Show Search

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t see your question here? Call any LA County Library location or email us.

LOCATIONS

HOW DO I GET A LIBRARY CARD?

To get a library card, fill out an application and bring it to any LA County Library location along with a valid form of ID. Applications are also available at every library. If your library card is lost or stolen, report it immediately. Replacement cards cost $3.00. If you aren’t able to visit one of our libraries in person, you can also sign up for a digital library card. For more information, visit our library cards page.

HOW DO I GET A PIN?

You can request a PIN online or by calling your local LA County Library location. You may also select “Forgot my PIN” when logging in to the catalog.

WHAT DOES THE MESSAGE “PRIVILEGE HAS EXPIRED” MEAN?

Your library card expires every 3 years. To reactivate your card, call your local LA County Library location and verify your address and phone number. The next time you check out library materials you will be asked to show a valid ID.

WHY DOES MY ACCOUNT SAY “USER BLOCKED / BARRED”?

An account that is blocked or barred may have fees, have 10 or more overdue items, or the address on the account may need to be verified. Contact your local LA County Library location to discuss your account.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE RETURNED AN ITEM AND MY RECORD SHOWS IT IS STILL CHECKED OUT TO ME?

Contact your local LA County Library location where you returned the item to discuss your account.

I RETURNED AN ITEM FROM ANOTHER LIBRARY SYSTEM TO AN LA COUNTY LIBRARY BY MISTAKE. WHAT DO I DO?

Contact the local LA County Library location where you returned the item to see if it is still there. If the library no longer has it, it was shipped to our Headquarters and will eventually be sent back to the owning library, which takes about 4 – 6 weeks.

HOW DO I CHANGE HOW I RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS?

You can sign up for email notices online. To sign up for notices by phone, please call your local LA County Library location. You may sign up for email notices by calling, as well. We no longer send print notices by mail.

CAN I PAY MY FEES ONLINE?

Yes. You can pay your fees with a credit card in our online catalog. At this time, you can only pay your entire balance. You must know your library card number and PIN. Log in to My Account and then click the Fines tab. A button will appear to Pay Bills. If you need to make partial payment, do not have a credit card, or don’t wish to pay online, you can also visit your local LA County Library location and pay by cash or check.

CAN I RESERVE A COMPUTER ONLINE?

Computer use is currently on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not available.

DO YOU HAVE WIRELESS INTERNET / WI-FI?

Yes, there is Wi-Fi at all LA County Library locations. To use a computer, customers need a library card and PIN.

CAN I CHANGE THE DEFAULT PICKUP LOCATION FOR MY HOLDS?

Yes. Log in to your account via our catalog, then select your Preferred Pickup Library in Preferences under your Personal Information, and click the Update button. You may also call your local LA County Library location for assistance.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY HOLD IS AVAILABLE TO PICK UP? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

You will receive a notice by phone or email when your hold is available. You can sign up for email notices online. To check the status of your holds, log into the online catalog and click on “My Account.” You can view and manage your holds by clicking on the “Holds” tab.

The time it takes for your hold to arrive varies depending on where the item is being shipped from and if there is a waiting list.

HOW DO I DOWNLOAD AN EBOOK OR AUDIOBOOK?

See our eBook or audiobook pages to get started and for information on supported devices.

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.

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:

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

How to Contact Us

Location: Norwalk Library

Phone: (562) 868-4003

Fax: (562) 868-4065

Email: chips@library.lacounty.gov

Online Resources

Health Databases *

Health & Fitness eBooks and Audiobooks *

Family Place

What is Family Place?

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.

Family Place Library Children playing music in Family Place Library

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
The Los Angeles Star newspaper 1851-1879
City directories dating from the 19th century
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