1836 E. Third St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 570-1037

Map Library Hours Library Holiday Hours

Directions

• The Alamitos Branch Library is located at 1836 E. Third Street, between Walnut Avenue and Cherry Avenue on the south side of Third Street. Street parking only.
• Nearby libraries: Main Library and Mark Twain Branch.
• Long Beach Transit Bus Routes: 21, 22, and 23.

History
In 1895 a group of women formed the Alamitos Library Association. Jotham Bixby Sr. donated this land in 1897 and funds were raised to construct the first library building. In 1909 the City of Long Beach annexed this area. In 1920 the Alamitos Library Association deeded this property to the City with the understanding that the City would maintain the library. By 1928 the building had become inadequate and the collection was moved to a rented building while the current library was constructed. This building, a replica of a castle in Spain, with beautiful wrought iron railings, decorated beams, and a patio with an art tile fountain, opened in January 1929. On March 10, 1933, a major earthquake damaged the building. At first, service was resumed in the yard. In 1936 the building was closed for repairs. It reopened again in 1938. In 1997, the Alamitos Branch Library celebrated 100 years of service to the community. The Alamitos Neighborhood Library is named after the community it serves, Alamitos Heights.

City Council Representative
Long Beach City Council 2^nd District, Suja Lowenthal

Collections

• Children: fiction and nonfiction, beginning readers, picture books, fairy tales, concept books, board books, graphic novels, magazines, Spanish language materials, DVDs, CDs, and audio books
• Young Adult: fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and magazines
• Adult: popular fiction, periodicals and newspapers, Spanish-language materials, extensive large print materials, DVDs, CDs, audio books, and playaways

Programs

• Every summer Alamitos offers a Summer Reading Program for preschool children to teens. The Summer Reading Program includes library visits, reading incentives, special programs, and reading games.
• Alamitos offers Preschool Storytime, ages 3-5. Contact Alamitos library for specific dates and times.
• Groups are encouraged to call and schedule an appointment with the children's librarian to bring their group to the library. A literacy-based program will be provided.
• Internet instruction is offered to adults on Friday afternoons by appointment.

Facilities

• The Alamitos library is an historic neighborhood library. The community meeting room, available on a rental basis, is on the second floor and has a room capacity of 90. Access to the second floor is by stairway only.
• Two outdoor bookdrops located near the front entrance are open when the library is closed.

Equipment

• This neighborhood library offers computers with Internet access, the library catalog, a community resource file, and various online reference resources. A library card number is needed to access the Internet. Access is on a first come basis and is limited to 45 minutes per day. Printing cost is $.15 per page.
• Each Family Learning Center has English-As-A-Second-Language (ESL) software available for public use. Parents and students wishing to improve their English language skills are encouraged to come in and use the software.
• A photocopy machine makes black and white copies for $.15 per page.