This is the website for LA County Library. We recognize the public’s concern about privacy on the internet. This privacy statement establishes how information gathered about you from your visit to our website will be used by this website’s operators.
The following describes how information may be collected depending on your activities at this website.
Information Subject to Public Records Laws and Other Legal Requirements
As an initial matter, please be advised that we are subject to the public records laws of the State of California (“California Public Records Act”) and that much of the information you submit to Los Angeles County is public information under these laws. Under some circumstances, we may be required to disclose such information in accordance with the California Public Records Act or other legal requirements.
If You Read or Download Information:
We may collect and store information for statistical purposes. For example, we may count the number of visitors to the different sections of our site to help us make them more useful. We may also use this information to monitor your compliance with the Terms of Use. The information collected may include such items as the name and domain of the host from which you access the internet, the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer you are using or your browser software and operating system. This information does not identify you personally.
By sending us an electronic message (e.g., through email, chat, text messaging, or an online form), you may be sending us personal information (i.e., your name, address, email address, etc.). We may store the name and address of the requester in order to respond to the request or otherwise resolve the subject matter of your email. Please note that electronic messages may not be transmitted securely.
If You Register with a County Department or Agency or Request other Specific Information:
Some County department or agency websites may ask visitors who request specific information to fill out a registration form. For example, vendors requesting access to Requests for Bids, Requests for Proposals or homeowners or businesses requesting Permits, may be asked to provide their names, addresses, email addresses and other pertinent information to ensure we can process and deliver the information requested. Other information may be collected at these sites through questionnaires, feedback forms, or other means, to enable us to determine a visitor’s interests, with the goal of providing better service. Please note that these methods also may not be transmitted securely.
If you use the Public Library Online Payment System:
A user must provide certain contact information, such as name and address, and financial information, such as a credit/debit card number and the expiration date, in order for you to pay the total amount of your library fines and fees using our website. Here is what you should know about the security of personal information you provide in order for us to process these transactions:
We are committed to data security and the data quality of personal information that is either available from or collected by our website. We have taken reasonable precautions to protect such information from disclosure, loss, misuse or alteration. We require that “secure data networks” be operated, which are protected by industry standard firewalls and password protection systems. We additionally require that only authorized individuals have access to the information provided by our users.
We require the use of Secure Socket Layer (“SSL”) standard transmission encryption to protect transmission of users’ personal information submitted in connection with credit/debit card transactions. SSL is a security technology designed to enable your browser to send and receive information with another server in an encrypted format. Your browser’s security icon, usually located in the top or bottom status bar of your browser’s window, reflects the security condition of the browser. The lock icon indicates that your browser is communication over a secure link.
We require that all the information you provide to us in this manner is stored securely.
Use of Personal Information
As described above, a user must provide certain contact information and financial information in order for you to pay the total amount of your library fines and fees using our website. We require that this information be used for the limited purpose of processing these transactions and as otherwise permitted by the rules and regulations of the applicable credit card associations, debit card networks, credit/debit card issuers and/or credit/debit card processors. We do not permit this information to be used for marketing purposes and we require that it be retained for at least five (5) years in accordance with banking and accounting requirements.
Privacy Regarding Registration and Circulation Records
All registration and circulation records of any library which is in whole or in part supported by public funds shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, local agency, or state agency except as follows:
By a person acting within the scope of his or her duties within the administration of the library
By a person authorized, in writing, by the individual to whom the records pertain, to inspect the records
By the order of the appropriate superior court
As used in this section, the term “registration records” includes any information which a library requires a patron to provide in order to become eligible to borrow books and other materials, and the term “circulation records” includes any information which identifies the patrons borrowing particular books and other material.
This section shall not apply to statistical reports of registration and circulation nor to records of fines collected by the library.
Please also visit our Terms of Use governing use of this website and our Terms of Payment governing use of this website to pay your library fines and fees using a credit/debit card.
We may add to, delete or change the terms of this privacy statement from time to time. This document will be updated to reflect such changes. By using our website, you consent to this privacy statement, as it is changed from time to time.
Sharing Personally Identifying Information with Third Parties
We do not share personal information with third parties, except that we will provide the necessary personal information (a) to the companies assisting us with processing credit/debit card transactions through our website, including credit card associations, debit card networks, credit/debit card processors and banks, and (b) to the companies assisting us with providing other services to you through this website, as is necessary to provide such service. We may also disclose such information to law enforcement and/or fraud investigatory agencies, or to other third parties when we, in our sole discretion, reasonably believe necessary to protect our property or other rights or the property or other rights of third parties or the public at large.
Consequences of Failing to Provide Personal Information
If you choose not to provide us with your name or other necessary personal information, you will not be able to pay your library fines or fees using this website. If you have concerns about privacy and security on the internet, you also have the option of visiting us in person as indicated in our Terms of Payment.
A “cookie” is a small test file that a website can place on your computer for the duration of your visit to the website. It is only used for session integrity during your visit to the website and not for any marketing or information gathering purposes. Our website only uses non-persistent temporary “cookies” and neither places any permanent information on nor retrieves it from the visitor’s computer. If you want to browse this website without any interruptions, please make sure that your browser is not set to disable placement of “cookies” on your computer.
Use of Personal Identification Numbers
In certain instances you may be assigned a personal identification number (PIN) to access various My Account features using this website. You agree to maintain the confidentiality and security of such PIN. If you provide the password or PIN to another person (e.g., to access information or make a payment), you will be responsible for the other person’s actions at this website. Note: We will never ask you for the PIN in an unsolicited phone call or email.
Getting Access to Information; Changing Information
This privacy statement describes the information gathering practices and procedures of LA County Library’s website. Our website may contain links to documents located on websites maintained by other County departments, public agencies, or private organizations. Once you link to another website, you are no longer subject to this privacy statement, but rather are subject the privacy policy or statement of the website to which you linked. You use that website and anything contained on that website at your own risk.
NOTE: When you use this website to pay your library fees and fines using a credit/debit card, you will be transferred to a portion of this website hosted by our contracted payment processing vendor (“Payment Processor”). Our Payment Processor will prompt you to enter all information necessary to pay your library fines and fees using a credit/debit card and will thereafter take all steps necessary to process such payment on our behalf. Our Payment Processor has agreed to abide by this privacy statement while collecting such information and processing such payment on our behalf.
Other County Departmental or Agency Websites; Non-Los Angeles County Websites (Third Party)
For information on reviewing and/or making changes to the information about you that may be in our records, please send us an email by selecting this option on our Contact Us page or call us using the information available at our Contact Us page.
Disclaimer of Liability
In addition to any other disclaimers in our Terms of Use or Terms of Payment, with respect to information available from this web page, neither the County of Los Angeles nor any of its employees, make any warranty, express or implied, including the warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such information.
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
With the support of grants and corporate/community funding, the Library has established 48 Homework Centers. These Centers provide enhanced resources, computer technology, and homework helpers to support the educational needs of students in these communities.
Online Homework Help is also available on the Internet computers in all County libraries and from home computers during designated hours
Which Libraries have this program?
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.
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