A New Year Message
A message from County Librarian and Director Dr. Skye Patrick
As a new year begins, we ask ourselves an essential question: who do we do this for?
For our library system, we do this for our neighbors who are seeking belonging. For the unheard voices and for every person that walks into a library wanting to be seen, valued, and free to learn and explore.
We also do this for communities navigating difficult times. Amid devastation, uncertainty, and division, we have made it our mission to remain constant by showing up for our customers when it matters most. We have stood beside our neighbors as a source for stability, security, and sanctuary; offering a place where hope can take root even in the most challenging circumstances.
For decades, LA County Library has upheld its commitment to fostering a welcoming space for customers, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they believe in.
We are continuing to cultivate a vibrant community of readers, learners, writers, creators, and everyday people who rely on the Library’s essential resources to thrive in their personal, educational, and professional lives. More than buildings filled with books, our libraries are welcoming spaces for growth where ideas flourish, creativity is nurtured, and barriers give way to opportunity.
The past year featured many highlights including:
Supporting Our Neighbors in Times of Crisis
As the Eaton and Palisades Fires displaced families, disrupted daily life, and strained essential resources across Los Angeles County, we stepped forward with compassion, agility, and an unwavering commitment to public service.
LA County Library providing assistance to wildfire victims
We mobilized Disaster Service Worker staff to support the County’s emergency response and welcomed displaced individuals and families into safe, reliable spaces where they could access the Internet, public-use laptops and computers, books, information, water, electricity, climate-controlled environments, and enriching programming—resources that helped restore stability in moments of profound disruption.
In partnership with FEMA, our library locations at La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Live Oak, San Fernando, West Hollywood, Temple City, and San Gabriel became essential hubs for recovery, offering direct support to residents most affected by the wildfires. More than 1,250 community members received onsite assistance navigating federal and state forms and services, helping families take the critical first steps toward rebuilding their lives.
To meet our community’s practical needs in moments of extreme distress, we provide comfort wherever possible. We provided respite with air purifiers at our libraries and distributed more than 80,000 N95 masks provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. We gave away over 7,500 emergency first aid kits, more than 3,000 diapers and wipes from Baby2Baby, more than 1,000 activity kits for school-age children, and more than 1,640 books that were generously donated by Amazon. We met our community’s needs head on.
In collaboration with Altadena Libraries, we launched our Connected Wellness fundraising campaign to purchase additional portable hotspots, diapers, menstrual products, new books, and school supplies, strengthening our capacity to support families long after the immediate crisis.
Together, these efforts speak not only to our accomplishments, but to our identity as a library system that is rooted in service and community building, with books and more.
New Programs & Services with the Community in Mind
Music Stars instructor teaches student how to play the keyboard
Reading Stars instructors tutoring students
Family adopts puppy at Pet Adoption Clinic
Class of 2025 Career Online High School Graduate’s cap
Over the course of the year, we implemented a range of programs and services to meet customer needs and drive positive outcomes, including:
- Reading Stars, our reading tutoring program held Winter through Spring, facilitated more than 8,800 tutoring sessions with credentialed professionals across 31 libraries.
- Summer Stars, our math and reading tutoring program held during the summer months, held 7,633 tutoring sessions with credentialed professionals for students in grades 1-6 across 46 libraries.
- Music Stars, our music lesson program for kids ages 11-13, provided more than 300 kids lessons in acoustic guitar, drums, and keyboard. These instruments were also added to our Tool Lending Library for cardholders to borrow and enjoy.
- Library Engagement & Access Program, created in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, places Social Workers and Clinical Health Workers at 14 libraries to provide customers information, referrals to housing and shelter, access to health care services, self-care and wellness guidance, coping strategies for stress, mental health support, and connections to care. Since launching in June, the program has helped 1,971 unhoused individuals and 53 unhoused families and counting.
- Our Lunch at the Library program, which provides free lunches during the summer months when school is out of session to kids and teens under 18, provided 9,898 lunches this past summer.
- LA County Library X Laufey Book Club limited edition library card, which celebrates the power of storytelling, creativity, and connection in collaboration with Grammy-award winning artist Laufey.
- Housing for Health Mobile Clinics, offered in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, provides health care and vaccines to unhoused populations. From July through October, we hosted 10 mobile clinics across 6 of our libraries and served 57 individuals.
- Pet Adoption Clinics held at 6 libraries in partnership with LA County Animal Care & Control gave individuals and families an opportunity to meet with dogs and cats available for adoption. The clinics resulted in 9 animals being adopted into loving homes.
- Career Online High School, an online program that helps customers earn their high school diploma, welcomed 65 new graduates into its network of more than 850 alumni.
- Pocketalk Translators, available at 12 of our libraries, helps break language barriers by allowing customers and library staff to engage in translated conversations in more than 90 languages.
- LA Fixit Clinic allows customers to bring their broken or nonfunctioning electronic gadgets, appliances, computers, toys, sewing machines, fabric, and textile items for assessment, troubleshooting, and possible repair. Our first was held at Rosemead Library and welcomed 70 participants. We are planning to host an additional 10 events across our system in 2026!
Renewed Spaces and Expanded Access for Our Communities
Duarte Library’s Reopening Ceremony
Claremont Library’s Rededication Ceremony
Newly Redesigned East Bookmobile
This year, we proudly marked the reopening of the newly revitalized Duarte Library in Los Angeles County’s Fifth District. The transformed space now boasts new flooring, fresh paint, updated signage, enhanced technology, modern furnishings, and a thoughtfully reimagined layout— all of which create a dynamic environment for the community.
We also celebrated rededication of the Claremont Helen Renwick Library with a special ceremony in partnership with Los Angeles County’s Fifth District and the City of Claremont, honoring its continued service to residents.
In Los Angeles County’s First District, customers enthusiastically welcomed the debut of our new eco-friendly East Bookmobile, expanding access to books and resources at key stops across the district.
Connecting Communities through Stories, Ideas, and Experiences
Jacqueline Woodson, Justin Torres, and Dr. Skye Patrick at Next Chapter Writers’ Summit
Roy Choi at Manhattan Beach Library Speaker Series
Library Fest at La Puente Library
Throughout the year, LA County Library brought communities together through a robust lineup of engaging in-person and virtual programs designed to inspire creativity, learning, and connection.
A standout highlight was the Next Chapter Writers’ Summit, presented in partnership with the City of West Hollywood, which offered a full day of immersive programming for writers and readers alike. Featuring dynamic panel discussions, author talks, hands-on workshops, and one-on-one consultations with literary agents and editors, the summit welcomed more than 1,200 participants and has already resulted in at least one book deal with more in progress.
Literary programming continued with the Manhattan Beach Library Speaker Series, presented with the City of Manhattan Beach, which drew enthusiastic audiences for appearances by celebrated chef and author Roy Choi in the spring and bestselling author Nic Stone in the fall. Family engagement flourished through Library Fest, with vibrant events hosted at La Puente, Malibu, Lawndale, Clifton M. Brakensiek, Temple City, Lancaster, and Florence Libraries, collectively welcoming more than 3,720 attendees.
In partnership with the City of Malibu, the Malibu Library Speaker Series further enriched the cultural landscape with a compelling slate of speakers, including Amy Tan, Bill Weir, and other notable voices. Together, these programs reflect the Library’s commitment to offering diverse, high-quality experiences that connect residents to ideas, stories, and one another across the County.
Upholding the Freedom to Read
Reading remains a cornerstone of intellectual freedom and empowers young people to explore diverse perspectives, ideas, and lived experiences. In 2025, the Library continued to affirm its commitment to the Freedom to Read through impactful youth-centered initiatives, including the Library’s Teens Unite Symposium, which brought teens together to engage in meaningful conversations about censorship, access, and the importance of protecting intellectual freedom. We further expanded our Banned Books and Freedom to Read programming with a wide range of events, displays, and interactive activities across Library locations to encourage discourse and discovery.
On the Horizon for 2026
Customers can anticipate the return of beloved Library initiatives alongside exciting new expansions. We will relaunch our One Book program, expanding it beyond Los Angeles County to include library partners across the West Coast. The program will kick off in February and culminate with a special author talk on May 31, with more details about the featured book and author to be shared very soon.
Additionally, due to popular demand and the overwhelming number of requests from customers and attendees of the Next Chapter Writers’ Summit, we are pleased to announce the return of the Next Chapter Writers’ Summit in October 2026. The Summit will feature a wide range of sessions and consulting opportunities designed to inspire aspiring writers, readers, and book lovers alike, with more information to be shared in the coming months.
As we enter the new year, we proudly commit to fostering a vibrant community of readers, writers, learners, and explorers, inviting everyone to discover, connect, and empower themselves through our remarkable resources.
We look forward to welcoming you back to your libraries in the year ahead.
