As far as libraries go, this one is very nice. It has all of the things you would expect a modern…read morelibrary to offer. Located on Gaffey Street, this library is very easy to find. They have their own parking lot, so parking is easy. Plus, there's a lot of street parking around the library, so parking should never be an issue. Once inside, you'll find the central desk, near the entrance of the store. There, if you have any questions, they will be happy to answer them for you. Once inside, this library is very well organized, very well maintained, and a very airy and spacious establishment. You can easily find what you're looking for in terms of books, magazines, computers, and all of the everything else that a modern library has to offer. Overall, if you're in the San Pedro area, and you want to get what the LA Public Library System has to offer, this is your place to go.

I felt myself wanting more from this library. It looks plain from the outside, but once you come in…read moreyou see wonderful large vaulted ceilings with large windows to bring in tons of natural light. But then you look around & see a beautiful stained glass window...that is very small and positioned weird. And then some random nautical items like a ship's wheel on the wall. It all just felt kinda off. Like the interior & its decoration was a second thought to everything. And while I do think a library should be about the books at the end of the day, there's something to be said about a well thought out interior that beckons you in and invites you to pick up a book and enjoy it inside the library. I didn't get this vibe at all from this location. It looked like it was decently staffed, but no one ever came to help me. We were there to collect the location stamp as part of Central Library's 100th bday and no one was anywhere near the circulation desk. We waited several minutes & eventually just took it upon ourselves to find some pre stamped cards & walk out. In all the branches I've been to, there was never a circulation desk that didn't either have someone stationed there or have someone walk over within a minute or two after we waited patiently for assistance. This branch is still a great resource for its neighborhood. If you live in this area, absolutely visit it and take advantage of its resources. I am just coming at this review as an 'outsider' who is visiting all of the LAPL branches. So take all of that in to consideration before you decide to visit or avoid this branch.

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.

This could be my favorite library in the whole LAPL system. It's just a stunning cathedral like…read morelibrary with beautiful architecture both inside and out. The huge vaulted ceilings and long hanging chandelier like lights are just absolutely stunning. This branch is worth a visit, even if it is not in your neighborhood. Throw in large evergreen trees around the location and it really is such a unique location. On top of all that, the staff is so friendly. They quickly pointed out that on one of the walls you could go and learn about the history of the branch and the city. You could tell they were proud of their branch and so happy to invite us in. I truly hope that I get plenty of opportunities to revisit this library. And I am truly jealous of those who can call this their local branch.

I went today to get a new library card and the process was quick and easy. I did fill out the…read morepre-application online which helps a lot. The woman who helped me was great!

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.

Review #1030 2026-100…read more Free WiFi/Network Name: CountyLibraryWiFi The L.A. County Carson Library is 1 of 3 L.A. county libraries that we visit & is the largest of the 3 at 33K+ sq. ft. It's 4x larger than the Lomita location, which is closest to home, & more than double in size of my son's fav L.A. library: Gardena Mayme Dear Library because they have a seed library for the community. This library offers a large children's & teens' space, meeting room (125-person capacity), 3 4-person study rooms, household battery recycling site (great... now I have a safe place to get rid of my used batteries), photocopier, printers (10 free pages/day), unlimited Wi-Fi access, computers, 8 laptop loaners (Chromebook) for 2-hours of use inside library on a first-come, first-served basis. Software programs included: Adobe Acrobat Reader; DocuSign; Google Chrome; Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher; Microsoft Edge; Mozilla Firefox; Picture Viewer; VLC Media Player. In-library laptop removal can result in criminal responsibility for theft & charges for full replacement cost. We don't visit often even though the Carson Library host some of the better L.A. County Library kids events, or come here to chase down a required reading book for my daughter's high school English class. My then 8 YO enjoyed the summer-related programs: Farm to Summer: Gardening for Kids (planted corn, peas, pumpkin, & sunflower; only peas sprouted but didn't bloom) & Exploring Energy Technologies: Create an Electric Air Racer (this was fun while it lasted for a few months until it crashed & burned badly). M was busy competing in academics & sabre fencing the following year. There were a few events this year that we skipped due to schedule conflicts, & tried to attend the Printmaking Workshop. I thought it would be a fun creative outlet for my son, not realizing its target audience was teens; there was only 4 students in the room. We stayed because H was interested in this intro to dry-point etching & learning about this centuries-old art form, carving images onto acrylic plates, then creating prints in various colors. Ironically, the workshop leader was a former student from West High School & on their Swim Team (something that I highly encourage with a lot of pushback). Events: 07/17/24 Farm to Summer: Gardening for Kids 07/24/24 Exploring Energy Technologies: Create an Electric Air Racer 10/13/26 Printmaking Workshop The library is spacious & airy (great for those hot summer days) with lots of light. There's plenty of individual cubicle spaces for privacy as well as tables with electrical outlets for shared work. It's a tad noisy during just after-school visits, I see a quite a few elementary school kids chattering away & running around. I wasn't surprised to see them playing video games since there's a lack of homework in elementary school, & a handful of the younger set working on homework with their guardian. The customer service station is usually manned by 1 librarian, but I'm sure there's more staff around this massive library. The workshop was a good outlet (& excuse to skip swim practice) for my daughter after a rough day at school, & my son was able to do some homework while gaming, of course. And I used the time to write this review. Thanks L.A. County Library - Carson Library for this fun, creative outlet so my teen can de-stress & have a mental break, shifting her focus to this Printmaking Workshop!

Great customer service and clean safe library . I enjoy the printing and copying services…read moreavailable to the community.

Lovely place. Very quiet for the most part. Staff is very friendly. Super clean place. Free wifi…read moreand bathrooms. A small, quiet paradise away from home.

Nice clean and small is how u describe this place ... They have like 10 computers for public use a…read moresmall section for the kids and sitting areas for kids and adults... There's even a chess board inside for fun play!!! Book selection is pretty nice as well...

I love this library to an extent. I remember my lower division years studying in the 2nd floor west…read morewing which has an unspoken rule to be quiet or at the very least bring headphones if you want to study. There is a bathroom on this floor as well so you don't have to go to the one down stairs. In the lobby they would sometimes have a random 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle for anyone to come and work on it along with a whiteboard with a question of the day. I would always look at it to see the random questions. If you want to use a computer room, I would recommend the one downstairs in the basement level. They also have a computer to go and load money to print stuff (black and white). Usually there is always a spot to do some computer work. But if you wish to study with a group, I reccomend calling the library at 8am to reserve a study room. depending on what room you get, you can also request for chalk and whiteboard markers (just be sure to bring your ID and the name of the person you are studying with because the minimum is 2 people) you can also study in the south wing of the first floor, that place is really loud and perfect for anyone who wants to chat or study in a group. There are some downsides to this library. The first is that the wi-fi is spotty, sometimes I don't have wi-fi on my laptop or enough to watch a tutorial. The second is the lack out outlets to plug and charge a phone or a laptop, (unless you were lucky enough to get a study room) and the last is the lack of biology books. I had to do research project and I thought I could check them out from here, but the selection is limited and did not have the books I want. So, I resorted to do an interlibrary loan which allows you to request books from other universities across the intercontinental US. You just have to fill out a form, wait 2-3 weeks and then return them on or before the due date. I wouldn't recommend this route if you are doing a last minute project, you are better off looking at a university library. This library was a really good library, but I feel it needs to be updated. I do miss napping in the library after final exams. I remember once I took a 3 hour nap and no one stole my stuff. It was a wonderful nap

I LOVE this library. I used to think this place was a little dingy, and it is a tad, but I don't…read moremind it as much. The air conditioning is on point and so is the wifi. I'm a student here and from now on will come here to study. Wifi is fantastic.

I wish they would be open on Saturday! It's an amazing library with an incredible staffread more

My appreciation has grown over the years for this library. At first glance inside, the place may…read moreseem small but there are different wings and rooms that can be explored. Their help desk is quite large and can be very helpful on the first day of the semester with hundreds of students getting their I.D stickers or having questions. They have three or four wings that have plenty of tables with chairs and electrical outlets! They even have rooms with white boards for group studying that does not bother the rest of the library! Their book reserve provides a fairly large selection of books, which is a money saver! They copy machine room is located right by the book reserve which is convenient, however it can get very crowded! The computer lab is located in the basement and it is top notch! There is the main room with the help desk which can be full depending on the time of day. However, they have two other rooms with computers that they open up, just in case the main room is all fully occupied. They individually have students log-in to each computer that avoids lines at the door. My favorite portion of the library has to be the mini museum display that they change up every month or so. They usually do a DC Universe display in the beginning of Fall semester and it is great! They have posters, books, action figures! They even have episodes of The Justice League animated series playing in the lobby! Whatever the showcase is for that month, they provide art, actual displays, and interesting information! I've taken classes in the other campus in Compton and seeing their library, I will not take this library for granted!