“Book to Action” with author Brianna Karp Join us June 15, 2-4pm in the Main Library Auditorium for the first event in Long Beach Public Library's "Homeless to Hope," a community “Book to Action” program with Brianna Karp, author of The Girl’s Guide to Homelessness. More...

Friendly Dogs Need Readers @ Bay Shore Reading aloud to dogs builds reading skills and confidence in kids. Come meet the B.A.R.K. certified therapy dogs at the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library on Saturday, June 1 from 11:00AM-12:30PM. Check out this dog-approved reading list for books to enjoy together. More...

Writers Club Welcomes Hector Tobar Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Hector Tobar speaks at the next meeting of the California Writers Club of Long Beach on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 3:00-5:00pm at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library. More...

Enhancements to ICPD The Main Library's Information Center for People with Disabilities is being remodeled to improve access and increase the Center's visibility. The computers with assistive software will not be available during this time. More...

Film Event for Families with Autism Families are invited to a showing of our first sensory movie at the Main Library in Youth Services on Saturday May 11, at 11:00a.m. Join us as Ralph tries to find a place in the gaming world where he is no longer the bad guy. The lights will be left on and attendees may come and go. Outside snacks for dietary needs are allowed.    The movie is rated PG, 100 minutes long. More...

Elmo at Los Altos and Main Libraries Join us for a special storytime featuring Sesame Street's Elmo at Los Altos & Main Library on Friday, May 3 at 10:30AM and 1:00PM respectively. All 12 libraries will be raffling a family pass for 4 to the production Sesame Street Live "Can't Stop Singing". More...

All Long Beach Libraries Now Offering Wi-Fi Now, at a library near you, enjoy reading emails, surfing the web, sharing on social media sites, downloading free ebooks and audiobooks, downloading free music, and more, all without a time limit.  More...

Communities Matter @ Your Library Celebrate National Library Month this April at your neighborhood library. This year's theme is Communities Matter, and we are offering a host of programs to highlight this. Libraries are the heart of their communities, trusted places where everyone in the community can gather to reconnect and reengage with each other to enrich and shape the community and address local issues. Stop by a Long Beach Public Library this April to join our celebration! More...

Go, Dog. Go! Featuring Clifford! As Long Beach Reads One Book in March, join the Library for special storytimes featuring the classic Go, Dog. Go! and a visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Storytimes will be held Thursday, March 14 at 3:00 PM at Burnett Library with special guest reader Mayor Bob Foster, Friday, March 15 at 3:00 PM at Mark Twain Library, and Saturday, March 16 at 11:00 AM at Main Library with special guest reader Councilmember Suja Lowenthal. More...

Author/Musician Jack Grisham @ Main Library Long Beach native and local music legend, Jack Grisham, will speak in the Main Library auditorium about his memoir, "An American Demon" as well as his upcoming book, "Untamed," on Saturday, March 9 at 2PM. More...

Long Beach Reads One Book Join us for an evening with Garth Stein, author of "The Art of Racing in the Rain," on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00PM at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Reserve your tickets by calling (562) 985-7000 or click here. In addition, check out the special events happening March 9 - 23 at Long Beach Public Libraries and other venues throughout the city! More...

Journalist David C. Henley at Main Library Author David C. Henley will speak in the Main Library auditorium about his fascinating book, "From Moscow to Beirut: the Adventures of a Foreign Correspondent," on Saturday February 23 at 2:00PM. This memoir chronicles the progression of Mr. Henley's career as a journalist and foreign correspondent. More...

Celebrate African American Heritage Month Long Beach Public Library and MusicUNTOLD  present a screening of the 1948 classic Mexican film "Angelitos Negros" on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 6:00PM in the Main Library auditorium, starring popular Mexican actor Pedro Infante. A conversation about the film and a live performance by soprano Hope Foye immediately follow. More...

Tax Information Visit the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board for Federal & State tax forms, filing information, and tax help.  Also, check with your local Long Beach Library to see what forms are available. Libraries carry only commonly used forms and publications including 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ federal forms and 540EZ, 540/540A state forms. More...

Presidents' Day Holiday We will be closed Saturday, February 16th for the Presidents' Day holiday. Manage your account anytime online or through our LBPL mobile app. Plus, you can download eBooks, audiobooks, and music to your computer or smartphone, even when we're closed!

Children’s author Feb. 13 at Main Library Discover your unique talent with the help of Shrimpee the Shrimp and author of his story, Marika C. Boehler on Wednesday, February 13 at 4:00PM in the Story Theater at Main Library. More...

Libraries Closed Saturday, January 19 All Long Beach Public Library locations will be closed Saturday, January 19, 2013 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Learn more about his life with our public library books, eBooks, DVDs and CDs.

Now Hiring Long Beach Public Library is currently recruiting for two (2) Department Librarian positions.  The Youth Services position at Main Library oversees collection development, youth services and programs. The second position in Automated Services oversees technical and online services. The deadline has been extended to 4:00PM on January 25, 2013.  All interested parties please apply online.

Holiday Hours All Long Beach Public Library locations will be closed Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Download materials and manage your account, online or in the LBPL Mobile app, even when we're closed.

Internet Transition Almost Complete Our system upgrade is almost complete. Some online services remain unavailable, including access to your online library account via our LBPL Mobile App. You can access your library account online here. Thank you for your patience as we complete our upgrade. More...

Thanksgiving Holiday All Long Beach Public Library locations are closed Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23. Our digital library is open 24/7 for last minute downloads. We wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

The Polar Express Pulls Into the Library All aboard for a holiday adventure! Kids, join us Saturday, December 8 at the El Dorado Library. Wear your pajamas and enjoy an afternoon with Santa and the conductor of the More...

Community Food Drive The 5th Annual Long Beach Community Food Drive hosted by Mayor Bob Foster, Food Finders, Friends of Long Beach Animals and We Love Long Beach returns to the Library. Drop your donations of canned and packaged food for people and pets in the blue bins at More...

15th Anniversary Celebration Come celebrate the 15th anniversary of the African American Heritage Society of Long Beach. The event will include a special memorial tribute to Indira Hale Tucker and Emma Henderson. Join us Saturday, October 27, 1:00PM at the Burnett Neighborhood Library. Refreshments will be served. More...

Now Hiring Part-Time Library Assistants We're looking for Part-Time Library Assistants for our Neighborhood Libraries. If you enjoy interacting with people of all ages, possess strong computer skills, and have a passion for libraries, we invite you to apply. Read the full job description, download More...

Finding Kind Movie Event The Junior League of Long Beach and the Library present Finding Kind, a movie about growing up as a girl, bullying, and finding respect. Join us Saturday, October 20 at 10:00AM in the Main Library Auditorium. The event is FREE. Girls ages 12-16 may attend. One parent or guardian may join each girl. RSVP by October 19 to: community@jllb.org. More...

Star in Your Own Poster Teens, do you love to read? Do you have a favorite book? Celebrate Teen Read Week by visiting one of the six libraries listed below to pose for a personalized Read poster. We'll email a digital copy for you to keep. Tag your photo on Twitter or Instagram with #TRW12. You can be a star Saturday, October 20 at Main, Burnett, El Dorado, Bret Harte, Mark Twain, and North Libraries.  More...

Madame Butterfly Presentation The El Dorado Neighborhood Library hosts LA Opera Community Educator, Edward Lieb, for an illustrated talk on Puccini's tragic opera, Madame Butterfly, a tale of a young Japanese geisha awaiting the return of her American naval officer husband, not suspecting that he married again in his own country. Join us Saturday, October 13 at 2:00PM for this free More...

Join the In-N-Out Cover to Cover Club Kids ages 4-12, you're invited to join the In-N-Out Cover to Cover Club. Read 5 books and get a coupon for a free hamburger, cheeseburger, or grilled cheese. The club runs Saturday, October 6 to Saturday More...

Main Library Hours to Change Main Library hours will change, effective Tuesday, October 23. Main Library will open at 12:00PM instead of 10:00AM Tuesday through Thursday. Main Library will also remain open until 7:00PM on Thursday evenings. The new hours for Main Library More...

Manzanar Fishing Club Film Event As part of the Searching for Democracy Film Festival, the Library presents The Manzanar Fishing Club, a feature-length documentary that chronicles the Japanese-American internment during World War II from a different perspective. Join us Saturday, October 13 at 2:00PM in the Main Library More...

Understanding CIPA Everyone is invited to attend Understanding CIPA, a discussion of Internet Safety at the Library and the Children's Internet Protection Act. A short presentation will be given followed by a question and answer period. This free event is Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 6:00pm at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library. More...

Bestselling Author to Speak at Main The Friends of the Long Beach Public Library present author Tatjana Soli on Saturday, October 6, at 1:00PM in the Main Library Auditorium. Soli's bestselling debut novel, The Lotus Eaters, was a winner of the James Tait Black Prize, a NY Times Notable Book, and finalist for the LA Times Book Award. She will discuss and sign her latest novel, The Forgetting Tree. More...

Discover Opera at El Dorado Library No woman is safe from his advances! No man is safe from his dastardly schemes! Don Giovanni, considered by many to be the greatest opera ever written, is at the LA Opera September 22 - October 14. Can't make it to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion? Join LA Opera Community Educator, Bob Bernard, Saturday, September 29, at 2:00PM at El Dorado Library for a lively discussion and More...

Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War Join us for a reading and discussion program on Saturday, September 22 at 11AM in the Main Library Auditorium. The library is hosting this program, sponsored by the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities, to encourage participants to consider the legacy of the Civil War and emancipation. More...

Do you Brake for Book Sales? We're hosting a special 4-day book sale at El Dorado Neighborhood Library. Discover great deals on books and media and support the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library. Dates and times below.   More...

New eBooks and eAudiobooks From crafts and cookbooks to teen fiction and bestsellers, the newest eBooks and eAudiobooks are flying off the eBookshelf in OverDrive. Read or listen for free on a computer, eReader, or smartphone. More...

Hispanic Heritage Short Film Event Join us to watch and discuss two award-winning short films. The first film, The Purepécha: Poorest of the Poor, documents Long Beach fifth-grader Stephanie Maldonado's summer spent exploring the culture and living conditions of the Purépecha Indians in the Coachella Valley.  The second film, Tanto Tiempo: So Much More...

Do you have the Smartest Card? Kids, add a library card to your list of back-to-school supplies. Visit the library and read at home to boost your confidence and skills. Adults, has it been a while since you've been in? Explore our free eBooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Get a card @ your library. More...

Books by our Bedside Sneak a peek at what LBPL staff are reading or listening to now. Check out the eclectic mix of fiction, nonfiction, old and new. We hope you discover something to add to your reading wish list. More...

Asthma Clinic on Wheels The UCLA Breathmobile, an asthma clinic on wheels, is coming to a library near you. Parents and kids, join us to learn about living with asthma, allergies, and more. More...

Self-Publishing Workshop On Saturday August 11, The California Writers Club of Long Beach will welcome author Manny Pacheco to their monthly meeting at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library. Mr. Pacheco is the author of Forgotten Hollywood More...

Summer Reading Club Survey Did you participate in our Summer Reading Club this year? Your feedback is important to us. Take this short online survey and help us improve our Summer Reading Club for all ages. More...

Khmer Language Class Join our free Khmer/Cambodian language class, taught by Long Beach Neighborhood Services. Held every Saturday, 10:00 - 11:30AM in the Mark Twain Library More...

Author Speaks at Main Library Long Beach Public Library, MusicUntold and Cal Humanities present author Stephanie McCurry on Saturday, August 4 at 12:00PM in the Main Library Auditorium. Confederate Reckoning explores the political battle in which women and slaves helped to decide the fate of the Confederacy, and ultimately, the outcome of the Civil War. More...

Farewell to Manzanar Author in LB The Long Beach Public Library and Cal Humanities present author Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston on Saturday, July 7 at 1:00PM in the Main Library Auditorium. Houston was seven years old in 1942 when her family was uprooted from their Long Beach home and fishing business and relocated to the Manzanar Internment Camp. More...

Summer Reading Club Our Summer Reading Club runs June 16 - August 11. You'll find something for everyone, from babies to seniors, online and in the library. Dream Big, Read! Watch our YouTube video to see how.  More...

Books24x7 Have you ever wished that the library carried the latest technical books? Now, we do! Books24x7 is an on-demand, unlimited use, searchable, web-based collection. Databases, programming, software, and much more are covered in the IT & Technical Collection. More...

Help Homeless Youth in Long Beach We're teaming up with Love in the Mirror to collect personal hygiene items for local homeless youth.  The kick-off event is Saturday, June 2 at 2:00PM at the Dana Library. Please bring a toiletry item and stay for stories, games, and refreshments. More...

New Look and Features Our Digital Archive upgrade is complete. You'll find a cleaner look and new features, like slideshows. Have fun browsing or searching our digital images, yearbooks, and city directories. Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, or RSS for the latest from the Digital Archive. More...

Ask Us by Chat Are you dumbfounded by our databases or confused by our catalog? Now you can get your quick questions answered by CHAT! Click the green Ask Us button on the right. Don't have a question but want to share a comment for the library? We'd love that, too. A Librarian is available Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM by instant message (IM) or text. More...

What's New @ LBPL Want to stay up to date on all the latest happenings, upcoming events and exciting new services at the library? Subscribe to What's New @ Long Beach Public Library, our new email newsletter, and you won't miss More...

Memorial Day Holiday All Long Beach Public Libraries will be closed Saturday, May 26 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. See this image and many more of local servicemen and women in our Digital Archive. Our library catalog, downloads, and databases are always available. Libraries open again Tuesday, May 29, 2012. More...

Pardon our Digital Dust We're hard at work upgrading our Digital Archive. Please excuse any digital dust or temporary service interruptions between now and Wednesday, May 16. We'll let you know when the new and improved service is live. We think you'll enjoy the new features! More...

You're Invited The Friends of the Long Beach Public Library invite you to their Annual Meeting & Literary Luncheon on Saturday, May 19 at 11:30AM. Long Beach Historian, Claudine Burnett, will share stories from her latest book, Soaring Skyward. Enjoy lunch at the Reef on the Water and learn how you can become an active member of the Friends. ( Reservation Information ) More...

Free Emergency Prep Class For the first 72 hours after a major disaster, are you prepared to be on your own? A free 3-hour class will introduce you to Emergency Preparedness in an informative and fun forum. Saturday, May 12, 10:00AM - 1:00PM, Main Library Auditorium.  More...

New Art on Display We're pleased to showcase local artist David McKeag's work through the end of June. Come see McKeag's amazing range of media and styles, from realistic to surreal. View the art More...

Calling all Young Cyclists Join us for a Bike Safety Rodeo on Saturday, May 12, 12:00 - 3:00PM, at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library. Learn how to ride safely, keep an eye on traffic, and do quick stops and turns. Bike Rodeo staff will More...

Poem in Your Pocket Day Stop by the Dana Neighborhood Library April 17 - 26 to pick up a poem for your pocket. Carry it with you and share with co-workers, family, and friends on Poem in Your Pocket Day, Thursday, April 26. Can't make it to the library? Download the Poem Flow app from More...

Mango Makes Language Learning Fun Learn a new language with Mango Languages. Your LBPL card gives you free access to more than 35 language courses, plus ESL. Learn online or on the go with the Mango Languages app, now for Android and iOS. More...

Check In to Win Check in at any Long Beach Public Library on Foursquare or Yelp to show how You Belong @ Your Library. Lucky random winners will receive a goodie bag. Check in as many times as you'd like during April. Winners announced May 1. More...

You Belong @ Your Library Whether you are seeking information on a new career, starting a business or looking for activities for children, You Belong @ Your Long Beach Public Library. During the month of April, you are invited to join us in celebrating National Library Month. More...

Freegal Music App Now you can download directly to your mobile device! Freegal provides free and legal music downloads for Long Beach Public Library card holders. Visit our Downloads page to get started on your computer or download the free app for iOS or Android. More...

An Evening with Author Isabel Allende The Long Beach Public Library Foundation and the Long Beach Public Library are honored to present award-winning author, Isabel Allende. Ms. Allende will appear at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 22 at 7:00PM. Her novel, Zorro, was chosen for 2012 Long Beach Reads One Book. More...

Be Prepared for Tax Time Visit the IRS for federal forms, filing, free tax tools, and help. Visit the CA Franchise Tax Board for state forms, filing, and free chat help. Libraries carry only commonly used forms and More...

Lisa See to Speak at the Main Library Lisa See, internationally acclaimed best-selling author of Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy, is the featured speaker for the 2012 Blanche Collins Forum on Saturday, February 11 at 1:30 PM at the Main Library Auditorium. More...

Digital Bookmobile Rolls into Long Beach February 11 The Digital Bookmobile is coming to Long Beach! Find us at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk on Saturday, February 11 from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Readers of all ages will learn how to download free eBooks and audiobooks from the library. More...

Get Healthy in 2012 Use your library card to get healthy in 2012! From professional health journals to consumer health videos, our Health & Wellness online resources can help you access reliable, user-friendly research that puts you on the right track for the new year. More...

Kids Love BookFlix and TumbleBooks Looking for fun, educational, interactive books and games just for kids? Check out BookFlix and TumbleBooks! Your library card gives you free access to these kid-friendly resources online. Learn more about these services, including new TumbleBooks for iPad. More...

At-Risk Youth Advocate, Father Greg, to Speak at the Main Library Father Gregory Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, will present Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion as part of the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library Blanche Collins Forum on Saturday, December 10th, at 2:00 p.m. The doors of the Main Library Auditorium will open at 1:30 p.m. This event is FREE and open to the public. More...

LBPL Mobile App Our mobile app makes it easy to search the library's collections, manage your account, and discover new materials. The LBPL Mobile app is free and compatible with most smartphones. Download it now for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and more. More...

Wii Wednesdays for Grades 6-12 Join us for the new Nintendo Wii Wednesdays! Bring your friends to enjoy a variety of Wii games and a little competition. Find Wii Wednesdays every week, from 3pm-5pm, behind the purple wall in the Teen Space at the Main Library. More...

Business & Market Research We've just added access to a new online resource. AtoZdatabases can help you quickly generate sales leads and mailing lists, research business profiles, prepare for a job interview, and much more. All online resources are free to LBPL cardholders and accessible 24/7. More...

In-N-Out Cover to Cover Club for Kids Stop by your local library to sign up for the In-N-Out Cover to Cover Reading Club. Read five books and get a coupon for a free hamburger, cheeseburger, or grilled cheese. All kids ages 4-12 are eligible to participate. Program runs More...

Check Out eBooks with Your Kindle! The long awaited partnership of the library's OverDrive free eBook service and Amazon's Kindle eReader is here!  You can now check out and download eBooks to your Kindle or Kindle app, using your Long Beach Public Library library card and Amazon account. More...

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read Each year, Banned Books Week (September 24 through October 1, 2011) is celebrated by the American Library Association and libraries around the country.  It is their mission to raise awareness of the ongoing attempts by individuals or groups to ban or challenge books in our schools and public libraries. More...

Celebrating 100 Years of Flight Long Beach Public Library announces its “We Can Soar” aviation reading list for youth and adults as part of our city’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first transcontinental flight. To commemorate this history making flight, events will be hosted across the city.  View our “We Can Soar” reading list for great book recommendations and check out the event calendar to find a celebration near you! More...

Summer Reading @ the library Are you ready to explore new destinations, faraway places, and stories from around the world?  Readers of all ages are invited to join the Summer Reading Program at their Long Beach neighborhood library!    Read a new book about strange worlds and exotic places, or reread a favorite novel. Search our catalog or download an eBook or eAudiobook to begin your journey. More...

Calling All Artists, Photographers, and Collectors! Long Beach Public Library is preparing for their annual selection of exhibits and displays for the Main Library. To be eligible you must either: live in Long Beach, work in Long Beach, or belong to a Long Beach artists' association. More...

Long Beach Reads One Book! Join us in the city's annual celebration of Long Beach Reads One Book, March 24, 2011 to April 10, 2011.  This year’s selection is Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, edited by Dave Isay.  Request a library copy of the book, book on CD, or downloadable audio today. ( Activities Around the City (PDF/Printable Version) ) More...

Celebrate National Library Month! Create Your Own Story at the Long Beach Public Library Libraries are places for new beginnings.  Whether you are getting your first library card, learning new computer skills or planning a trip, the library is the place where your story begins. During the month of April, you are invited to join our nation's libraries and librarians in celebrating National Library Month.  ( National Library Month Calendar of Events (PDF) ) More...

Long Beach History Digital Archive Watch the Long Beach History Collection go digital. Search by keyword or browse our collections online in the LBPL Digital Archive or right inside our power search tool, Encore. Discover photos, Long Beach city directories and Long Beach high school yearbooks. And we're just getting started. More...