, a place to discover books, and occasionally a place to find a great puzzle for a few dollars. Even though I don't visit as frequently as I used to, this library will always have a special place in my South Bay story. And yes -- I'll probably keep coming back for those Friends of the Library sales and puzzles.

I luv this library, it's big, clean, convenient (open 7 days) & staff is super friendly. There's…read morealways art on display by local artists. When I stop to browse the paintings & photography, it's like a little indulgent break in the middle of the day that I didn't know I needed. I always leave just a tad bit happier :). There are 2 parking entrances, one on Silver Spur & the other on Deep Valley (rooftop w EV charging). They have book sales pretty often which I hope to check out in the future :).

Shoutout to the Staff!…read more A big shoutout to the staff at Katy Geissert Civic Center Library! Everyone I interacted with was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what they do. My background as a recreational reader is actually fairly new. I really started reading as a hobby in 2023, thanks to a friend who works at another library in another city. They encouraged me to participate in a summer reading program in 2025, and that eventually led me to sign up for the Torrance Public Library's 2026 Summer Reading Program. I had a few books in mind to start with, but once I finished those, I needed to find more. I also wanted to challenge myself to branch out and diversify the authors and genres I was reading. I'll be honest: the Torrance Public Library system isn't necessarily my first choice, but convenience matters, and this location is convenient for me. When I got stuck trying to figure out what author to try next, I decided to do something outside my usual routine. Instead of researching everything myself online, I actually asked a librarian for help. The librarian on the second floor wasn't personally familiar with the work of Tessa Bailey or Emily Henry, which were the authors I had been reading, but after I described what I liked about their books, she suggested Ali Hazelwood and Katherine Center as possibilities. She mentioned that she knew people who had listened to audiobooks by both authors, although she seemed a little hesitant about whether they would be a good fit for me. Well... I had nothing to lose! I ended up reading one book from each author, and both were great recommendations. In fact, those two books ended up being the final two books I needed to complete my summer reading challenge! That experience reminded me why libraries are so valuable. I could have easily continued searching the internet based on algorithms and reviews, but having an actual person listen to what I was looking for and make a recommendation led me to two authors I probably wouldn't have picked on my own. I also want to give a shoutout to the staff on the first floor. I asked about the Friends of the Library cash-only book sale, where they offer books at highly discounted prices, and they were so enthusiastic about answering all my questions. You could tell they genuinely cared about the library and were happy to share what was available. Overall, I really appreciated the staff at this location. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about books and the library itself. As someone who is still relatively new to reading as a hobby, having librarians who are willing to help me explore beyond my usual choices has made the experience even more enjoyable. Thank you to the staff for being such great ambassadors for the library!

This Torrance Library location is near what I believe to be the City Hall or main area for all of…read moreTorrance's City entities. Parking is easy and it's a big library with a main floor for the adults, a 2nd top floor for the youth, kids of all ages including an entertainment room with a movie theater like projection TV, then a bottom basement type lower floor for all of the non-book media, including CD's DVD's and Magazines. Their children's area has an impressive "Comic Book" graphic novel and collected editions area with a lot of titles and books by Marvel, DC, super heroes and non-hero literature. I'd venture to guess they should and might have some Anime and Manga too. As of June/July 2026 the library has the front main entry that looks like it's "closed" due to construction and when you walk in, it's dimly lit and often empty looking as if it's closed, but they're open and I get a sense it's going to be a spectacular renovation They do have a Summer Reading Program focused for the kids to avoid that "Summer Slouch" of education, with bonus incentive prizes for reading. There's also a program for teens and adults of all ages. The staff are friendly.

The Hermosa Beach library has been around forever. It's really changed a lot over the decades. Back…read morein the 70s and 80s, when I first started going here, it really had tons and tons of books and magazines. But, as we all know, times have changed. Now, when you go in there, they do not have a really great selection of books anymore. Yes, they do have some books, but it almost seems like that is not their primary focus anymore. What' the library currently offers now is some books, some magazines, a lot of DVDs. Plus, you can get on a computer for a couple hours, as long as you are a member, if that is your need or desire. What this location seemingly has become is a great daycare centre. They really offer a lot of things to keep your kids interested and learning. They have a lot of children's style books, and a lot of activities, where your kids can get really involved. So, if you're a parent, this may be a great place to take your child, let them associate with other children, and perhaps learn a little bit in the process. Overall, this library is one of the foundational elements of Hermosa Beach. Does it have a lot of books anymore? No, not really. But, it still serves a very good purpose.

I've walked past this library for decades and never stepped inside, until today. Decided to visit…read morebecause of the Sanrio partnership with LA County libraries, which I knew about, but not the specifics until I saw it on Instagram. When I got to the front door, there was only one person waiting, so I thought I was in luck. It wasn't until we were let in that they opened the back door where the line was. I didn't even realize there was a back door, but I suppose it makes sense because that's where the parking lot is located. I was given a number, 39, and was directed to wait at the back of the line. Luckily, the librarian announced that there were a total of 65 Sanrio limited edition library cards left. She handed out numbers and applications. I filled out my application and waited inside for my number to be called. It didn't take too long. I had a library card within 35 minutes. There were three staff members calling out numbers. The process was fairly organized. While I was waiting, I walked around. It's a fairly small library with a large children's section on the right-hand side. There are all kinds of activities for the kids, aside from children's books. If you have small children, it's a great place to come and spend hours with them. For a library, there weren't as many books as I expected. Many of the shelves were not full. I noticed the non-Sanrio people were using the computers.

Oh El Segundo, have you ever been? It's close to LAX airport. My husband's family has lived in this…read moretown since 1917. If you have time to kill between flights check out the town it's beautiful & they have a lot of brew pubs now. . I'm mostly doing this review to brag about my family. SO PROUD

It's a very nice library! Lots of natural sunlight with the big windows and lots of seating with…read moreplugs as well. They have a few parking spots right outside for 2 hours but right down the street is a neighborhood where you can parallel park and just walk over! There's no time limit for the neighborhood parking. They have pretty views outside the window with lots of trees and a huge green lawn. Outside the windows there are a lot of spider webs and dead bugs in the corners

I took my little one to this library for the first time today because I saw there was a family…read moremovie night. The library itself has a very small parking lot, and street parking was pretty full, so I'm glad I was able to snag the last open space in the lot. The library architecture is beautiful with lots of wood and is quite historic. There were quite a few stairs to get to the movie viewing room downstairs, but my preschooler managed it slowly. It was such a cute setup with printed movie tickets and free popcorn with a variety of sprinkle toppings. Too bad my kiddo wasn't able to sit through the entire movie and wanted to go play in the garden outside instead. So we left early and walked outside. We went back into the library and sat on the rug in the children's section, and I read 4 books to her, so that was fun. I'm not sure if I was being too loud in the quiet library, but there weren't that many people there at 5 pm on a Friday, and we were the only ones in that section, so hopefully it was ok. Overall, it was a fun adventure to check out. We might try the movie nights again when she's a bit older.

Here for the Love So Right event, a fundraiser for the Filipino music community. The venue is…read morelovely with an outdoor garden, complete with a fountain. The architecture is beautiful. Great place for a private event, but you should limit the amount of guests to 100 or less.

This medium-sized library is tucked away near a Marriot Courtyard. It's usually quiet enough (save…read morefor a few Teams calls ringing the front desk) to get work done, especially during non-peak times. There's not a ton of seating, about half seems to be reserved for kids, but they do have quiet solo study rooms for reservation if you really need one. Only about half the tables seem to have outlets, this library would get a full 5-stars from me if they could somehow get more (and a water bottle refil station)!

I went to the library with my 3 year old and returned the books from a different library. We were…read morethere for almost an hour then my daughter wanted to check out more books for the week. And when I go to check out, the machine says that I have damage fees. When I go to the attendant in the front, I said the machine isn't letting me check out. She didn't even fully acknowledge me and said , "yeah you damaged the books" accusing me of something I didn't do. The couple ripped pages that the books had were already there when I checked them out. How was I supposed to know that the books I checked out didn't have the damage noted in the system. If they can see my account. Out of all the times I've rented, I've never once damaged any property. But the review is solely based on the attendant who was cold, dismissive, and accusatory towards me. As much as I really like the kids librarian that usually stays in the kids section, unfortunately I won't be back to this library.

I love our neighborhood library. It's small but it does host many fun events for adults and kids…read more There's even a listen to an audio book while you walk meet up because we're so fortunate to be next to Victor Park. I just wish I didn't work those mornings because I would love to join them. There is also a family reading time once a week. Shortly after Covid it was held outdoors at the park which was super fun. The librarians here are so nice and friendly. It's gotten to the point that when I walk in they will tell me my held books were just pulled. I go to this library that often. Yes did I mention it's next to Victor park? So when your kids come play at the playground they can stop by and check out a book afterwards.

[Review #812] 2024-011…read more The Isabel Henderson Library is 1 of 6 libraries in the Torrance district, located west of Victor Park, off Emerald & Garnet Sts. I haven't been here, but my son visited this location a few times for their events; he really enjoyed the "Tony Daniels Magic Show" this summer. I needed a place to hang out until the local fencing club was open & stopped by to work & peruse the stacks earlier in the month. It's slightly smaller than sister Southeast Torrance Library (definitely quieter even with the proximity of Victor Elementary School & St. James Catholic School), with a nice collection of youth & middle school books to entice my son to read. ツ Free WiFi is available... the login & PW is posted at the front desk/check-out counter. I get decent connectivity working here while waiting for M to finish his homework or do some light reading. I stopped in again mid-11/2024 to attend the "Traveling Naturalist" event. We ran a little late, but there's room for us to join in (capped @ 40 people). It was facilitated by Ryan English, Lead Naturalist from the Environmental Nature Center. Can you believe she traveled 39-mi.? Wowza! \(*o*)/ She started with a short story to lead/pique the children's curiosity of the animal that is to be introduced. I missed the book that announced "Blueberry" (Blue Death Feigning Beetle), & saw her escorting the insect around to be petted. This guy was "alive"/active this time. Ryan said it has "feign death" (its defense mechanism) at some presentations. She followed up with the popular Frog & Toad book, & shared a toad named "Mr. Pickles" (look but no touch due to his sensitive skin); he squeaked several times like a dog's chew toy. You can hear the kids collectively sighing: "awww!" The next friend that was introduced was "Fiesta," a rose-colored Boa Constrictor. M thought she was really pretty & cute. We had to leave after her, missing out on the rabbit/bunny (M sneaked a peek at the next book). While I was waiting for the l'il guy to wash his hands, I shared my gratitude & appreciation to the librarians for hosting this awesome event! We love our local libraries, especially for the fun, interesting, educational, etc. activities for the community... there's even events for adults! Stop by & see what this local library has to offer for you & your family, you'll be glad you did!