West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library

11360 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, 90025
(310) 575-8323
Website

Make sure to visit this mid-century modern library before its fate is decided, for better or for worse, by the City of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Conservancy is currently working to protect the West Los Angeles Regional branch library from possible demolition.

According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, “The West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library was constructed in 1956 by the local firm of Allison & Rible, who were responsible for several postwar-era buildings throughout Los Angeles. The architects sought to create a sense of harmony and cohesiveness with the mid-century modernist aesthetic found among the adjacent court buildings of the West Los Angeles Civic Center. The façade of the West Los Angeles Regional branch remains intact, although the interior has been remodeled.”

The Conservancy hopes to preserve the historic elements and the façade of the building that faces Santa Monica Boulevard. For more information, visit the L.A. Conservancy website.

South Pasadena Public Library

1100 Oxley Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(626) 403-7340
Website

The Community Room portion of the existing structure, that now makes up the Community Room, was the entrance to the historic library. The City of South Pasadena expanded and remodeled this Carnegie Library in1982 and today the library’s existing square footage is 24,500 square feet and the collection size is approximately 125,000 titles. This is a popular community library for families; in 2006, more than half of its circulated titles were children’s items. There’s a separate children’s room.

Ocean Park Branch Library

2601 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 392-3804
Website

If you’ve walked down Main Street in Santa Monica chances are you’ve seen the Classical Revival building is small in scale, with a larger addition to the rear. In 1977 the city Landmarks Commission declared the Ocean Park Branch a Cultural Heritage Monument. Its original entry, framed by engaged columns and an arched pediment and reached by a small double staircase, remains but is not used. Designed by Frank Kegley, this library is the only Carnegie Library in Santa Monica and retains the look and feel of the historic bulding while providing up to date technology.

Cahuenga Branch Library

4591 West Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 664-6418
Website

This library is one of the few remaining and operating Carnegie libraries in Los Angeles. Andrew Carnegie is popularly known as the patron saint of libraries because of the millions of dollars of his personal wealth that he donated to the development of public libraries in the early 20th century. Many of the Carnegie libraries across the United States have been demolished, but some remain standing, and others are still operating public libraries. This library that sits on busy Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood/Silver Lake adjacent area is a small Italian Renaissance Carnegie building that is big on charm. Architect C.H. Russell also included a basement clubroom and auditorium in his design, which is where the children’s storytimes today are offered.

Los Angeles Central Library

630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 228-7000
Website

The magnificent Los Angeles Main Library is a destination unto itself. With so many things available at this one location, you can easily pack the kids, pack a lunch and spend the good part of a Saturday enjoying one of their free programs, taking a docent led tour of the art and architecture of the building, lunching in the outdoor Maguire Gardens and of course getting lost in the extensive collections.

A Bertram Goodhue Building with its distinctive sphinxes and rooftop pyramid, the focal point of is the 8-story atrium with its whimsical chandeliers. The 64-foot high dome with a chandelier made of cast bronze weighing one ton represents the solar system with the globe surrounded by planets and a crescent moon in the chains, features zodiac signs that ring the globe and has 48 lights around the rim, representing the 48 United States in 1926 when the building opened.

This library is the largest public research library west of the Mississippi. The collection includes over 2.5 million items in many formats.

The outdoor Maguire Gardens is both a garden and large environmental art project by
several artists.

Tiny Town Indoor Play

16909 Devonshire St., Granada Hills, 91344; (818) 366-0305
1st child $8; Additional child $6; Adults FREE
Website

What’s Inside Tiny Town??

• Huge Bouncer
• Soft Play Area
• Dress Up Area
• The Tiny Town
• Ride-Ons
• Air Hockey

The Treehouse Social Club

426 South Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, 90210; (310) 288-3024
Kids $9; Adults FREE
Website

A popular place in posh Beverly Hills, the Treehouse Social Club’s showcase piece is a treehouse surrounded by a safe, picket fenced area for toddlers 3 and below, an arts and crafts area and a room for age 3 and above with imac computers and a Wii.

Kidz Playland

1133 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale, 91202; (818) 241-1888
Kids $8; Adults FREE
Website

On the smaller side at 1500 square feet, this circus-themed indoor playground nevertheless has 3 slides, a bouncer, baby section, basketball court and other fun indoor activities for your children.

Amy’s Playground

1115 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(626) 799-0304
Free admission for parents and caregivers
Ages 2 and up $8
Siblings and kids under 2 $6
Website

Located in the historic mission street shopping district of south Pasadena. Amy’s Playground’s mission is to provide a fun and comfortable environment for kids and grown-ups a like. More than 3,000 square feet of play area including a giant maze, playhouse, bouncer and separate funspace for babies.

Swork Coffee Shop

2160 Colorado Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
(323) 258-5600
FREE to hang out, but we like to patronize and show appreciation by treating mom to a vanilla latte and our L.A. kid with steamed milk or juice
Website

Swork Coffee’s little corner play area is perfect for intimate play. Kids will gather willingly around the train table in the center and play with the various puzzles and games available for them. The nearby tables are so close that parents can easily keep one eye on their computer and another on the little one.