All LA County Library locations will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 and Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in observance of Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Libraries will close at 5 pm on December 24 and December 31. Our digital library is open 24/7.
The Chicano Resource Center (CRC) was established in 1976 to serve the information needs of the Mexican-American (Chicano) community and to make information about the history and culture of this group available to the general public.
Subjects covered by this multimedia collection include; immigration, the Chicano Movement, mural art, biographies, folklore and the history of Mexico. Many of the materials are available for checkout.
Upcoming Programs
What is in the Chicano Collection?
The collection is comprised of books, journals, online databases, subject notebooks, videos, audio CDs, and microforms. Highlights include:
Microfilm of Southwestern periodicals and newspapers from as early as the 1600’s.
Periodicals from the Chicano Movement including La Raza, Con Safos, and Aztlan.
Subject Notebooks with articles covering the major events in the Chicano Movement.
Pamphlet files on over 750 subjects with topics that cover Chicano Movement events, Latino leaders, and East Los Angeles history.
The Chicano community is made up of vibrant voices and diverse experiences, all which come alive through literature. LA County Library’s Chicano Resource Center has curated a selection of books offering insightful perspectives on identity, heritage, and the rich culture of the Chicano experience. Whether you’re seeking to deepen your understanding or simply explore the multifaceted aspects of Chicano culture, our booklist offers a diverse array of materials for all ages, all of which are available at the Library.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15. For more information please visit our Hispanic Heritage Month page.
Chicano Resources
National Resources
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC):
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. Its mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health, and civil rights of the Hispanic population in the United States.
Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF)
MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. They advocate for Latinx education, employment, voting and immigrant’s rights. Beyond thisA advocacy, they also offer scholarships and feature a scholarship resource guide available on their website.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is a non-profit organization that aims to empower Hispanic families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete higher education. Founded in 1975, it has since become one of the leading scholarship providers for Hispanic students in the United States. Their website offers resources on college prep., finding the right college and a scholarship locator.
National Museum of the American Latino:
The National Museum of the American Latino is part of the Smithsonian group of museums. While their physical space is not yet complete, their website is a great resource with virtual exhibitions, teaching resources, and a Latino history and culture section.
Local Resources
Cesar Chavez Foundation
A great resource for all things Cesar Chavez; here you will find history, speeches, photos and more.
Calo News
News and events for the Los Angeles County area Latino community. Includes; entertainment, music, community and cultural events.no community. Includes; entertainment, music, community and cultural events.
Mexico Connect
This site provides thousands of articles and photos on Mexican travel, history, arts and culture.
Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles
The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles maintains a database of Los Angeles’ Mural History linking artists, murals and neighborhoods. Photos, descriptions and locations are all included.
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
The mission of CARECEN is to empower Central Americans by defending human and civil rights, as well as working for social and economic justice and promoting cultural diversity. They offer immigration legal services, citizenship classes, a day labor center and many more programs to help immigrant families succeed.
Self Help Graphics
Self Help Graphics & Art is a nonprofit visual arts center based on the east side of Los Angeles. Founded in 1970, Self Help has played a significant role in the Chicano arts movement. They focus on empowering and promoting the work of Latino and Chicano artists, particularly in the field of printmaking. They are involved in community outreach programs, art education initiatives, and events that celebrate and explore Latino and Chicano culture.
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF)
The MAOF’s stated mission it to provide for the socio-economic betterment of the greater Latino community of California, while preserving the pride, values, and heritage of the Mexican American culture.” MAOF’s services and programs include early childhood education, workforce development, health and human services, senior programs, and family services. Their services are not limited to Mexican Americans.
Many of our libraries offer enhanced resources, computers, and online services to support your homework needs. Check with your local library!
Kindle Paperwhite eReader
Welcome to a New Way to Read...
Have you walked into a library and wished you could check out more books than you could possibly carry? Check out a Kindle Paperwhite at participating libraries with a collection of titles that you are sure to enjoy. Each Kindle has been loaded with expert-selected books.
You don’t need internet access - all the books are pre-loaded onto the Kindle so you are ready to read.
Three week checkout
Renew up to 3 times, as long as no one else is waiting
Must be 18 or older (or under 18 with parent permission)
eBooks cannot be added to this device by user
How do I get one?
Visit a participating library to check out or place a hold on a Kindle Paperwhite. Kindles are not sent to other libraries for pick up.
Note: Selection of genres varies per library. Click on a library below to see the list of genres.
Library Locations with eReaders
Click on the library to view list of genres available.
Terms of Service and Laptop Library Locations
Laptops in this kiosk can be checked out by customers with a LA County Library card in good standing. The laptop is due back in the kiosk before the library closes on the same day it is checked out.
If you do not return the laptop to the kiosk on the same day you check it out, your library account will be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop.
When you check out a laptop from this kiosk, you agree to use it within the library only. If you remove the laptop from the library, you may held criminally responsible for theft of the laptop and/or be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop.
You are responsible for the laptop and you agree that you will reimburse the LA County Library for any damages if the laptop is damaged, lost or stolen while checked out to you.
If you check out a laptop and it is damaged, you will give it to library staff immediately.
You must save to a removable storage device (such as a USB drive) since your work will not be saved to the laptop beyond your current checkout.
LA County Library will not be held responsible for any damage or loss of data or media due to any cause while you are using a laptop from this kiosk.
By using this laptop, you must adhere to the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy. Laptops are available at the following libraries:
With your LA County Library card, you can download or stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, music, and movies on your computer, tablet, or phone. It's free and you'll never have to worry about overdue fines!
You'll need a library card in good standing and a PIN to access most downloadable & streaming content.
Consumer Health Information Program
The Consumer Health Information Program assists the public with medical research by providing information from reliable sources. Customers are invited to use the Norwalk Library collection which consists of books, magazines, videos, and online databases related to health topics. We also provide individualized research services.
Please be aware, we do not provide medical advice, nor are the materials we provide a substitute for a professional medical opinion.
What Can We Do for You?
We can provide you with information on topics such as:
Medical conditions or diseases
Prescription medications
Surgical procedures
General physician and hospital information
Book and website recommendations for further reading
A Family Place Library is a center for early childhood information, parent education, emergent literacy, socialization, and family support. Family Place builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children's growth and development. Each Family Place Library features the following core elements:
A bright, colorful, and welcoming space for young children and their parents.
A collection of books, toys, videos, music, and other materials for babies, toddlers, parents, and service providers
Access to resources that emphasize emergent literacy, reading readiness, and parent education.
Developmentally appropriate programming, such as baby and toddler storytimes for younger children and their parents.
Outreach to new and underserved populations.
The Parent-Child Workshop is a five-week workshop featuring local professionals, such as nutritionists, speech and language therapists, and child development experts, who serve as resources for parents.
The first three years of a child's life lay the foundation for learning. Get the tools and resources you need to give your child the best possible start.
Great! Thank you for sharing your photos with Catalina PhotoShare, a community history project of LA County Library.
Your photos will be reviewed and if they meet the criteria, they will be added to the Catalina PhotoShare online collection.
If you have any questions, please contact: digitalprojects@library.lacounty.gov
LA County Library Californiana Collection
Accessing the Collection
The Californiana Collection is in closed stacks at the Norwalk Library located at 12350 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650.
About the Collection
The Californiana Collection consists of over 24,000 books and over 200 magazine and newspaper titles in paper and on microfilm as well as a collection of state documents including state and county budgets. The goal of this collection is to present a complete picture of the history, culture, environment and artistic expression of the people of California and to some extent, the western United States.
Collection Highlights
California Census Schedules from 1850 to 1910
Copies of The Alta California newspaper 1849-1891, as well as dozens of other 19th century newspapers from Gold Rush boomtowns, the Owens Valley and San Francisco
Official city and county histories from the 19th and 20th centuries
Materials on the Donner Party, California water projects, famous California crimes, Hollywood culture, biographies of Californians, pioneer narratives of the early days of California, and histories of the state written over the course of 150 years
